5 Best Options for 49ers with the No. 15 Pick in 2015 Draft

Getting the San Francisco 49ers back on track towards winning a Super Bowl will fall upon the shoulders of general manager Trent Baalke and his actions in the upcoming 2015 NFL draft.

Unlike previous seasons, the 49ers have some pressing needs this year. The secondary saw a couple of key departures with cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox leaving via free agency. The defensive line could use some reinforcement, as could the linebacker and wide receiver positions given some of the recent free-agent/retirement departures.

While each of San Francisco's nine picks could help fill these voids, which prospects are the best fits with the 15th overall pick?

The No. 15 pick gives Baalke a number of options. He could stay put and simply select the best player on the 49ers' big board. Or he could opt to execute a draft-day trade in the round—a possibility given Baalke's history in executing such transactions (moving up to draft safety Eric Reid in 2013).

Still, trading up for picks might not be in San Francisco's best interests this year. Considering the greater needs than in years prior, it's hard to envision the 49ers sending away much-needed picks from this season. Therefore, a trade-up shouldn't be expected to be for more than just a few spots.

The best picks with their first pick fall into certain criteria.

First, and most obvious, the specific prospect has to land at or near where San Francisco will draft. Or the 49ers could look to trade down and add both a first-round talent and, potentially, a decent draft pick in return.

Additionally, the first target in the draft should fit a specific need the team has. 

Finally, the first-round selection needs to provide star-power impact both in the short- and long-term pictures. 

The 49ers' return to the postseason could very well hinge on it.

DT Malcom Brown, Texas

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Texas DT Malcom Brown could help reinforce a thin D-line in 2015.

Malcom Brown, Defensive Tackle

School: Texas

Height/Weight: 6'2"/319 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

The 49ers defensive line is going to need some help at some point in the near future. This unit may be in desperate need of reinforcements this season with defensive end Ray McDonald gone and fellow DE Justin Smith debating retirement.

San Francisco does have some depth here with D-linemen like Tank Carradine, Ian Williams, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Glenn Dorsey, Quinton Dial and the newly acquired Darnell Dockett. 

But the 49ers could also be seeking an impact player who will help solidify head coach Jim Tomsula's former positional coaching unit.

Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown could be the answer.

The 6'2", 319-pound lineman posted a respectable 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss for the Longhorns last year. According to Rob Rang and Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, Brown has excellent physical strength and good body control. Technique is the only thing they cite as being a work in progress.

That is something that could be taught under the tutelage of a head coach like Tomsula.

Additionally, Brown is a stand-up personality with zero red flags per his CBS profile page. San Francisco would not have to worry about his character.

"

With the 15th pick of the @sbnation blogger mock draft 2015, NN selects .... http://t.co/xU1WMmFXoN pic.twitter.com/ZqASPMD4Lv

— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) March 27, 2015"

Brown could go at No. 15, as suggested by SB Nation in the above tweet. Or he could fall lower. According to CBS Sports, Brown is ranked as the 27th overall prospect, which suggests the 49ers could possibly trade down in Round 1 adding a mid-round pick in the process.

That wouldn't be a bad idea based on Brown's talents.

DE Shane Ray, Missouri

Shane Ray, Defensive End

School: Missouri

Height/Weight: 6'3"/245 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

Sticking with the defense, the 49ers could also entertain the possibility of adding pass-rushing standout Shane Ray out of Missouri.

Ray totaled 19 sacks in three seasons at Missouri—14.5 of which came last year.

Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of CBS Sports highlight his physical prowess and note that Ray is still developing his array of pass-rushing moves.

Additionally, Rang, Pete Prisco and Will Brinson of CBS currently have Ray mocked to the Houston Texans at No. 16.

This would put Ray right into San Francisco's wheelhouse with the pick before.

So why should Trent Baalke consider adding Ray to the front seven? Ray likely won't play along the defensive line at the NFL level, and that's a defensive area in which the 49ers have significant need.

The reason surrounds an uncertain future of linebacker Aldon Smith. 

Smith enters a contract year in 2015. And his 2014 campaign, which was limited by a nine-game suspension, netted a mere two sacks and 10 tackles—a far cry from the numbers Smith posted when he and defensive end Justin Smith were a consistent force (19.5 sacks in 2012).

Adding Ray would likely signify the end of Aldon Smith's tenure, and all the associated off-the-field worries, in San Francisco beyond 2015.

And the thoughts of a pass-rushing combination of Ray and second-year linebacker Aaron Lynch should inspire fear in opposing offenses.

WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma

Dorial Green-Beckham, Wide Receiver

School: Oklahoma

Height/Weight: 6'5"/237 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

If red flags are not much of an issue, Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham could possibly be the first wide receiver selected in 2015. 

There is little doubt behind the 6'5", 237-pound prospect's talents on the field. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports describes him as being a "physical specimen with rare athleticism and triangle numbers (size/speed/strength) for his frame."

Green-Beckham was also compared to being a hybrid of wideouts Julio Jones and Plaxico Burress according to NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis (h/t CSN Bay Area).

"

Scout: WR Green-Beckham mix of Julio Jones, Plaxico Burress: Dorial Green-Beckham, one of the most... http://t.co/Maw1NLietG #49ersTalk

— CSN 49ers News (@CSN49ers) April 12, 2015"

But there are character concerns—a lot of them per his CBS profile. Perhaps this is the primary reason why CBS has him ranked as the No. 34 overall prospect in the draft.

Further removing the possibility of Green-Beckham going to San Francisco are the additions of wide receivers Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson. 

Yet adding Green-Beckham would provide a long-term solution to a receiving corps that generated just 3,063 yards last season—No. 30 in the NFL.

And one can't forget that 34-year-old receiver Anquan Boldin will hit free agency after 2015.

So if Green-Beckham can keep his red flags at a minimum, there should be little doubt that he could provide a huge boost to an inept receiving game.

WR DeVante Parker, Louisville

DeVante Parker, Wide Receiver

School: Louisville

Height/Weight: 6'3"/209 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

If the 49ers wanted to avoid off-the-field concerns yet reinforce their receiving corps with a bona fide playmaker, Trent Baalke could consider a way to land Louisville wideout DeVante Parker in Round 1.

Parker is ranked higher than Dorial Green-Beckham per CBS Sports—the No. 12 prospect compared to No. 34.

Additionally, Rob Rang, Dane Brugler, Pete Prisco and Will Brinson of CBS Sports all have Parker being drafted higher than the 49ers' 15th pick in the round. Prisco has Parker going at No. 10 to the St. Louis Rams.

There is the outside chance that Parker slips to Baalke at No. 15. But the likely scenario would be a trade-up that would ensure the 49ers got their man.

"

Mel Kiper just said that Devante Parker could go from 10-15 overall. Doesn't expect him to fall beyond the 49ers at No. 15 #CardNation

— ACCSports.com (@ACCSports) March 26, 2015"

Moving up from the 15th pick to, let's say, No. 11 would take at least two mid-round picks, according to Walter Football's draft-value chart.

It's hard to envision Baalke sending off two picks to move up just four spots, but such a transaction could be easier. It only took a third-round pick in 2013 to jump up to the 18th slot to grab safety Eric Reid that year.

Parker averaged 19.9 yards per reception last season and has the speed to create yards after the catch. 

Speed is what San Francisco needs on offense, and Parker would provide that.

CB Marcus Peters, Washington

Marcus Peters, Cornerback

School: Washington

Height/Weight: 6'0"/197 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

While the 49ers do have some pressing needs at wide receiver, linebacker and along the defensive line, the team will have to find a way to replace the production generated out of the secondary last season.

Cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox both departed via free agency during the offseason. This tandem combined for nine interceptions in 2014 and helped a secondary which allowed just 3,531 passing yards last year—good for fifth in the NFL.

San Francisco does have a relatively deep crop of corners on its roster. Tramaine Brock should return from an injury-riddled season. He'll be joined by cornerbacks Chris Cook, Dontae Johnson, newly acquired Shareece Wright and untested corners Kenneth Acker and Keith Reaser.

But should one expect Trent Baalke to pass on an impact defensive back that can emerge as a starter in Week 1?

Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes is ranked as the No. 1 cornerback available in the draft per CBS Sports and the No. 9 prospect overall. While the 49ers have been linked to both Waynes and Washington's Marcus Peters as described in the video above, it's hard to see Waynes falling to San Francisco at No. 15.

"

I've said that Trae Waynes could be in play for 49ers at 15, I don't believe so anymore. Could possibly slide Marcus Peters in there now.

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) February 24, 2015"

Peters is ranked as the No. 26 prospect in the draft per CBS Sports. And the red flags between him and his coaching staff are possible reasons why this talent has slipped.

The 6'0", 197-pound prospect had a total of 11 interceptions over three seasons with Washington, which suggests Peters could emerge as the ball hawk to replace the turnover production of players like Culliver and Cox.

Character concerns will be the primary issue here. But if Peters falls to the 49ers at No. 15, it's hard to envision Baalke passing up on his top-tier talents.

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.

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