Making the Call on 6 Controversial Draft Prospects for the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have had to deal with their fair share of off-the-field issues in recent times, with the likes of Aldon Smith, Chris Culliver and Ray McDonald all attracting headlines for the wrong reasons. But history suggests that is unlikely to prevent the Niners from looking at some of the more controversial prospects in this year's draft.

San Francisco took a chance on a player with apparent character concerns in Aaron Lynch in the fifth round of last year's draft—a move that looks well set to pay dividends. It also displayed that it is franchise unafraid of players with slightly tarnished reputations by picking up Jerome Simpson in free agency after the wide receiver missed the whole of last season following his release by the Minnesota Vikings on the back of multiple indiscretions relating to banned substances.

Determining what character flaws can be overlooked is a difficult balancing act for NFL front offices and particularly for a 49er organization that has seen its owner Jed York speak consistently about "winning with class."

Still there will be certain players who, when it is time for the 49ers to make their pick, will be tough to say no to despite any off-the-field issues they may have. Here I analyze six of those prospects and determine whether they should be on the Niners' board come the start of the draft on April 30.

Randy Gregory

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

In terms of talent, Randy Gregory is one of the premier edge-rushers in the class, and earlier speculation of him going in the top 10 was not surprising. However, that possibility seems to have diminished somewhat following revelations that he tested positive for marijuana at the combine.

Gregory will not be subject to any league discipline for that indiscretion, but it will have put a huge red flag against his name in the eyes of NFL teams. CBS Sports has Gregory ranked at No. 15 overall following news of his positive test, putting him right around the area where the Niners will be making their first pick.

San Francisco already has talented pass-rushers in Aldon Smith, Lynch and newly acquired defensive lineman Darnell Dockett. But for a team that put up only 36 sacks last season, bringing a talent like Gregory into the defensive mix would be a boost in a league where generating pressure on the quarterback is so important.

And if there is one thing Gregory knows how to do, it is pressure the quarterback. After recording 17.5 sacks in 2013, he registered 8.5 in his final season with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, in which he missed two games due to injury problems. 

Despite that drop-off in production, there can be little doubt Gregory has the tools to make it at the next level. Incredibly athletic with exceptional burst off the line, speed, and a relentless motor, Gregory is an extremely dangerous threat off the edge. He also displays the awareness to know when to use his hands to make plays and recorded an interception, three pass deflections and a forced fumble in 2014. 

While he has trouble converting speed to power and does not appear strong against the run, Gregory is versatile enough to be deployed on the line in a 4-3 and as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4, which is where he best projects given his lean 235-pound frame. 

Gregory is an ideal fit for the 49ers and would give San Francisco a fearsome group of pass-rushers. And what the Niners can take heart from when assessing his character was Gregory's maturity in owning up to his mistake and determination to move on and improve. His words may not be enough to convince other teams, but, given his obvious physical skills, Gregory's contrition should be sufficient to keep him high on the 49ers' board.

Draftable: Yes

Josh Shaw

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

A long, well-built defender with experience at safety, USC's Josh Shaw fits what the 49ers look for at the cornerback position and uses his length well to make plays on the ball, registering 16 passes defended and six interceptions in his collegiate career.

Yet there are considerable concerns over his character following a senior season that saw him play just three games because of a suspension after it had emerged he had suffered ankle injuries escaping the police rather than saving a drowning relative as he had originally claimed.

According to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Shaw passed the character test of an NFC North area scout despite his issues in 2014, and, in a draft where the depth at corner is minimal, the former Trojan could prove to be a decent value pick in the mid rounds. But while he has the physical build the Niners seek at corner at 6'0" and 201 pounds, there are considerable deficiencies in his game that somewhat limit his potential to excel at the NFL level. 

Indeed, Shaw struggles significantly in tracking the ball and suffers from lapses in assignments, leading him to allow receivers to get open. He also does not possess top-end speed, with the pace he displayed in his 4.44-second 40-yard dash at the combine not really showing up on film.

Shaw's lack of speed may lead many to see him as a safety at the next level, however, he does not appear to have the physicality as a tackler to operate in that role. There is no real telling at this point what Shaw's best position is. The 49ers value versatility, but at a present this a player who does not look to be worth the risk.

Draftable: No

Paul Dawson

It may be a stretch to brand Paul Dawson as a controversial prospect, yet the knocks on his character appear certain to have some impact on where he is taken come draft day. 

Despite his disappointing size for the inside linebacker position—he stands at 6'0" and 235 pounds—Dawson was incredibly productive at TCU, racking up 241 tackles with 31 for a loss as well as five interceptions, eight pass deflections and three forced fumbles.

Dawson earned Consensus All-American honors in 2014 and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for his outstanding senior season. A superb downhill linebacker, Dawson compares well to recently retired former 49er Chris Borland, showcasing superb instincts to diagnose the play and attack the line of scrimmage and fly to the football.

It is therefore no surprise to see Dawson viewed by most as one of if not the top linebacker in the class, and he could represent excellent value as a prospective second- or third-round selection. Still his below-average size leaves him needing to rely on speed instead of power as a blitzer and will likely see some teams take him off their board, particularly after he ran a very disappointing 4.93-second 40 at the combine. 

Combine his apparent disappointing athleticism with the concerns over his mentality and Dawson looks to be a risky early-round prospect. Zierlein states that scouts are worried about his character and have said Dawson was not beloved within the Horned Frogs program.

San Francisco, though, has experience at getting the best out of difficult personalities, and there is no reason to suggest that a players' coach like Jim Tomsula will not be able to ensure Dawson is fully committed to the team.

There are red flags, but the production is hard to ignore, and the 49ers would be wise to replace Borland with an almost identical player.

Draftable: Yes

Karlos Williams

The 49ers have drafted a running back for the last six years. Despite Kendall Hunter's prospective return from an ACL injury and the signing of Reggie Bush, it would be no surprise to see them bring in another to be the long-term backup to Carlos Hyde.

With plenty of other issues to address, a tailback is likely to be a mid- to late-round pick for the Niners. And one of the better late-round options is Florida State's Karlos Williams. The former Seminole is very similar to Hyde in that he is a physically imposing one-cut downhill runner with impressive explosion and burst.

Williams also has the ability to change direction quickly, displays good top-end speed and has shown himself to be both willing and able in pass protection and catching passes out of the backfield. However, Williams' production was down in 2014—he averaged 4.6 yards per carry having put up eight yards per rush in 2013. There are bound to be concerns over his running style, which is too upright and angular for him to be successful in the NFL. 

Additionally, it is highly possible that Williams will not be on the boards of certain teams after he was investigated for domestic battery, although no charges were filed against him. 

His character will continue to be under severe scrutiny right up until draft day. If the 49ers decide they want to bludgeon opposing defenses into submission with two power runners, then Williams would be a decent option. But there is good depth in the running back class this year, and given his off-the-field history, it is probably best that they look elsewhere for a backfield addition.

Draftable: No

Marcus Peters

If not for concerns over his character, Washington cornerback Marcus Peters may be regarded as the consensus top overall player in the draft at that position.

Peters enjoyed a stellar career with the Huskies, which he finished with 11 interceptions and 27 passes defensed, demonstrating the coverage ability and the ball skills to be a game-changing No. 1 corner.

It is tough to find in area in which Peters struggles. While his speed is not the greatest (4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash), occasions where he has given up significant separation have been rare. Peters also displays the leaping ability (37.5" vertical leap) to climb the ladder and make plays on the ball, the awareness in correctly reading the quarterback's eyes and the tackling skills to make plays in the run game, although he could benefit from taking better angles in the open field.

This is a corner who plays with very evident aggression. It is that same aggression that ran Peters into trouble at Washington, as he was suspended for one game following a sideline spat with coach Chris Petersen before being booted off the team due to multiple clashes with coaching staff.

That apparent immaturity will be a big issue with many NFL teams. However, it was reassuring to see Peters invited to Washington's pro day despite his problems, which in the right environment appear capable of being kept in check.

San Francisco's secondary has long since lacked a game-changing player at the cornerback spot. Peters, who is scheduled to have an official visit with the 49ers this month, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, could be that guy but also has potential to bring disruption to the locker room.

The Niners will have reservations about picking a player with a reputation for clashing with coaches. For a secondary that lost key pieces in Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox in the offseason, he would be worth the game if he is still there at pick No. 15.

Draftable: Yes

Dorial Green-Beckham

Perhaps the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the entire draft, it is tough to determine in what round Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham will come off the board.

Green-Beckham has not played competitive football in over a year, having missed the entire 2014 season. He was twice suspended by Missouri for marijuana-related offenses before being kicked off the Tigers for allegedly pushing a woman down the stairs in April of last year. 

After transferring to Oklahoma, Green-Beckham had a request to waive a transfer restriction denied by the NCAA, forcing him to watch the 2014 campaign from the sidelines. As a result, there are bound to be some concerns that his transition to the NFL may take longer than other rookies as well as doubts over his character.

But put in the tape from when he was on the field and you see a receiver able to give defenses fits. Green-Beckham possesses outstanding size at 6'5" and 237 pounds and an incredible catch-radius (32.5" arms), allowing him to climb the ladder and catch passes that would be otherwise be interceptions.

Green-Beckham combines those attributes with decent speed—he ran the 40 in 4.49 seconds at the combine—and the power to run defenders over and make yards after the catch, although there are issues with his route running and his performance against press coverage.

Should San Francisco draft him, however, Green-Beckham would have the opportunity to learn from the likes of Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith. Their experience would be of great benefit to a player with the raw talent to put his past troubles behind him and become one of the better downfield threats in the NFL.

Draftable: Yes

College stats courtesy of Sports Reference.

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