San Francisco 49ers: Round-by-Round Draft Targets
The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2015 draft with nine overall selections. In addition to the seven picks they had, the 49ers were awarded compensatory picks in the fourth and seventh rounds.
It has been several years since the 49ers have had so many holes to fill, as they head into this draft.
General manager Trent Baalke did not make a big splash in free agency. The only proven players the 49ers acquired were wide receiver Torrey Smith, defensive lineman Darnell Dockett and running back Reggie Bush.
Unfortunately, the 49ers have lost far more talent than they have brought in.
On defense, the losses include linebackers Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Dan Skuta. Cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox are also gone. Defensive lineman Ray McDonald is no longer with the team, and the 49ers are waiting for word from Justin Smith, who is contemplating retirement.
Offensively, the losses were not as plentiful, but nonetheless they will have an impact. Three starters have departed, with the biggest loss being Frank Gore.
Gore was one of the most well-respected players on the team. His loss, along with the retirement of Willis, will have an impact from a leadership standpoint.
In addition to Gore, the 49ers also lost left guard Mike Iupati and wide receiver Michael Crabtree in free agency.
The players the 49ers have added do not come close to offsetting the departure of so many key players. With very little left on the free-agent market, the draft is critical for the 49ers to rebuild their roster.
Defensively, they have needs along the defensive line, at inside linebacker and cornerback. On offense, the most pressing needs are on the offensive line and wide receiver, even though the former Baltimore receiver was signed.
Let's take a look at who the 49ers could select in each round. This review will focus on each current pick the 49ers hold without forecasting any trades, which certainly could occur.
Round 1: Arik Armstead, Defensive Lineman
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With the top two receivers, Amari Cooper and Kevin White, already off the board, when the 49ers' pick comes up, they will likely focus on bolstering the defense.
Unfortunately, no inside linebackers are worthy of the 15th overall selection, and the top cornerback, Trae Waynes, will likely be gone. There is a distinct possibility that Baalke could trade down a few spots and acquire an additional pick in the third or fourth round.
However, if the 49ers stay with the 15th overall selection, Arik Armstead is their guy. The defensive lineman from Oregon could be a fixture on the defensive front for the next decade.
Armstead has excellent size at 6'7", 292 pounds. He is athletic and can be a disruptive force on the San Francisco defensive front.
Rob Rang of CBS Sports analyzed Armstead's strengths and weaknesses on NFLDraftScout.com.
Round 2: Ronald Darby, Cornerback
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At 5'11" and 193 pounds, Ronald Darby is a bit undersized as an NFL cornerback, but he has excellent speed, which he showed at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, an elite-level time.
As a junior at Florida State, Darby had 43 tackles in 2014. Although not a big hitter, he has shown the ability to make tackles and defend bigger receivers.
With Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox no longer with the team, the 49ers need help at cornerback, and Darby will be a good addition.
Darby was involved in an off-field investigation at Florida State, along with Jameis Winston, but no charges were ever filed. If the 49ers interview him and he comes across as a sincere and dedicated individual, he would be a good selection with the 46th overall pick in the draft.
With the addition of Darby, the 49ers will start training camp with Tramaine Brock, Dontae Johnson, Chris Cook, Keith Reaser, Kenneth Acker, Marcus Cromartie and Jimmie Ward vying for roster spots and playing time at the corner.
Round 3: Justin Hardy, Wide Receiver
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Justin Hardy should be available when the 49ers make their third-round selection at 79th overall. His productivity at East Carolina was outstanding.
In 2013, Hardy caught 114 passes for 1,284 yards and eight touchdowns. He followed that up in 2014 with 121 receptions for 1,494 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hardy has had over 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past three seasons.
Although not a big target or blessed with great speed, Hardy simply gets open and catches the ball.
Dan Brugler of CBS Sports had these positives to say about Hardy on NFLDraftScout.com:
"STRENGTHS: Not an elite speed player, but accelerates well with subtle quickness off the line of scrimmage to shake press. Intuitive target and finds soft coverages to exploit defenses. Excellent depth in his routes and works back to the ball, always trying to get open. Terrific job with body fakes to sell patterns. Quick footwork with concentration through the process, showing the ability to refocus on the move. Natural ball skills with sticky hands and a large catching radius, attacking the ball, not allowing it to come to him. Quick-thinker and has his next move figured out before the catch. Not content with just catching the ball and took advantage of catch-and-go designed plays in college. Tracks well with easy adjustments. Plays with urgency and competes on each snap, finishing runs and improvising when needed. High football intelligence. Heady and willing blocker and more than adequate in this area. Primary punt return duties the last three seasons (63/495/7.9). Soft-spoken, but confident and always trying to prove himself. Consistent workmanlike effort with meticulous practice habits. The most productive receiver in FBS history with a record 387 career catches and his 4,541 receiving yards ranks third all-time in FBS history. Won 2014 Burlsworth Trophy as nation's top walk-on.
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Round 4: Taiwan Jones, Inside Linebacker
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With the retirement of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland, the San Francisco 49ers have a shortage of inside linebackers. The current plan is to start NaVorro Bowman and Michael Wilhoite, but only time will tell if Bowman's knee can stand up to the rigors of a full NFL season.
Strengthening the linebacker corps is critical, and Taiwan Jones would be a tremendous selection with the 126th overall pick. In fact, the 49ers may want to trade up to the end of the third round or early fourth round to ensure they get their man.
At 6'3" and 245 pounds, Jones has the ideal size to be an inside linebacker in the 49ers' 3-4 base defense.
As a senior, he had 60 tackles, with 12.5 tackles for loss, including four sacks. He also had one interception in 2014.
Round 4: Mitch Morse, Offensive Guard
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With the second of their picks in the fourth round, offensive lineman Mitch Morse would be an ideal selection. At 6'5" and 305 pounds, Morse has the size to play at the tackle position but also the athleticism to play inside at a guard spot.
The 49ers lost left guard Mike Iupati in the free-agent market, and right guard Alex Boone will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2015 season.
Boone held out to start the 2014 campaign, and when he finally returned, he played poorly. Unless he dramatically improves his level of play, it will be unlikely that the 49ers will pay him what he will demand.
In 2014, the 49ers drafted a guard, Brandon Thomas, but he sat out the season as he was rehabbing an ACL injury. In addition to Thomas, Marcus Martin and Joe Looney will also vie for playing time.
The ability of Morse to also play the tackle position makes him even more valuable to the 49ers. If anything should happen to Joe Staley or Anthony Davis, the 49ers will need Morse's versatility.
WalterFootball.com had this to say about Morse:
"Morse was a starter at tackle for the Tigers, but for the NFL, he should kick inside to guard. Especially considering Morse has very short arms (32 1/4 inches). Moving to guard would help his pass protection. Morse may not have the skill set to develop into a difference-maker, but he could turn into a quality contributor up front.
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Round 5: Lynden Trail, Outside Linebacker
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The San Francisco 49ers currently have three strong outside linebackers, with Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks and Aaron Lynch. However, depending on the health of inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, the 49ers could consider moving Brooks to the inside.
In addition, with injuries and the treacherous off-field history of Smith, having a young, athletic outside linebacker is not a bad idea.
Lynden Trail has the size to be a force as a pass-rusher. He is 6'7" and 269 pounds—size that cannot be taught.
Trail played his college football at Norfolk State, so he went largely under the radar. He has big upside and could be a higher selection based on talent. However, he does have some red flags, which will likely push him down the draft boards.
At the 151st overall pick, the 49ers don't have much to lose by taking Trail. His upside makes him a gamble worth betting on. However, Baalke and the 49ers must be confident that he has matured and has moved past his prior issues.
WalterFootball.com had this to say about Trail:
"Trail helped himself with a good week at the Senior Bowl. He showed the ability to drop into coverage and rush the passer. Trail is a great fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. If it weren't for the off-the-field concerns, he'd probably be a second-day pick. Trail ran slower than expected at the Combine. Trail is a two-time FCS Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year with the Buck Buchanan Award. The senior amassed 91 tackles with 11.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks in 2014. Trail has a history of off-the-field issues, including an arrest for assault. He started out his collegiate career at Florida before transferring to Norfolk State in 2012.
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Round 6: Rory Anderson, Tight End
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Vernon Davis will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2015 season. His production dropped dramatically in 2014, as he caught only 26 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2013, Davis was named to the Pro Bowl, as he caught 52 passes for 850 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Davis' backup, Vance McDonald, was a second-round pick in the 2013 draft. In the past two years, McDonald has been unable to make the type of impact expected from such a high pick.
McDonald has only 10 catches for his career and just two this past season. He played in only eight games in 2014 due to injury.
With Davis likely to be gone following the season and McDonald not producing, a young tight end would be a good addition. That player is Rory Anderson, from South Carolina.
The South Carolina offense featured the running game and did not throw to the tight end very often, or Anderson's numbers would be a lot higher. In 2014, his senior season, he had 22 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown.
At 6'5" and 244 pounds, Anderson has the size to be an effective tight end. CBSSports.com analyst Rob Rang had this to say about Anderson on NFLDraftScout.com:
"Good initial burst and agility to gain separation off the line of scrimmage and shows good hands. Impressive body control and hand-eye coordination to make leaping grabs. Unlike many other "hybrid" tight end/receivers across the country, Anderson seems to enjoy the physical battles at the line of scrimmage, showing surprising strength and tenacity while blocking. He is quick and competitive when sealing the edge and works to sustain his blocks.
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Round 7: Dominique Brown, Running Back
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With Frank Gore having moved on to Indianapolis, the 49ers are counting on Carlos Hyde to be their primary ball-carrier. Hyde will need to prove that he can handle the rigors of being the featured back on the San Francisco offense.
Hyde's upright running style exposes him to more hits, especially to his legs. It remains to be seen whether he can stay healthy over an entire NFL campaign.
Kendall Hunter returns from an ACL injury after missing the entire 2014 season. In addition, the 49ers signed Reggie Bush as a free agent. Both Hunter and Bush are best-suited to part-time roles as change-of-pace running backs.
Alfonso Smith is also on the roster and showed promise in training camp and the preseason last year.
Bringing in additional depth at running back is a wise move, and Dominique Brown would be a very good pick this late in the draft.
Brown's best season at Louisville was in 2013, when he rushed for 825 yards on 163 carries, which resulted in a 5.1 yards-per-carry average. He also had eight touchdowns.
Injuries cut short his season this past year, which lowers his draft stock. Nevertheless, Brown would provide additional insurance for the 49ers at the running back position.
Rob Rang of CBSSports.com had this to say about Brown on NFLDraftScout.com:
"Impressive-looking athlete on the hoof. Has the size and physicality to function as a cut-and-go zone scheme runner at the next level, showing just enough burst out of his cuts to take advantage of creases and leaning defenders. Accelerates quickly, though his top-end speed (or lack thereof) is a concern.
Good hands out of the backfield, showing the ability to gather in easy passes quickly as well as extend and pluck on more difficult receptions. Shows good size, strength and determination as a pass protector on blitz pick-up. Has demonstrated workhorse capacity at times, including a 27-carry, 137-yard performance against Houston in 2014, and offers versatility as a receiver out of the backfield as he hauled in 24 catches for 228 yards and a touchdown.
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Round 7: Isaiah Johnson, Strong Safety
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The San Francisco 49ers' starting strong safety Antoine Bethea will be 31 years of age this season, and his backup Craig Dahl will be 30.
Jimmie Ward, whom the 49ers drafted with their first-round selection in 2014, was being groomed to play the slot corner spot but can also play safety. However, Ward's foot injuries are an ongoing concern.
The 49ers would be smart to add a young player with upside who can learn from Bethea at the strong safety position. Isaiah Johnson would be a good pick, if he is available at this late point in the draft.
Johnson did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine but had a productive career at Georgia Tech, where he played all four years. In 2014, Johnson made 51 tackles and had one interception.
At 6'2" and 213 pounds, Johnson has the size the 49ers would be looking for. Getting the chance to learn from Bethea and free safety Eric Reid would be a huge benefit to Johnson. Even as a seventh-round pick, Johnson would have a chance to make the roster.
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