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The San Francisco 49ers, despite using four draft picks a year ago on defensive backs, still have a need at cornerback entering this week’s NFL draft. That’s what happens when you lose your two starters to free agency, as Chris Culliver signed with Washington and Perrish Cox headed to Tennessee. Still, even with last year’s first-rounder, Jimmie Ward, expected to make a full recovery from his broken foot, many see the Niners being tempted to take one of the two intriguing corners should either player still be on the board when they make a pick at No. 15 overall. But do Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, the top-rated corner, or Washington’s Marcus Peters, who has emotional baggage, fit the Niners’ bill, so to speak? “We want big corners…,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. “That’s not going to change.” Waynes is 6-feet, 186 pounds; Peters is 6-feet, 197 pounds. Other top cornerback prospects include Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson (6-feet, 188 pounds) and Connecticut’s Byron Jones (6-1, 199). So what, exactly, is a “big corner” in Baalke’s estimation? “Anybody over 5-11, to us, is starting to get into the big corner range,” Baalke said. “What we’re trying to stay away from is 5-8 guys, 5-9 guys. And that’s not to say some of those guys can’t play and play at a very high level. If they’ve proven in this league that they can [play], they would be an exception to the rule, right? “I’m well-stated on what I feel about exceptions, and exceptions have to have exceptional talent. And if they do, we’ll consider them.” As far as the Niners are concerned, all six of the cornerbacks currently on the roster are listed between 5-10 and 6-2 -- Tramaine Brock (5-10), Leon McFadden (5-10), Keith Reaser (5-10), Shareece Wright (5-11), Kenneth Acker (6-feet) and Chris Cook (6-2). And the three listed as defensive backs, though they primarily play corner, are either 6-feet or 6-2 -- Marcus Cromartie (6-feet), L.J. McCray (6-feet) and Dontae Johnson (6-2). At this moment, before the draft, the starters figure to be Brock and Wright, who started his past 27 straight games with the San Diego Chargers before coming to the 49ers as a free agent last month, with Ward the nickel back. The Niners, though, are intrigued by Johnson’s size and athleticism, both on the outside and in the slot.
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