The 49ers could use some cornerback depth, and with the free agency pool dwindling, the draft may be where they look to bolster their secondary. South Alabama cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. is a name to keep an eye on. The Draft Network’s Justin Melo reported Luter had a virtual meeting with the 49ers after meeting with them at the Senior Bowl.
A Senior Bowl meeting isn’t a huge deal since effectively every player talks to every team. However, the 49ers liked Luter enough at the Senior Bowl and on tape to get him in for a virtual chat.
Meetings over video give teams a chance to have a conversation with a player and get insight into things like their mindset or how they do in the classroom. Virtual meetings were a key factor in the 49ers’ decision to go with Trey Lance in the 2021 draft.
Luter spent two years at Pearl River Community College before landing at South Alabama for his final three college seasons. With the Jaguars he played in 33 games, with his breakout year coming in 2021 during his second year at South Alabama. He hauled in four interceptions that year and posted 10 pass breakups while earning Second-Team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus.
His size and physicality stand out, and while he’s not an exceptional athlete, his 32 3/8-inch arms allow him to contest a lot of throws. It’s easy to see where his physical tools fit in an NFL secondary.
In a draft where they don’t have any premium draft capital, finding a CB like Luter in the later rounds will have to be the route they go.
