SANTA CLARA (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers selected Mississippi State cornerback Will Redmond with their third-round pick at 68th overall in the NFL draft Friday night.
Redmond tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last October but 49ers general manager Trent Baalke was willing to take the chance on him to boost San Francisco’s young secondary.
The injury kept Redmond available later in the draft than Baalke expected. The GM says “there’s risk in all this, we know,” but noted Redmond is right on schedule or slightly ahead of schedule in the rehab process.
Despite Redmond’s injury, Baalke believes his recent addition will be healthy enough to compete for playing time in training camp at the end of July.
Redmond appeared in 27 games for the Bulldogs over three seasons, finishing with five interceptions, 99 tackles and 13 passes defensed.
The Niners didn’t have a second-round pick after trading it to Kansas City, along with fourth- and sixth-round selections.