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Niners passed on cornerbacks

Oakland Tribune, May 2, 2006 by Roger Phillips, STAFF WRITER

SANTA CLARA -- Entering the NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers had specific needs they seemed certain to address, not the least of which was at cornerback.

But the weekend came and went, and the need for a starting cornerback remains.

Monday, Scot McCloughan provided a simple explanation.

According to the 49ers' top talent evaluator, by the time the first round had ended, the inventory of cornerbacks capable of starting as rookies had been picked clean.

The 49ers could have grabbed a cornerback with the 22nd overall pick. South Carolina's Johnathan Joseph and Miami's Kelly Jennings were among those still available. But the 49ers went in a different direction -- selecting North Carolina State pass rusher Manny Lawson -- and Joseph and Jennings were snapped up shortly thereafter by Cincinnati and Seattle, respectively.

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"There were a couple of guys on the board who had a chance to be starters," McCloughan said Monday. "But we felt Manny was the best prospect."

And so it went for the rest of the draft.

For instance, in the fourth round, the 49ers chose Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson (who they plan to move to running back), passing on USC's Darnell Bing (Raiders) or South Carolina's Ko Simpson (Buffalo), who would have filled a need at safety.

Whenever confronted with a choice between a player they liked the most and filling a specific need, the 49ers opted for the former.

"We wanted the best player on the board," McCloughan said. "If it was also a need position, it was a double-whammy."

The 49ers ultimately picked up two safeties -- North Carolina State's Marcus Hudson and Arkansas' Vickiel Vaughn -- near the end of the draft. They also are about to add a potential starting safety in former Baltimore Ravens player Chad Williams.

Asked if the team is looking to sign a starting cornerback, McCloughan said, "Us and 31 other teams are always looking for a good corner."

McCloughan also shed some light on some of the other picks.

Hudson, he said, is a safety possibly capable of playing cornerback. Sixth-round receiver Delanie Walker will get his initial look at this weekend's minicamp as the backup to starting fullback Chris Hetherington. Third-rounder Parys Haralson is envisioned as a linebacker capable of covering opposing tight ends.

McCloughan said he expects the 49ers to sign seven or eight rookie free agents. He did not confirm reports that three candidates are Middle Tennessee State defensive end Bobby Payne, Rutgers receiver Chris Baker and USC punter Tom Malone.

Niners passed on cornerbacks

Oakland Tribune, May 2, 2006 by Roger Phillips, STAFF WRITER

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