Insider: 49ers could target cornerback in Round 1 of 2026 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2026 NFL Draft with multiple roster needs, making their first-round selection at No. 27 overall difficult to project.

San Francisco could look to reinforce the trenches on either side of the ball. The team still needs a long-term successor to Trent Williams at left tackle, and the left guard starting job remains unsettled heading into the season.

Defensively, the 49ers must generate more pressure after finishing with an NFL-low 20 sacks last season. Those struggles keep an early investment in a pass rusher firmly in play.

Wide receiver is another area to watch. Even after adding veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, the 49ers could target additional playmakers, especially with strong value expected late in the first round.

However, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom points to another possibility—addressing the secondary with a potential starter.

"The 49ers also have to wonder about their secondary and specifically if they have sufficient depth and quality at cornerback," La Canfora wrote.

Currently, Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green project as the outside starters, while second-year defensive back Upton Stout is expected to handle nickel duties.

"The depth chart at that position leaves much to be desired in terms of adding another immediate starter and also addressing more quality depth," La Canfora added.

La Canfora also notes that teams frequently take shots on defensive backs late in the first round—the range where San Francisco is slated to pick. Competing in the NFC West, the 49ers must also keep pace with powerhouses like the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

While cornerback may not be the most commonly projected option for San Francisco at No. 27, league evaluators aren't ruling it out.

"Hell yeah, they need a corner or two," one longtime NFL evaluator whose team is selecting in the same range as the 49ers told La Canfora.

If the 49ers opt to go in a different direction in Round 1, they'll likely address the secondary with at least one of their five other selections.