San Francisco 49ers: Updating the 1st-Round Draft Board Post-Combine
The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine gave the top college prospects an opportunity to shine and impress prospective suitors.
With a good performance at the combine, prospects can enhance their draft stock. However, a poor performance can also damage one's draft position.
The San Francisco 49ers own the 15th selection in the upcoming draft. They have several positional needs that must be addressed. The 49ers' three most pressing areas are at wide receiver, cornerback and offensive line.
San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke must have a good draft. The 49ers have salary cap problems and will not be able to acquire the free-agent talent they need to shore up their roster. Without a stellar draft, the 49ers will have a hard time competing in the ultra-tough NFC West.
Now that the combine has been held, let's take a look at how the 49ers draft board may be shaping up with their top selection.
College stats courtesy of sports-reference.com.
Scouting combine data courtesy of cbssports.com.
Kevin White, Wide Receiver
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Kevin White improved his draft stock with an excellent showing at the combine. He ran a surprisingly fast time of 4.35 in the 40-yard dash. By doing so, he answered the question of whether he had elite-level speed.
Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com reported that White was the most impressive receiver at the combine and actually performed better than Amari Cooper.
Cooper was rated ahead of White by some coming into the combine, but White has closed the gap and the two can be rated about even at this point.
White had an excellent 2014 season at West Virgina, catching 109 passes for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns.
At 6'3" and 215 pounds, White has good size. He also has shown the ability to get open and make tough catches.
White also demonstrated good strength, bench pressing 225 pounds 23 times. He and Sammie Coates of Auburn led all receivers.
The issue for the 49ers, however, is that White has likely moved up in the draft and will no longer be there when the 49ers pick with the 15th overall selection. If general manager Trent Baalke wants to get White, he will likely need to trade up into the top 10, maybe as high as the sixth or seventh pick.
To make that bold a move, it will likely cost the 49ers their first selection, plus their second-round pick and even more. However, White has star-caliber potential and might very well be worth it.
White has the look of a star, although, realistically, his performance at the combine may have moved him too far up the draft board to make sense for the 49ers.
DeVante Parker, Wide Receiver
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DeVante Parker is long and lean with good speed. He has shown the ability to make big plays and his 19.9 yards-per-catch average in his senior season at Louisville is a testament to his game-breaking skills.
Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com reports that Parker has already met with the Vikings, Raiders and Dolphins, all teams with earlier draft selections than the 49ers.
With the emphasis on the passing game in the NFL, we could easily see three receivers, Amari Cooper, Kevin White and Parker, all go within the first ten picks.
Parker is 6'3" and 209 pounds. He has a lean frame and could put on some muscle. He came in with 17 reps in the bench press, which was six below Kevin White and Sammie Coates.
Parker ran the 40-yard dash in a time of 4.45. He has good speed, although not elite speed. Nevertheless, if Baalke and the 49ers want Parker, they will likely need to trade up into the top 10.
Dorial Green-Beckham, Wide Receiver
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If Dorial Green-Beckham did not have questions about his character, he could be the top receiver on the board. At 6'5" and 237 pounds, Green-Beckham has the size that NFL scouts drool over. He is also an outstanding athlete.
Green-Beckham played only two seasons at Missouri, where he caught a total of 87 passes for 1,278 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was dismissed from the Missouri program due to off-field problems involving an alleged assault and a drug arrest.
If Green-Beckham can stay out of trouble, he could develop into the best receiver from this class. However, that is a question the 49ers and every team that considers him must ask.
Green-Beckham ran a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds 13 times. He needs to improve his strength and his route running, but he has all the athleticism one could want at his position.
It is very uncertain whether Green-Beckham can convince would-be suitors that his off-field problems are behind him. There is a reasonable chance that Green-Beckham will be available with the 49ers' pick, the 15th overall.
Dane Brugler Also NFLDraftScout.com discusses Green-Beckham's strengths and weaknesses.
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Jaelen Strong, Wide Receiver
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Jaelen Strong had two very solid seasons at Arizona State. In 2013, he caught 75 passes for 1,122 yards and seven touchdowns. He followed that up with 82 receptions for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns this past year.
Strong did well at the combine. He ran a bit faster than expected, with a very solid 4.44 time in the 40-yard dash. Kevin Zimmerman of FoxSports.com provided a summary of Strong's performance at the combine.
Frank Cooney of NFLDraftScout.com had this to say about Strong:
"Aptly named, Strong is almost animalistic in how he pursues a football. He shows exceptional hand-eye coordination that maximizes his long arms and huge hands. Add to that intense focus and an ability to snag the ball regardless of its trajectory or defensive traffic and this is a receiver with mad ball skills.
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Strong does not have the same upside as Green-Beckham, but should have a very good NFL career. He is far less of a risk and is likely to be available with the 49ers' selection at 15th overall.
Sammie Coates, Wide Receiver
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Sammie Coates under-produced at Auburn, but his lack of production was largely due to weak quarterback play and Auburn's focus on the ground attack.
In the 2014 season, Coates caught 34 passes for 741 yards and four touchdowns. His 21.8 yards-per-catch average was outstanding.
Coates impressed at the combine, running a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash. He also completed 23 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press. He and Kevin White led all receivers.
NFL.com reports that Coates must improve his fundamental catching skills and overall focus. If the 49ers are unable to secure one of the receivers mentioned earlier, GM Trent Baalke could opt to trade back a few spots and get Coates later in the first round.
If San Francisco moved back about six spots, they should still be able to draft Coates, while also picking up an extra third-round pick.
Trae Waynes, Cornerback
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If the San Francisco 49ers opt to pass on a wide receiver in the first round, the next area of need is at the cornerback position.
Cornerback is a position that requires dynamic players and a lot of quality depth. Injuries are prevalent among corners, as they are frequently asked to cover big, strong receivers, fend off blockers much larger than them and also make tackles against running backs going at full speed.
In 2014, the 49ers lost cornerbacks Tramaine Brock, Jimmie Ward, Chris Cook and Kenneth Acker to injuries. The only proven corners to stay healthy were Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox, but both are free agents. Due to the 49ers' salary-cap woes, it is highly questionable whether they can bring back either player, let alone both.
The result is that general manager Trent Baalke must target at least one cornerback early in the draft. If he decides to go in this direction with the 49ers' first-round pick, Trae Waynes is the ideal selection.
Waynes played three seasons at Michigan State and is the top-rated cornerback available, according to NFLDraftScout.com.
In 2014, Waynes had three interceptions and made 46 tackles. He also performed extremely well at the combine.
Waynes ran a lightning-fast 4.31 in the 40-yard dash and has shown good instincts in coverage. At 6'0" and 186 pounds, Waynes can put on some muscle and add strength, but that will come with focused time in the weight room.
Jalen Collins, Cornerback
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LSU cornerback Jalen Collins is an intriguing prospect. At 6'1" and 203 pounds he has the size that NFL teams want. In addition, he has shown the physicality that is needed to be a top corner in the NFL.
Collins ran a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash and also impressed with a vertical leap of 36 inches.
On NFLDraftScout.com, Brandon Thorn discusses Collins and his pro-potential. Thorn also addresses Collins' strengths and weaknesses at this stage of his career.
Selecting Collins with the 15th overall selection may be a bit of a reach, but if Trae Waynes is already gone, Collins is the next best fit for the 49ers.
Ideally, the 49ers can get their wide receiver with the 15th pick, then trade up for another late first-round selection, perhaps to around the 26th overall selection. This would be an ideal point to grab Collins.
Marcus Peters, Cornerback
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Playing in the Pac-12 Conference, Marcus Peters has been exposed to many high-powered, pass-happy offenses. He is battle-tested and that will be an asset as he embarks on his professional career.
Peters is 6'0" and 197 pounds, decent size for a cornerback. He ran a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash, which is respectable, though not great.
However, in addition to his football skills, Peters must also address the personal issues that caused him to frequently clash with the coaching staff at the University of Washington. Ultimately, Peters was dismissed from the team in November, after playing in nine games in his junior season.
Peters has the talent and athleticism to play in the NFL. However, his demeanor and whether he can be coached are concerns. More than his physical performance at the combine, Peters' interviews will make a huge difference in his draft position.
Peters is too big a risk to be taken with the 49ers' 15th overall selection, but if he is available towards the end of the first round, he must be a strong consideration.
The 49ers can trade up to get Peters late in Round 1, assuming they have already selected a wide receiver with their earlier pick.
If both Trae Waynes and Jalen Collins are already taken, Peters is the next best option, as long as the 49ers believe he has the maturity to be a good teammate.
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