ESPN's Matt Bowen recently identified the favorite team fits for 20 top prospects ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Among them, he linked Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter to the 49ers. However, Bowen believes San Francisco could land him in the second round with pick No. 43—and even that might be a slight reach.
"This might be a little sooner than Porter is expected to come off the board, but I see a really good fit here in the 49ers' defense under new coordinator Robert Saleh," Bowen commented. "Porter has all the tools to play press man. He's long with 33?-inch arms and has 4.3 speed. He disrupts receivers' releases, opens and runs with them. But Porter also has the zone vision to sink in the flat or get to depth in the outside third of the field -- along with the closing speed to drive on the ball."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Porter measured 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. Paired with his impressive 4.3-second 40-time, which ranked second among cornerbacks in Indianapolis, he could be an intriguing prospect if the 49ers pass on a defensive back in the first round.
"The 49ers would be betting on the traits, but it's a bet that could pay off big time," Bowen added.
According to Sports Reference, Porter recorded 18 tackles (two for a loss), three interceptions, and two passes defensed in 2024. His 90.1 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus ranked seventh in the nation among cornerbacks, while opposing quarterbacks posted a dismal 4.7 NFL passer rating when targeting him.
"Porter's rep total is heavy on zone coverages but he has the athleticism, burst and speed to handle more man coverage," NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. "He has excellent zone awareness with the twitch and ball skills to expand his sphere of influence. He uses his length to shade downfield throws but needs to get stronger to improve his press, his contest and his tackling in run support.
"More schooling is needed as a pattern-matcher but his athletic profile and instant impact on special teams should create more confidence in projecting Porter's continued ascension as a CB2/CB3."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown is enjoying his favorite training camp yet
There is significant pressure on San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown as he enters a pivotal season while battling to keep his starting job. The good news is that Brown appears to be thriving in training camp and embracing the changes brought by new defensive coordinator... -
Bleacher Report names Mac Jones 49ers' most important contract decision heading into 2026 season
The San Francisco 49ers have one of the NFL's more enviable situations at quarterback heading into the 2026 season. Brock Purdy is firmly established as the team's starter, but the 49ers also have a proven backup in Mac Jones who showed last season that he can step in and keep... -
ESPN proposes 49ers trade for All-Pro safety Jessie Bates
The San Francisco 49ers have no shortage of competition at safety during training camp, with Ji'Ayir Brown and Marques Sigle among the players battling for a starting role. However, ESPN's Seth Walder believes the team could strengthen its secondary by making a significant... -
49ers have five likely future Hall of Famers, says ESPN's Barnwell
The San Francisco 49ers boast one of the NFL's most talented rosters. But how many of those players are on a Hall of Fame trajectory? That's the question ESPN's Bill Barnwell explored for every NFL team, identifying which players have the strongest cases to one day earn...