While the San Francisco 49ers will be firmly focused on righting the ship after losing back-to-back games, the saying in certain corners of the internet goes that it is always 'draft season'.

San Francisco will have a first-round pick in next year's draft for the first time since 2021 when the league gets together for its annual selection meeting in Detroit in April.

They will hope its the 32nd selection but, regardless of where they are picking, the Niners will be keen to get a young premium talent on their roster after two years of waiting out the first round.

Offensive line, specifically the right tackle spot, would appear to be an area in desperate need of addressing. However, in his first 2024 mock draft for ESPN, Jordan Reid has them going a different direction.

In Reid's mock, the 49ers use the 31st overall selection on Georgia corner Kamari Lassiter.

Reid's write up reads:

"If there's one spot that lacks depth on the 49ers' defense, it's cornerback. An instinctive, agile and physical perimeter defender, Lassiter has broken out as a junior in 2023. He has the traits to quickly become an NFL starter, and it's no surprise that passers are completing a mere 35% of throws into his coverage this season, among the top 50 in the FBS. Lassiter is also one of the country's best tacklers and an asset as a run-defender."

It's tough to argue with the logic. The 49ers have a solid starting corner duo in Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, while Isaiah Oliver has proven dependable in taking over the slot corner role. Yet an injury to any of that trio would put the 49ers in a tricky spot. 

Ambry Thomas has been inconsistent at best when on the field this season, while fifth-round rookie Darrell Luter Jr. is on the PUP list and 2022 fifth-rounder Samuel Womack III is on injured reserve. Veteran Anthony Brown is the Niners' fifth corner on the depth chart.

With neither Womack nor Luter having the opportunity to show any development, the 49ers are light on corners they can trust beyond their top three. Adding Lassiter to the mix after what has so far been an excellent season with Georgia would make a lot of sense.

His physicality would mesh with the 49ers' style of defense, particularly with San Francisco mixing in more man coverage looks with Steve Wilks as the coordinator.

Lassiter would at least offer depth and might even allow the Niners to kick Lenoir inside long term if the 49ers believed him to be good enough to start as a rookie.

The major quibble with the selection is that tackle does seem to be an eminently more pressing need with Colton McKivitz enduring an inconsistent and not entirely convincing first season as the starter at right tackle.

Still, given the fragility of their depth at corner, nobody would complain about the 49ers spending a first-rounder to give themselves more insurance at that spot.

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