“But the 49ers’ selection of Green addressed a need at cornerback, especially with Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir both free agents next season.
Green is an absolute tactician at the cornerback spot. He has outstanding preparation that is buoyed by natural athleticism. He is sticky in coverage, staying in lock-step with receivers consistently. He had an outstanding game against the best 1-2 receiver pairing in the country in LSU’s Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.”
“He has a high pass protection floor, and impressive length and strength in the run game.
He looked excellent at the Senior Bowl, though his height could be taken advantage of, with a lack of bend. It’s understandable given that he’s used to staying outside. He has that length and strength to seriously redirect players in the run game….One knock on Puni is his mediocre speed, but it’s not damning, and is more than made up for by elite short area quickness and explosive talent. He pummels some players in the run game, and should, if the pick is worthwhile, start for the 49ers at right guard this season.”
“Green is wired right for the position and clamps down in coverage with his awareness and physicality, which consistently allows him to compete for throwing lanes. However, he tends to get overaggressive with his contact at the top of routes (lacks top-tier athletic traits for easy recoveries) and is inconsistent turning to find the football.
Overall, Green is a polarizing prospect among NFL teams, because he doesn’t have desired size, speed or ball-tracking skills and won’t be a fit for every scheme. But his play personality and ability to quickly find his balance mid-coverage helps him stay connected and will give him a chance to earn a meaningful role in an NFL secondary.”
