ESPN draft analyst's final mock is dream scenario for 49ers

There are a handful of realistic scenarios that could play out where the San Francisco 49ers wind up with a no-brainer option when they're on the clock at No. 27 overall in the 2026 NFL draft. One of those scenarios played out in the final mock draft of 2026 for ESPN's Matt Miller.

In Miller's projections, the 49ers walk away from Round 1 with Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Such a selection would be a pretty significant win for San Francisco as it aims to find a long-term answer in the back end of their secondary.

McNeil-Warren hasn't been a popular mock draft selection for the 49ers because he's often projected to go much earlier than No. 27 overall. NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah has McNeil-Warren as his No. 15 overall prospect. He's 23rd overall in a big board by the Athletic's Dane Brugler. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. is lower on the speedy safety, ranking him 33rd overall on his big board.

Still, mock drafts rarely have McNeil-Warren in range for the 49ers to strike at a position they've not typically prioritized during the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era. Their selection of cornerback Renardo Green in 2024 at No. 64 overall was the earliest this regime has drafted a defensive back.

However, this could be an instance where "best player available" overrules the team's top needs.

McNeil-Warren checked in at 6-3, 213 pounds at his Pro Day. At the NFL combine he ripped off a 4.52 40-yard dash and showed off enough athleticism on tape to suggest he could play multiple roles in the 49ers' secondary right away. He brings a different element than Ji'Ayir Brown, and , which opens the door for him to make an impact in a safety room that struggled badly a season ago.