Hey, now, a defensive player! It took over 100 picks, but the 49ers added a cornerback. Michigan’s Ambry Thomas was selected with the No. 102 overall pick. If you were reading our seven-round mocks, we took Thomas:
Thomas is 5’11 and 191 pounds. He also didn’t play in 2020 but ran a 4.37 40-yard dash and had a 38” vertical at his pro day. Thomas allowed a 49% completion percentage last year on 41 targets with three interceptions and seven pass breakups, per Sports Info Solutions.
Thomas is very good at pinning wideouts to the sideline and playing vertical routes. He’s more of a willing tackler than given credit for, but it’s Thomas’s ball skills that could help him get onto the field right away.
Right away, Thomas would be the best kick returner on the team. He returned kicks early in his career at Michigan and even returned one to the house as a sophomore. Thomas could help on special teams right away.
Thomas opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, which is not all that surprising given his bout with colitis ahead of the 2019 campaign. He was an All-Big Ten honoree for his performance in 2019 and appeared in 39 career games at Michigan (13 starts). Thomas had four career picks, and nine passes defended in Ann Arbor.
Thomas has an opportunity to play right away on special teams. With his ball skills and athleticism, he could find himself on the field. Thomas is also not afraid to challenge wideouts in their face.
He’ll be a fun cornerback to watch and could develop into a starter in a year or two.
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