49ers close NFL Draft’s second round with trade, then take defensive back Green
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers finished out the NFL Draft’s second round Friday night by first swinging a trade — not involving one of their heralded wide receivers — before drafting defensive back Rendardo Green in the No. 64 overall slot.
Their third-round pick is slated for the 94th-overall slot, with six slots ensuing before a break until Saturday’s final rounds.
A run on offensive tackles presumably prompted the 49ers to ship the No. 63 spot to the Kansas City Chiefs, thus moving the Niners down one slot for Green. As part of that deal, the 49ers acquired a fifth-round pick (No. 173 overall) and sent a sixth-rounder (No. 211) to their two-time Super Bowl nemesis.
Green brings versatility and speed to the secondary, after five seasons at Florida State. A freshman cornerback in 2019, he spent the next two seasons at safety but also lined up in the slot, which is a job the 49ers looked to fill this draft. He moved back to cornerback the past two seasons, and he noted how he went up against LSU’s prolific tandem of quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Malik Nabers, who were selected Nos. 2 and 6 in Thursday’s first round.
Green has one interception in 52 career games. The 49ers initially listed him as a cornerback.
“They fit me. They fit me,” Green said. “They play like some savages, they play like some dogs. Everybody flies around to the ball, everybody makes plays on the ball, everybody comes to hit and play.
“It’s a high-energy, attacking defense,” Green added. “They don’t sit back and let the offense come at them. No, they attack.”
Green was in touch through the pre-draft process with secondary coach Daniel Bullocks, and Green thought those casual conversations built trust between the two. Still, “I didn’t think they’d pull the trigger on me,” Green added.
Earlier this afternoon, first-round pick Ricky Pearsall Jr. arrived at Levi’s Stadium with his family, and while he deftly handled his media obligations, he said he was eager to obtain the playbook and embed himself in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
One spot before the 49ers’ original turn in the second round, they saw the Baltimore Ravens snatch up Washington’s Roger Rosengarten, the third offensive tackle to go in an eight-pick span. Then, at No. 63, the Chiefs slid into the 49ers’ slot and took BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamatia.
Meanwhile, speculation continued to swirl whether the 49ers might trade fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel, a more likely candidate that Brandon Aiyuk since the first-round collateral had been spent Thursday. Samuel told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini his initial impression of Pearsall’s addition: “I know what’s going on, but it is what it is. I’m good staying with them. I’m chilling.”
The 49ers are set to enter Saturday with six picks: fourth round, Nos. 132 and 135; fifth round, No. 176; sixth round, Nos. 211 and 215; and, seventh round, No. 251.