football

Report: 49ers meeting with experienced Big 12 safety prospect

Yahoo Sports

Cole Wisniewski, a converted linebacker, played one year at Texas Tech after spending his first five years at North Dakota State.

The San Francisco 49ers might be looking at more secondary help in the 2026 NFL draft. The team has a Top 30 visit scheduled with Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport . Wisniewski is also reportedly meeting with Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.

Wisniewski is a big-bodied and experienced safety prospect. He played six years in college — five at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State and this past season with Texas Tech. The 24-year-old also stands at 6-4 and 220 pounds.

He finished his final college season with 78 combined tackles, six tackles for a loss, one sack, six defended passes and two forced fumbles. Wisniewski converted from linebacker to safety at NDSU in 2023, where he finished with eight interceptions, 92 combined tackles and 13 defended passes. He missed the entire 2024 season with a broken foot.

Wisniewski looks like one of those hybrid safety-linebacker prospects that a lot of NFL defenses love nowadays. The Athletic's Dane Brugler called him "tightly wound as an athlete and at his best near the line of scrimmage, where he can use his short-area instincts and reliable tackling. Providing depth in the box and impacting special teams are his tickets to a pro career.