2015 San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft: Early Offseason 7-Round Predictions

It's way too early to discuss what the San Francisco 49ers are going to do in the 2015 NFL draft.

Or is it?

The 49ers' offseason needs are clear enough to make an assessment. There are a number of impact players who could be out of San Francisco next season, which necessitates a strong draft from general manager Trent Baalke and the 49ers' front office.

This draft will be different compared to recent seasons.

San Francisco has the highest draft slot since 2011. The 49ers' 8-8 record in 2014 places them with the No. 15 overall.

Additionally, the 49ers will not enter this draft with double-digit picks as was the case in 2013 and 2014. San Francisco has nine with which to prepare.

A lot will change between now and the NFL draft. The 49ers' needs will be determined by offseason moves, free-agent signings, needs of the new head coach and plenty other factors. The initial draft class will also ebb and flow as the calendar moves forward to the start of the draft on April 30 at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago.

But let's hash out a mock that at least speculates what the 49ers could do if the draft were to start today. 

Picks, Needs and Context

Associated Press

GM Trent Baalke will look to formulate a draft class without the influence of former head coach Jim Harbaugh.

San Francisco will have nine picks with which to work in 2015. The team also will be drafting at its highest position since 2011.

Unlike previous seasons, the 49ers do have some pressing needs that must be addressed during the offseason. And while those nine picks create a nice stockpile, the number is nothing like what San Francisco had in previous seasons.

We can speculate trade-ups and exchanges all we want, and it's possible Trent Baalke decides to work some of his magic in this area. But for the sake of fluidity, we'll assume that San Francisco retains each pick where it stands.

Here's the list of picks courtesy of Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area:

1. First Round: Own Pick
2. Second Round: Own Pick
3. Third Round: Own Pick
4. Fourth Round: Pick from Denver Broncos
5. Fifth Round: Own Pick
6. Sixth Round: Own Pick
7. Sixth Round: Possible compensatory pick
8. Seventh Round: Pick from Indianapolis Colts
9. Seventh Round: Possible compensatory pick

San Francisco's own fourth- and seventh-round picks were sent off in exchange for wideout Stevie Johnson and offensive tackle Jonathan Martin respectively. A 2014 draft-day trade landed Denver's pick in the fourth round.

The Colts' Round 7 selection came from the trade of linebacker Cam Johnson prior to the start of the 2013 regular season.

David Fucillo of Niners Nation breaks down exactly where the 49ers will pick in each round—focusing on the alternating in position with the Miami Dolphins.

And we won't know the exact specifics of the possible compensatory picks until the NFL owners meetings in March.

So what about the needs?

Much of this will depend on what happens with the 49ers' pending free agents. But we can make some early assessments. It's likely San Francisco parts ways with players like wideout Michael Crabtree, guard Mike Iupati and cornerback Chris Culliver. All three could price their way out of the 49ers' 2015 financial plans.

Running back Frank Gore is another tough consideration. He's made every indication on playing again in 2015, and he wants to be back with the 49ers.

"

#49ers' Frank Gore delivers pizza to media, says 'I'll be back’ http://t.co/Uvr5bMcCQM #NFL #49ersTalk pic.twitter.com/jRfvdmN7jN

— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNAuthentic) December 30, 2014"

But the 49ers do have depth at this position if Gore departs. Not so much at other positions, at least in terms of specific impact.

Joey Akeley of Bleacher Report put together an excellent summation of the 49ers' draft needs, which start off with a playmaking wide receiver. He backs that up with a cornerback, tight end, offensive guard and a quarterback in that order.

Yet news of defensive end Justin Smith's potential retirement, per Alex Flanagan of NFL Network, changes things a bit.

"

I'm hearing this will be 49ers DT Justin Smith's last game. Retirement looming after 14 yrs. in the NFL

— Alex Flanagan (@Alex_Flanagan) December 28, 2014"

This, combined with the release of fellow end Ray McDonald, pushes the defensive line up the ladder of needs.

Round 1, Pick No. 15: DeVante Parker, WR

DeVante Parker, Wide Receiver

School: Louisville

Height/Weight: 6'3", 208 lbs

Collegiate Statistics 

The 49ers need an impact wideout who can make big plays for the offense for years to come. They also need someone who can both utilize speed to take the top off opponents' defenses and to act as a bona fide red-zone threat.

Louisville receiver DeVante Parker could be that guy.

Fellow wideout Amari Cooper out of Alabama would be a nice target, but he won't be around by the time San Francisco picks at No. 15. Parker could slide to that slot, per Rob Rang of CBS Sports. 

Rang has Parker going No. 19 overall to the Cleveland Browns and gives the 49ers Oklahoma WR Dorial Green-Beckham. But Green-Beckham has some work-ethic and off-the-field concerns which could negate San Francisco's interest given their turbulent times of late.

Thus, the 49ers target Parker.

Derek Stephens of CBS Sports covets Parker as being one of the toughest receivers to defend in college football. He has the ability to win any matchup and to utilize speed to create distance when he's open.

This combination makes him a solid speed option San Francisco needs on offense. His big body also presents a worthy red-zone target. 

On the downside, Stephens cites his straight-line speed as being problematic. His route running is also questionable, so this would be an area in which the 49ers would need to coach him up.

Still, Parker would be an immediate-impact player San Francisco would love to have. Combine him with the likes of wideouts Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson, Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton, and the 49ers would have an impressive crop of receiving targets. 

"

Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington, Anquan Boldin and DeVante Parker would be a legit foursome.

— Dylan DeSimone (@DeSimone_80) December 21, 2014"

Round 2, Pick No. 14: Arik Armstead, DE

Arik Armstead, Defensive End

School: Oregon

Height/Weight: 6'8", 290 lbs

Collegiate Statistics

A cornerback would feasibly be the 49ers' second priority during the draft, but the need for an impact defensive lineman might be even more important. Let's evaluate this for a couple of reasons.

First, the 49ers are defensively reliant upon the services of veteran Justin Smith. With Smith's possible retirement looming, San Francisco will have to scramble for a replacement. It is possible that the 49ers place Tank Carradine into this role—something we saw flashes of at the end of the regular season.

But the 49ers will also have to fill the void on the opposite end of the line with Ray McDonald's absence.

It's possible San Francisco considers moving Glenn Dorsey, Ian Williams or Quinton Dial to DE next season as well. But will this be a long-term solution?

On top of that, the 49ers have placed a heavy reliance on their defensive front rather than electing to place high-profile players at the cornerback position. Examples are Tramaine Brock, Perrish Cox and Dontae Johnson—not exactly the biggest names but certainly notable contributors.

Additionally, the 49ers hope that continued development from young defensive backs like Johnson, Jimmie Ward, Kenneth Acker and Keith Reaser gives the franchise added depth here.

So let's get back to the D-line.

Defensive end Arik Armstead is a second-round prospect who could slip to the 49ers at No. 14 due to a nagging injury from his 2014 season, which is described in further detail in the above video.

Still, it's impossible to overlook that Armstead is a beast of a player. A 6'8", 290-pound frame helped him net 20 tackles and three sacks with the University of Oregon in 2014.

Rob Rang of CBS Sports had this to say about Armstead's potential:

"

Armstead's production is far from staggering but he boasts such an incredible combination of size and athleticism that he could wind up as Oregon's hottest NFL prospect on the defensive side of the ball.

A monstrous man with natural power and light feet, Armstead's upside is undeniable.

"

One NFL general manager touted that Armstead boasted first-round talent. Should the 49ers grab him in Round 2, the selection would be an obvious steal.

"

"He's a first-round talent... a 6-foot-8, 290-pound freak." -NFL GM -->http://t.co/cOIC7Pwg0C pic.twitter.com/XEQlQ9qKOW

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) December 26, 2014"

Even if Smith stays in the NFL for another season, a player like Armstead could be developed into the long-term solution to replace the veteran at some point. One can only imagine a pass-rushing tandem that included the likes of Carradine and Armstead in 2015 and beyond.

Round 3, Pick No. 15: Doran Grant, CB

Doran Grant, Cornerback

School: Ohio State

Height/Weight: 5'11", 193 lbs

Collegiate Statistics

Even though the 49ers have a decent amount of depth at cornerback, the majority of this is developmental in nature. Players like Jimmie Ward, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser and Kenneth Acker could develop into something worthwhile.

But San Francisco suffered from attrition at this position, and there is no guarantee that the aforementioned pros will culminate into a dominant secondary at any point soon.

Unlike 2014, there aren't a lot of big-bodied cornerback prospects coming out in this draft. Instead, such a prospect would ideally have the likable attributes that can make up for a lack of size.

Ohio State's Doran Grant is such a player.

Grant struggled to get onto the field in his first two seasons at Ohio State, per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports. But he turned things up a notch his junior year. At the conclusion of his collegiate tenure, Grant had amassed 101 tackles and nine interceptions—suggesting he has the ball-hawking abilities that San Francisco's secondary could use.

Brugler followed up his assessment by saying, "He is patient and trusts what he sees with adequate size, speed and ball skills for the position, but scouts want to see improved discipline and sustained confidence from play-to-play."

The latter issues are things that could be coached up. Patience and natural skills are already there.

Round 4, Pick from Denver: Miles Dieffenbach, OG

Miles Dieffenbach, Guard

School: Penn State

Height/Weight: 6'3", 303 lbs

The offensive line will be an area of concern for the 49ers this offseason. This is mandated by the likely free-agent departure of offensive guard Mike Iupati. 

But in-house options thwart any desperate need to find a legitimate target early on in the draft. Center Daniel Kilgore is a solid choice to return to his 2014 position after a broken leg sidelined him in Week 7. That moves Marcus Martin into an open competition with Brandon Thomas.

Thomas was redshirted his rookie year, and Martin has plenty of potential despite an up-and-down rookie season.

Yet there remains the possibility that Thomas doesn't pan out in the way San Francisco had hoped. To quote Joey Akeley of Bleacher Report:

"

Guard is only a short-term priority if Mike Iupati doesn't re-sign with the 49ers and Brandon Thomas isn't the 2014 NFL draft steal many think he is. In case Thomas doesn't fully recover from the injury he suffered in a pre-draft workout, the 49ers would be wise to draft another guard. 

"

Miles Dieffenbach of Penn State could be a worthy late-round prospect who would at least add competition to this position.

Dieffenbach suffered a torn ACL last spring, which thwarted much of his senior year. As a result, the 6'3", 303-pound prospect might have slipped a bit in the draft rankings.

Projected as a late fourth- to an early fifth-round pick by CBS Sports, Dieffenbach would probably be on the board when San Francisco receives the Denver Broncos' pick in Round 4.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports feels as if Dieffenbach's skill set will translate over into the NFL game—citing the guard's "leverage, strength and grit" as primary accolades.

The 49ers had plenty of attrition along their O-line this year. Backups like Joe Looney didn't quite cut it as far as replacing the notable starters. As such, it would be a wise move to add someone who could not only supply depth, but also wind up being a potential starter at some point down the road.

Round 5, Pick No. 15: Wes Saxton, TE

Wes Saxton, Tight End

School: South Alabama

Height/Weight: 6'4", 235 lbs

Collegiate Statistics

The decision to draft a tight end in 2015 will ultimately result in choices made from the 49ers' front office regarding incumbents Vernon Davis and Vance McDonald.

Davis endured the worst career statistically since his 2006 rookie season, and there are questions regarding whether the 30-year-old tight end will be a cap casualty this offseason. With one year remaining on his current deal, San Francisco's brass has to determine whether his 2014 campaign was an anomaly or a sign of things to come.

And it isn't as if the 49ers have a reliable backup plan in place. Two-year veteran Vance McDonald hasn't exactly wowed in the receiving game despite being a good blocker. 

But the problem is that the tight end position is pretty thin in both free agency and in the draft. There really isn't a bona fide top-tier target here.

Yet drafting a tight end who can at least compete for the position and perhaps in the long run emerge as a No. 2 option would play well into the 49ers' future plans.

Wes Saxton of South Alabama fits the profile for a player who could be molded into San Francisco's offense.

Per Rob Rang of CBS Sports, Saxton has a great frame and pure athleticism. These attributes could make him a perfect mismatch for the 49ers offense at some point. Rang does point out that Saxton is a "better athlete than football player at this point."

He is raw, which would require a lot of fine-tuning from San Francisco's coaching staff.

CBS Sports also lists him as a late fourth- or an early fifth-round pick, which means that Saxton would have to slip a bit for the 49ers to select him with the No. 15 pick in the round. This could feasibly happen given the fluidity of later rounds.

But this would be an example of a low-risk, high-reward option for San Francisco—one that could ultimately benefit the franchise given the uncertain future of Davis.

Round 6, Pick No. 6: Terrence Magee, RB

Terrence Magee, Running Back

School: Louisiana State

Height/Weight: 5'9", 217 lbs

Collegiate Statistics

The future in San Francisco's backfield will ultimately depend on how the franchise handles running back Frank Gore and his contract entering 2015. No. 2 back Carlos Hyde looks to be the heir apparent, and Kendall Hunter is a solid secondary option as well.

But the addition of a running back like Louisiana State's Terrence Magee could add a different element to the 49ers' ground game.

The 5'9, 217-pound back has a short but stout frame that makes him a tough opponent to bring down, per Rob Rang of CBS Sports.

Magee added this dynamic approach in four seasons at Louisiana State.

"

#LSU is going to miss Terrence Magee in the backfield, no matter how good Leonard Fournette is next year. http://t.co/vJeI6COwNP

— Brett Weisband (@WeisbandSDS) December 9, 2014"

The elusive back has an ability to get to the outside and also showcased his ability to be a receiving option out of the backfield. Whoever winds up coaching the 49ers in 2015 would have a much different weapon with which to use if Magee finds his way on San Francisco's roster.

Round 6, Compensatory Pick: Blake Sims, QB

Blake Sims, Quarterback

School: Alabama

Height/Weight: 6'0", 208 lbs

Collegiate Statistics

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick will be under center for the 49ers in 2015.

Behind him though? That's another question.

San Francisco is all but guaranteed to part ways with backup QB Blaine Gabbert—and his contract—after 2014. No. 3 quarterback Josh Johnson is also a pending free agent.

So the need has emerged to draft a project quarterback who could not only be a preferred backup to Kaepernick, but also could be molded into a system which ultimately plays to his skill set.

Blake Sims out of Alabama is a quarterback who could fit this bill in a number of ways.

A seventh-round target, the 49ers would easily have a shot to draft Sims with their expected compensatory pick in Round 6. His height prompts questions about whether Sims would translate into an NFL quarterback.

But San Francisco only has to look at its rival up north to note that another quarterback, Russell Wilson, was able to emerge as a threat despite his stature.

Rob Rang and Dane Brugler of CBS Sports highlight Sims' abilities by stating:

"

Displays impressive poise at the most critical moments of big games. Shows touch on deep passes down the middle, along with the arm strength to fire passes to the perimeter.

Does not look to run and keeps his eyes downfield, but does a terrific job moving the pocket and extending plays with his legs, stressing defenders in coverage. Can elude would-be tacklers with great lateral agility and acceleration.

"

Touch and pocket poise are elements that Kaepernick currently lacks at the NFL level. Sims has displayed such abilities in college and has the arm to match. A run-heavy Alabama offense also emulates what the 49ers enjoyed successfully in recent years prior to 2014.

The biggest question, of course, will be whether the new 49ers head coach wants to install a scheme that focuses more on previous San Francisco offensive strengths. This will inevitably determine what type of backup quarterback the 49ers target.

Round 7, Pick from Indianapolis: Jamon Brown, OT

Jamon Brown, Offensive Tackle

School: Louisville

Height/Weight: 6'6", 326 lbs

Collegiate Statistics

Long-term depth along the offensive line could drive the 49ers to take a flier on a late-round prospect in 2015.

With their pressing needs met, San Francisco looks to bolster a unit that suffered a good deal of attrition and inconsistency this season.

At 6'6" and 326 pounds, Louisville tackle Jamon Brown is a physical beast. This size was an important attribute in limiting speed-rushers from getting around him at the collegiate level, per Derek Stephens of CBS Sports.

He excels in run blocking as well, which would fit into a run-first scheme should the 49ers utilize such an offensive approach next season. He also has the flexibility to play both sides of the O-line. He also could be shifted to play guard if his lack of mobility becomes a factor.

Such a move would offset the need to keep a player like tackle Jonathan Martin on the roster. Martin saw plenty of service spelling starting right tackle Anthony Davis this season, but the three-year veteran left a lot to be desired.

Still, adding depth and competition along the line would be a wise move knowing what the O-line endured in 2014.

Round 7, Compensatory Pick: Matt Miller, WR

Matt Miller, Wide Receiver

School: Boise State

Height/Weight: 6'3", 213 lbs

Collegiate Statistics

San Francisco's final pick in 2015 will likely be a compensatory selection, which means the 49ers will have another option to draft a project player who could potentially turn into something useful.

A tall wideout like Boise State's Matt Miller could be the option San Francisco selects to round out its 2015 draft class.

Miller suffered an ankle injury that derailed his 2014 collegiate campaign. The injury resulted in him missing the all-time Boise State receiving record by just 14 yards—details of which are described in the video above.

Before that, Miller had posted 3,049 receiving yards over four seasons. He had an astounding 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns his junior year.

"

Matt Miller is the Boise State career leader in receptions, 2nd in rec yards (14 short of Titus Young), and 3rd in rec TD's (29). #BYUSN

— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) October 22, 2014"

His ankle injury drops him significantly in prospect rankings. CBS Sports has him projected as a seventh-round pick, but the pre-injury statistics suggest his ratings would have been much higher.

The 49ers have not shied away from taking fliers on injured players and redshirting them during their rookie seasons. Miller could be another prospect who fits into this trend.

At best, Miller emerges as a big target who could be a useful weapon on offense. Realistically, he would be a developmental protege who pushes the remaining cast of 49ers receivers.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Supplemental draft information courtesy of CBS Sports.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.

Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.