The San Francisco 49ers selected Michigan Wolverines cornerback Ambry Thomas with the No. 102 overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
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 the potential to become a starting cornerback, but his good speed, above-average film, and potential at just 20 years old should have him coming off the board in round two or three. Thomas slipping further than that would be a surprise.
Whether it’s late second, or in the third, Thomas in those spots still represent a value pick in my opinion as he has a lot of upside to his game. Thomas has already proven his love of football and his determination to get back on the field after suffering a serious infection. That same type of mindset still exists in Thomas, and will be ready and willing to put on more weight to alleviate concerns that he can’t play on the outside in press-coverage against physical NFL receivers.
The first round of the draft was held on Thursday night with the second and third rounds set for Friday. The event will conclude from Cleveland, Ohio with the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday.