Former 49er defensive back suggests the team should change its draft approach originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The San Francisco 49ers have made the playoffs as a legitimate championship contender, with multiple Super Bowl appearances in the last four seasons.

The Wildcats have some production to replace in the secondary.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not entering the draft looking to overhaul their secondary, but depth and role flexibility remain important as the defense continues to evolve. In Todd Bowles’ system, defensive backs are asked to communicate, play with discipline in zone coverage, and contribute on special teams when needed.

The coaching carousel this offseason has been the most entertaining merry-go-round of NFL drama in years. The Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, Mike Tomlin stepped down after 19 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Buffalo Bills parted ways with Sean McDermott following their divisional-round loss to the Denver Broncos.

Tennessee has landed another transfer portal commitment to add to the defensive back room in Jadais Richard.

At cornerback, Greg Newsome II offers experience in multiple coverage schemes and could step into either a starting or matchup-specific role. His skill set aligns with Tampa Bay’s preference for versatile defensive backs who can function in both man and zone concepts.

The Los Angeles Rams could revolutionize their secondary in the 2026 draft.

We now know at least one coach who will be joining Gary Patterson’s defensive staff at USC. It's someone Patterson knows very well