Versatile Draft Prospects Who Would Be Assets to the 49ers

Versatility is a trait the San Francisco 49ers are likely to be looking for in the 2015 NFL draft.

With holes across the board on both sides of the ball, it is difficult to envisage the 49ers filling all their needs in this class, and therefore players who can fill more than one role should be prized commodities for a team that hopes to bounce back from a disappointing 8-8 season in 2014.

Of course, versatility runs through the 49ers already, from dual-threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick to a receiver in Bruce Ellington who can play out of the slot and the backfield. San Francisco also has a pair of defensive backs in Jimmie Ward and Dontae Johnson who have experience playing at cornerback and secondary.

Trent Baalke has proved adept at finding players skilled in multiple areas who can become useful assets, particularly when other members of the roster go down through injury. He is under pressure to have a good draft after a tumultuous offseason in the Bay Area.

Here I look at some of the versatile prospects in the class who can play in multiple positions or be effective from different alignments and have the the talent to help the 49ers turn things around.

Nick Marshall

It is tough to find players in the draft who can have an impact on both sides of the ball, but Nick Marshall could have the potential to do so.

Having spent two seasons as Auburn's starting quarterback and leading them to the brink of a national title in 2013, Marshall opted to turn his attention back to playing cornerback at the Senior Bowl in a bid to make it in the NFL.

There is little doubt he has the athleticism to play the position; he posted a time of 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash and vertical jump of 37.5 inches at the combine. However, his main issue will be learning to perform in a role he has not manned since his time at Georgia in 2011.

Yet Marshall is likely to be a late-round pick, and considering his physical tools, that is a small price to pay for a player who could give the 49ers another string to their bow offensively. Indeed, he was an effective dual-threat quarterback with Auburn, and although those skills are unlikely to translate to the NFL, the presence of him on the active roster would give an offense a legitimate trick-play option.

Of course, trick plays are not a priority of any team when thinking about the draft, but for the cost of a sixth- or seventh-round selection, bringing in a player like Marshall who has the athletic traits to perhaps develop into at least a decent cornerback and can be called upon to provide the occasional different look on offense would be worth the gamble.

Eric Rowe

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Utah defensive back Eric Rowe has the ideal skill set to excel at two positions in the NFL, having made the switch to cornerback after earning All-Pac-12 honors as a three-year starter at safety for the Utes.

Rowe recorded 13 pass deflections in 2014, demonstrating the ability to consistently make plays on the ball, although he missed a number of opportunities to add to his one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.

At 6'1", 205 pounds, Rowe has the perfect build to operate at both corner and safety and should be high on the radar of a number of teams after excelling at the combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and posted a 39-inch vertical, 125-inch broad jump, 6.70 three-cone drill, 3.97 short shuttle and 19 reps on the bench.

His performance in the 40 may have allayed some fears over his long speed as a corner, and it is clear on tape that he knows how to use his physical gifts, utilizing his hands to jam receivers and disrupt routes.

With instincts that have become evident through his ability to read the quarterback, get a great drive on the ball and tackles well in the open field, it is easy to see Rowe becoming a success at the next level at corner or safety.

He's viewed as a third- or fourth-round prospect by CBS Sports, and drafting Rowe would boost the 49ers' depth at corner and safety. He would take the pressure off Ward, Johnson and Craig Dahl as the only capable fill-ins for starters Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea at the latter position, and he has the potential to develop into a starter in either role.

David Johnson

With the signing of Reggie Bush, it would appear the 49ers have locked up the backfield for the 2015 season.

Bush will likely serve as a change-of-pace option who can catch passes out of the backfield behind supposed starter Carlos Hyde, with Kendall Hunter also competing for carries after missing 2014 with an ACL injury.

However, it remains to be seen whether Bush will be a short-term fix and if Hunter will be the same player after a year on the sidelines. The Niners have drafted a running back in each of the last four years, and with those questions over Bush and Hunter still to be answered, it is fair to assume that they will at least consider selecting another tailback in 2015.

And the production and skill set of Northern Iowa's David Johnson should be hard to ignore. At 6'1", 224 pounds, he has an imposing frame, which he used to bulldoze his way to three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Johnson, though, is more than just a typical power back.

Indeed, perhaps his most impressive trait is his pass-catching. He has soft hands and displays the vision and athleticism to make big plays after the catch. With his size and ability as a receiver, there has been talk of Johnson projecting better as an H-back at the next level.

Yet, in between the tackles, he still looks the part as a runner. He regularly makes the right cuts and has the speed to consistently produce long gains, clocking a 40-yard dash time of 4.5 seconds at the combine. He could flourish behind a 49ers offensive line that has excelled in run blocking in previous years.

His pass protection appears inconsistent at best, but given his worth as a downhill runner and pass-catcher, Johnson is a decent mid-round option for a Niners team that could use a long-term solution at backup tailback.

Byron Jones

Another player with experience at cornerback and safety, Byron Jones quite literally leapt up NFL draft boards with his performance at the combine.

The UConn defensive back posted a world-record broad jump of 147 inches at the combine and put on a show in the rest of the drills as well, impressing with a 44.5-inch vertical jump and displaying superb agility in the shuttle drills.

His eye-catching combine came after a decent season at corner following a move from free safety, as he recorded two interceptions in a campaign that saw him play just seven games because of a shoulder injury.

Despite not running at the combine, Jones appears to have the all-around physical skill set to succeed in the NFL, proving quick enough to stay with receivers downfield and demonstrating strong recovery speed. Additionally, he possesses good instincts and knows when to use his hands to disrupt the timing of routes and make a play on the ball.

At 6'1", 199 pounds, Jones' overall athletic makeup is worthy of the second-round grade given to him by CBS Sports, although teams will surely have questions over the shoulder problem that ended his final year in East Hartford.

There are doubts over whether he has the physicality to play free safety in the NFL, but like Rowe, his background in having done so should appeal to a 49ers team in need of an athletic corner following the loss of their best player at the position when Chris Culliver signed with the Washington Redskins.

Devin Funchess

The concerns surrounding the speed of Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess became louder when he ran a disappointing 40-yard dash at the combine, posting a time of 4.70 seconds.

However, he bounced back brilliantly by running the 40 in a 4.47 seconds at Michigan's pro day, and if he can play at the same pace, then there appears little to stop him from becoming a dynamic offensive threat at the next level.

Having played tight end in 2012 and 2013, Funchess made the switch to receiver in his junior season and enjoyed success, recording 62 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games for a disappointing Michigan team.

Able to play outside, in the slot or in line, Funchess can line up anywhere and to try to win with his intimidating 6'4", 232-pound frame, which he uses to beat press coverage and catch the football at his highest point. 

There are some issues with drops and doubts over his ability to serve as a true deep threat, yet Funchess' performance at his pro day may convince NFL teams that he does have the build and speed to challenge defenders down the field and win those matchups because of the size advantage. 

San Francisco already has one of the most established deep threats in the league after signing Torrey Smith in free agency. The team also possesses a tight end in Vernon Davis who, despite struggling last season, can cause defenses problems from various positions on the offensive alignment. Adding another player with that capability would be a huge boost to an offense that was too predictable in 2014.

La'el Collins

After losing left guard Mike Iupati in free agency, the 49ers might select an offensive lineman in the first round of the draft.

Indeed, both Brian Baldinger and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com have the 49ers selecting Brandon Scherff out of Iowa, but another option who could be available with pick No. 15 is LSU's La'el Collins. Graded as the No. 11 player in the draft by CBS Sports, he could be off the board when San Francisco makes its pick.

However, if he's available, then Collins may be a tough player to pass on.

After playing 13 games at left guard in his sophomore season, he kicked outside to tackle for his junior and senior seasons and was impressive. At 6'4", 305 pounds, he is an intimidating and powerful blocker who is able to completely take defenders out of the game when he gets his hands on them in a square position.

Dominant in run blocking with the athletic ability to be a force at the second level, Collins looks to be a perfect fit for a 49ers offense that has long been built around the power run game. However, his labored lateral movement and susceptibility to inside moves make it tough to see him developing into a left tackle who can handle pressure off the edge in the NFL.

Collins' square frame and potential future struggles against edge-rushers make him better suited for the guard role. The Niners already have Brandon Thomas and Marcus Martin to fill in for Iupati at that position, but Collins' familiarity with playing on the interior and the outside should be highly valued by a San Francisco team that struggled with injuries up front in 2014.

Shaq Thompson

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

The big concern over Shaq Thompson is that draft analysts have no idea where he will line up. Some see him as a safety, while others view him as a linebacker. A few even think he is best suited as a running back at the NFL level. Thompson has played all three of those positions in his career, and what is evident is that he has the talent to excel as a pro no matter where he is placed on the field.

Playing at both inside and outside linebacker in Washington's defense, Thompson displayed an excellent nose for the football in his final season with the Huskies, which saw him score four defensive touchdowns and two as a running back.

Excellent in pursuit and capable of operating effectively in zone coverage and in tracking opposing tailbacks on routes out of the backfield, he has the fluidity in the open field that may convince some team he is good enough to serve as a safety at the highest level.

Some analysts, such as NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, have concerns over his weight, which is said to have fluctuated from the official measurement of 228 pounds, and his ability as a blitzer. The latter issue appears legitimate given that Thompson only posted five sacks in his three-year career with Washington.

Yet, with the 49ers having lost inside linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland to retirement, San Francisco could use another dynamic player on defense. Thompson fits the mold, and if the Niners can find a specific role for him, then the Sacramento, California, native—graded as the No. 33 player in the draft by CBS Sports—has more than enough ability to justify a potential second-round pick.

Owamagbe Odighizuwa

While Owamagbe Odighizuwa's name is difficult to pronounce, his talent on the field is easy to see.

The UCLA defensive end earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2014 following a season that saw him record 61 tackles with 11.5 for a loss and six sacks. That kind of production is enough to earn any prospect early-round consideration, but Odighizuwa boosted his standing further with a fine display of athleticism at the combine for a player who stands at 6'3" and 267 pounds.

He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds while posting a vertical jump of 39 inches and a broad jump of 127 inches. And he used those physical traits to his advantage in his final season with the Bruins, in which he operated in both three- and four-man fronts, serving as a hand-down and stand-up pass-rusher off the edge and a run-stopper on the interior defensive line.

The 22-year-old does a great job of converting his obvious speed to power to push opposing offensive lineman back toward the pocket. He combines that ability with a relentless motor and strong, violent hands to ensure he is always a nuisance in pass-rush situations.

Additionally, Odighizuwa has proved adept at shedding blockers to make plays in the run game, but there are concerns over the two hip surgeries that forced him to miss the entire 2013 season and his limited lateral agility.

In a 3-4, he likely projects best as an outside linebacker and has what it takes to boost a pass rush that posted a disappointing 36 sacks in 2014. However, he is also good enough as a run-stopper to be plugged in on the defensive front.

Graded as the No. 24 player in the draft by CBS Sports, Odighizuwa may not represent value for the Niners with the No. 15 pick, but should he slip out of the first round, he would merit serious consideration from Baalke.

Nicholas McGee is a San Francisco 49ers Featured Columnist based in Leeds, England. Follow him on Twitter @nicholasmcgee24.