The San Francisco 49ers have been connected with Malik Hooker and Jamal Adams in the 2017 NFL Draft, but the safety class is deep enough to consider some other options. The 49ers are doing so, hosting Washington’s Budda Baker for an official visit, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Baker has some size question marks, measuring in at 5’10, 195 pounds. There are concerns about his ability to cover tight ends, but he could prove to be an intriguing option in the 49ers center-field role. The biggest concern though is the size. NFL.com described him as an undersized free safety with the heart of a linebacker, and compared him to Bob Sanders. The Colts spent a second round pick on Sanders, and in seven seasons, he played in double digit games twice. He hung around the NFL for eight seasons, but injuries were a huge problem.
CBS Sports projects him as a second round pick, and went with a Tyrann Mathieu comp. They like his range and playmaking, but his, “[l]ack of ideal height/length shows in coverage and as a tackler, gaining body position, but missing valuable inches.”
You have to take some risks in the draft, but the size issue is of some concern. He missed two games in 2015, but otherwise played every game in 2014 and 2016. How do you factor his size into the decision?