Exploring San Francisco 49ers' First-Round Options in 2015 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers are slated with the 15th pick in Round 1 of the 2015 NFL draft.

This is the highest San Francisco has drafted since former head coach Jim Harbaugh took over the team in 2011.

But with Harbaugh leaving, a new regime coming in and the 49ers looking to upgrade an 8-8 franchise with the hopes of returning to prominence, general manager Trent Baalke will be forced to make considerable splashes from this year's draft class.

The nature of drafts, as is always the case, is fluid and constantly changing. Prospects rise and fall. Teams' needs change with free agency, trades and retirements.

San Francisco is no different. This offseason could mark a substantial point in which a number of key players no longer find themselves on the 49ers roster.

Expensive commodities like tight end Vernon Davis and linebacker Ahmad Brooks could be cap casualties. Veteran defensive end Justin Smith has hinted at retiring.

Notable free agents like running back Frank Gore, offensive guard Mike Iupati and wide receiver Michael Crabtree could be in different uniforms next season as well.

What is known is this: San Francisco has some credible needs this offseason.

Chief among these is a playmaking wide receiver. The 49ers lack speed at this position, and their passing offense has ranked No. 30 in the league over the past two seasons.

Unlike last year, the 2015 draft class is not particularly deep at this position. Does this mean San Francisco spends its No. 15-overall pick on a bona fide wideout?

Or do the 49ers elect to go in a different direction like they did a year ago? Wide speculation led most to believe Baalke would target a wideout in Round 1. Instead, the 49ers drafted defensive back Jimmie Ward with the 30th-overall pick.

San Francisco could maintain a defense-first mentality here. With Smith possibly retiring, and defensive end Ray McDonald no longer on the roster, the defensive line suddenly emerges as a pressing need.

And the 49ers might consider adding another piece to their makeshift secondary in Round 1.

Speculation will continue to flourish in the months and weeks prior to the draft. But let's break down some potential first-round targets that could find their way to San Francisco in 2015.

Wide Receiver DeVante Parker, Louisville

DeVante Parker, Wide Receiver

School: Louisville

Height/Weight: 6'3", 208 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

The 49ers could make a splash in Round 1 if they selected Louisville wideout DeVante Parker.

This talented prospect is ranked as the No. 2 wide receiver prospect in the country per CBS Sports. His tremendous physicality and good acceleration make him one of the toughest wideouts to cover in collegiate football.

In four years at Louisville, Parker amassed 156 receptions for 2,775 yards and 33 touchdowns. Parker provides the elements San Francisco needs on offense—speed and a red-zone threat.

"

Louisville WR Devante Parker reminds me of Keenan Allen. He's smooth, physical & has outstanding instincts/ball skills. Fun to watch.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 6, 2015"

But there is a slight problem.

Parker probably won't be around at No. 15 when the 49ers select in the round. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports mocks Parker going to the Minnesota Vikings with their 11th-overall pick. It's possible Parker is off the boards even sooner.

Granted, Parker's availability at No. 15 would be a gift for San Francisco. But the likelihood of this happening is slight at best.

Such an acquisition would have to require a trade up of some sort. The 49ers did something similar to this in 2013 when they moved up from No. 31 to draft then-rookie safety Eric Reid. 

Who knows how expensive this will be in 2015? But the 49ers have executed such moves before, so a trade for Parker wouldn't be the worst idea.

Cornerback Marcus Peters, Washington

Marcus Peters, Cornerback

School: Washington

Height/Weight: 6'0", 190 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

San Francisco could take another defensive back for the third straight year if the team elects to draft Washington cornerback Marcus Peters in Round 1.

This topic is discussed in the above video, where Bleacher Report's Adam Lefkoe and Matt Miller discuss how the talented prospect could fit into the 49ers' plans.

Peters is ranked as the third-best cornerback available in this draft per CBS Sports. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports mocks him at No. 20 to the Philadelphia Eagles, while Rob Rang of CBS Sports predicts he'll fall to No. 30 overall.

If these assumptions are correct, the 49ers would not need to execute some sort of draft-day trade to land Peters' services. They may be able to trade down and stockpile some more picks—something general manager Trent Baalke does particularly well.

Of course there is the concern that San Francisco's No. 1 priority is at wide receiver. It is a bona fide need.

But one can't overlook the fact that cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox could depart via free agency this offseason. And the ongoing developments of one-year veterans Jimmie Ward, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser and Kenneth Acker might not inspire widespread confidence.

Rang compares Peters to cornerback Aqib Talib, and it would be nice for San Francisco's secondary to boast a shutdown corner if the team elects to go in this direction.

Wide Receiver Jaelen Strong, ASU

Jaelen Strong, Wide Receiver

School: ASU

Height/Weight: 6'4", 212 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

The defense could be the top priority in Round 1, but there are a number of first-round wideouts who are worth the attention.

DeVante Parker probably won't be around at No. 15 for San Francisco, but ASU wideout Jaelen Strong could easily be. The 6'4", 212-pound Strong is a freakish athlete who combines excellent hands—as seen in the video above—and top-tier speed.

This combination would make him a bona fide red-zone threat as well.

Strong is a bit raw per Rob Rang of CBS Sports, but his overall athleticism makes him a more than enticing prospect in the first round. 

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report also likes the idea of the 49ers selecting strong with the 15th-overall pick.

"

Not a big fan of Ekpre-Olomu on the outside. Would like Jaelen Strong for the 49ers at current draft order @HonestxxUTK

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) December 10, 2014"

Strong would be the bona fide playmaker the 49ers are seeking at this position. With wide receiver Michael Crabtree probably leaving via free agency and veteran wideout Anquan Boldin having just one year remaining on his current contract, Strong would be the type of receiver who could impact San Francisco for years to come.

Defensive Tackle Malcom Brown, Texas

Eric Gay/Associated Press

The 49ers could reinforce their defensive line with the addition of Texas' Malcom Brown.

Malcom Brown, Defensive Tackle

School: Texas

Height/Weight: 6'4", 320 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

There is a strong possibility that San Francisco emphasizes its defensive line first before considering all other needs in 2015. With defensive end Justin Smith possibly retiring after this season and fellow DE Ray McDonald gone, the 49ers are faced with a potential large-scale problem up front.

Much of this will depend on Smith's future and how the team feels about the ongoing development of second-year pro Tank Carradine. It's feasible that the 49ers also move one of their defensive tackles—Ian Williams, Glenn Dorsey and Quinton Dial—over to the end to supplement the need.

Yet if the 49ers try to fix this issue via the draft, a selection of Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown might be a nice fit. 

Brown has the flexibility to play all along the D-line, which would make the 6'4", 320-pound prospect a perfect candidate to slide into the DE role.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports mocks Brown going to the 49ers at No. 15. While not necessarily a pass-rushing specialist, Brown draws blockers to him much like Smith has done for years. This could help open up lanes for San Francisco's other pass-rushers, like linebackers Aaron Lynch and Aldon Smith.

San Francisco's defense will eventually need some help up front. Brown would help alleviate this need to a large extent.

Wide Receiver Kevin White, West Virginia

Kevin White, Wide Receiver

School: West Virginia

Height/Weight: 6'3", 209 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

While the defense is a high priority for San Francisco in 2015, eligible first-round wide receiver prospects present too juicy of an opportunity to pass up. 

Wideouts DeVante Parker and Jaelen Strong are enticing options. But so is West Virginia's Kevin White.

White hauled in 109 receptions for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior year for the Mountaineers. He combines both size and speed, which the 49ers obviously need at this position. His hands are also noteworthy, as pointed out in the above video.

This prospect is ranked as the third-best wideout on the board per CBS Sports. He is also slated as the 15th-best player in Round 1, making him an ideal choice for general manager Trent Baalke.

Dan Kadar of SB Nation mocks White going to San Francisco with its Round 1 pick.

"

We've got @mockingthedraft's latest mock draft. Is Kevin White the right choice for the 49ers? http://t.co/ut4AmbnRuD

— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) December 30, 2014"

Kadar summarizes White's abilities by writing, "White is a lot like DeAndre Hopkins of the Houston Texans. He has enough size and athleticism to go along with good hands."

Like many of the other first-round receiving prospects, White could double as the legitimate speed threat the 49ers need. He could also be an effective red-zone target for a 49ers offense that has largely been ineffective within the 20-yard line in recent seasons.

If White is the best option on the board when the 49ers select in Round 1, do not be surprised if they make this pick.

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.