San Francisco 49ers: Most Valuable Draft Options at Each Position of Need

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke knows that the NFL Draft is as much about finding value throughout the rounds as it is about hitting on your team's specific needs and, with an increased number of holes to address following offseason departures, he will need to prove his worth at unearthing steals again in 2015.

It only takes a cursory glance at the 49ers roster to see that Baalke has shown himself to be adept at drafting players in the mid to late rounds who have gone on the become contributors for San Francisco.

Inside linebacker and former third-round pick NaVorro Bowman is the most obvious example, but other mid-round selections such as Chris Culliver—now with the Washington Redskins—and Kendall Hunter have proven wise choices while more recently the likes of Quinton Dial, Dontae Johnson and Aaron Lynch have impressed.

Having seen a number of key free agents depart and Patrick Willis and Chris Borland call it a career, the Niners have more gaps in their roster than had perhaps been anticipated, and addressing those issues for the right price should prove key to the franchise's hopes of success in the coming years.

With Hunter and Reggie Bush set to back up prospective starter Carlos Hyde, running back is not a pressing need for the 49ers and, while Eric Reid's history of concussions could be a worry, it is difficult to see San Francisco pursuing a safety due to this year's poor class at the position and the cornerbacks on its roster who can shift into that role if needed.

Neither of those positions will therefore be on the list as I break down the most valuable draft options at each position of need for the Niners.

Draft grades courtesy of CBS Sports.

Wide Receiver: Devin Smith

It seems odd to talk about a second-round selection as a value pick but Devin Smith could be a steal for any team should he fall outside of the top 32.

Smith, graded as a prospective second-round pick, was largely used as a downfield burner during his collegiate career, catching only 33 balls with the Buckeyes in his senior season but at a phenomenal average of 28.2 yards per reception as he racked up 931 yards and 12 touchdowns in Ohio State's National Championship winning campaign.

Sheer acceleration is the main weapon in Smith's arsenal, with his speed and burst off the line enabling him to get a jump on the opposing corner and generate immediate separation. Smith also tracks the ball extremely well and, at 6'0" and 196 pounds, has the size and leaping ability to go up and high-point the football.

According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, 54.5 percent of Smith's catches were of 25 yards or more, yet there is little to suggest he could not become more than just a deep threat at the next level. Smith is still raw as a route-runner and may have to experience something of learning curve when it comes to handling physical corners due to his thin frame, but he still excelled on the rare occasions when he was asked to run underneath routes.

Already a significant red-zone threat, the transition from college to the NFL should not be that much of a difficult one for a player of Smith's athletic traits. Baalke may be understandably reticent to take a receiver in the first round after missing on A.J. Jenkins in 2012 but if Smith is still there when the Niners pick in the second, then he should not hesitate in drafting a player who can significantly upgrade their passing attack and potentially develop into a No. 1 receiver down the stretch.

Tight End: Tyler Kroft

The 49ers have six tight ends contracted to their roster, yet going into a draft it is a position that can certainly be considered a need. Starter Vernon Davis disappointed as a pass-catcher and a blocker in 2014, while behind him Vance McDonald offered little and Derek Carrier showed only sporadic flashes of promise.

San Francisco will keep the faith in the ageing Davis for another year but there is no doubt that the Niners could benefit from having a productive secondary option at the tight end spot in the 2015 season. This tight end class is not a great one, however, there are still some interesting prospects in the middle rounds, such as Tyler Kroft of Rutgers.

Given a fourth-round grade, Kroft was underused in the passing game in 2014, making just 24 catches for 269 yards and no touchdowns, but has the size and the athleticism to make an impact going forward in the pros.

Standing at 6'5" and 246 pounds, Kroft gets a quick release off the line and has demonstrated the ability to test defenses deep down the seam and over the middle. Having been utilized both in-line and in the slot, Kroft has shown the versatility to contribute as a blocker as well as in the passing game and was used more regularly in pass protection in his final season with the Scarlet Knights. 

There are concerns over Kroft's tendency to catch with his body and inconsistency when competing for contested catches over the middle, however, that should not prevent San Francisco from considering acquiring a player with the tools to provide the Niners with a good complement to Davis at a very reasonable price.

Offensive Line: Ty Sambrailo

If there is one area the 49ers rarely neglect in the draft, it is the offensive line. And, after seeing guard Mike Iupati leave for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency, it is tough to see Baalke not adding to their depth up front again in 2015.

Yes the Niners have Marcus Martin, Brandon Thomas and Joe Looney to compete for Iupati's old spot at left guard, however, both Looney and Martin have failed to impress early in their careers and there is no guarantee that Thomas will be able to step in right away after redshirting his rookie year with the team due to an ACL injury.

Additionally the 49ers do not have any depth at tackle beyond Joe Staley and Anthony Davis, aside from recent from free-agent acquisition Erik Pears, and adding another body who can give San Francisco more flexibility and insurance up front would be a smart move on the part of Baalke, particularly if he can find a useful player in the middle rounds.

One such player who presents good value in the late third to fourth round is Colorado State tackle Ty Sambrailo. A native of Watsonville, California, Sambrailo started four years at left tackle for the Rams and displayed superb athleticism, showing the foot quickness and lateral movement to excel in pass protection.

Sambrailo also spent time at right takle and both guard spots and was regularly used as a pulling lineman in the run game. Yet, for all his versatility and physical gifts, there are substantial concerns over the 23-year-old, who was often overpowered when put up against power rushers off the edge due to a lack of functional strength.

There are also some character issues surrounding Sambrailo following his involvement in a knife fight in 2012 and a suspension just three weeks later for a separate incident in which he allegedly beat up four students, according to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports.

Any team interested in Sambrailo will have done their homework on his off-the-field concerns but, although he will be not an immediate starter at NFL level, he has the skill set to come in and contribute at tackle or guard should a starter go down. Sambrailo—per Brugler—grew up a Niner fan and San Francisco would be well served to bring him in as a developmental player who can also be a valuable reserve behind the starting five up front.

Defensive Line: Henry Anderson

With Justin Smith still pondering retirement and free-agent acquisition Darnell Dockett and Glenn Dorsey both approaching the back end of their careers, the 49ers require some reinforcement up front to give them some youth on the defensive line.

Of course San Francisco has two promising players on the defensive side of the trenches in the form of Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial, however, there is no guarantee either of that duo will build on the flashes they displayed in 2014, making potentially investing in the D-line a wise move on the part of Baalke.

Various mock drafts have the Niners taking Oregon's Arik Armstead in the first round, but they could get better value as late as the fourth by pursuing Stanford's Henry Anderson.

Anderson has been given a fourth-round grade but possesses the skill set and has delivered the production to suggest that he can become a starting D-lineman at the highest level. The 6'6" and 294-pound Anderson enjoyed his most statistically impressive season in 2014, putting up 66 tackles with 15 for a loss and 8.5 sacks.

An athletically gifted lineman who impressed at the combine with his 3-cone and 20-yard shuttle performances, Anderson plays with an absolutely relentless motor and was often able to come up with stops through sheer effort during his time in Palo Alto. Yet Anderson also has the technical skills to go with his determination, using his hands to stack and shed against the run and demonstrating the power to beat blockers as a pass-rusher.

What is perhaps most impressive about Anderson, though, is his awareness. He was a ball magnet for the Cardinal, regularly displaying the ability to read the play and use his skills and his motor to get to the ball carrier.

Having played in a 3-4 at Stanford, Anderson is a strong fit for the Niner defense, although he may need to add some bulk in order to be success in the NFL in that scheme. Despite concerns over how often he fell down as a rusher and his lack of a secondary move, Anderson's numbers, physical traits and mental acumen should be a tough for San Francisco to resist should he still be available in the middle rounds.

Inside Linebacker: Denzel Perryman

After seeing Willis and Borland walk away from the sport, the 49ers need an inside linebacker who can compete with Michael Wilhoite to start alongside NaVorro Bowman, and they can wait until day two to find that player.

UCLA's Erik Kendricks is the only player at the position considered to be worth a first-round pick, but there a solid group of inside backers below him who have the talent to take the next step and be a starter at the next level, one of which is Miami's Denzel Perryman.

Perryman is not blessed with the physical traits desired for an NFL inside linebacker, standing at 5'11" and 236 pounds, but he has proven adept at using his small frame to slip through the smallest of holes and make plays, putting up 110 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception in 2014.

His lack of size and speed has led to Perryman to have difficulties in man coverage, while a tendency to overpursue when defending the run has also shown up on film. But, for a player rated as a third-round prospect, Perryman's proven ability to read and react to the ball and deliver a thumping in hit on contact should appeal to the 49ers.

Baalke demonstrated in 2014 that he is not afraid to take linebackers with supposed athletic limitations when he picked Borland in the third round. Before his retirement, that pick looked an inspired one, and there is little to suggest that Perryman could not have the same impact.

Edge Rusher: Markus Golden

Despite having both Aldon Smith and the promising Aaron Lynch on the roster, the Niners should still be considering bringing in another pass-rusher in this year's draft. Ahmad Brooks has also proven himself to be very capable in pressuring the quarterback in previous years but could be asked to contribute at inside linebacker in 2015, while San Francisco's only other outside backer, Corey Lemonier, has struggled to make an impression since being taken in the third round in 2013.

The 49ers only put up 36 sacks last season and, if they are to rebound in 2015, that number must increase. And a player who can help them achieve that goal is Missouri's Markus Golden. Rated as a prospective fifth-round pick, Golden has not received the same hype as Tigers team-mate Shane Ray but possesses many of the same traits as a player who is expected to be one of the top 20 players off the board.

Golden's first step is not as explosive as that of Ray but once he gets to full speed he is a difficult man to stop, possessing the speed, agility and violent hands to give opposing blockers nightmares. With that combination of abilities, it was no surprise to see Golden put up his best statistical season in 2014 as he recorded 78 tackles with 20 for a loss and 10 sacks as well as three forced fumbles with one returned for a touchdown.

Able to be a factor against both the run and the pass, Golden displays a relentless motor, rarely giving up on a play and demonstrating the closing speed to keep himself involved at all times and the awareness to bat the pass down when he is unable to get to the quarterback.

The main knock on Golden is that, at 6'2" and 260 pounds, he does not have the build to play at the defensive end position he occupied during his collegiate career. However, he is a strong fit to play as a stand-up rusher in the Niners' 3-4 system and, after San Francisco struck gold with Lynch in the fifth round last year, they could do the same again by selecting a guy in Golden who can have an instant impact as an edge rusher and potentially develop into a solid all-around player.

Cornerback: JaCorey Shepherd

Baalke and the 49ers have rarely taken cornerbacks early in the first round, preferring to boost the secondary through mid to late-round selections. Last year's first-round choice Jimmie Ward was something of an exception, but he was considered as more of a safety coming out even if San Francisco has chosen to deploy him as a nickel back.

The Niners have plenty of depth at corner, although there is perhaps a lack of quality and experience at the position following the departures of Culliver and Perrish Cox. Baalke went as far as to say the Niners are happy with how they are set at corner, which will lead many to believe San Francisco is again not looking to add another early in the draft.

And the good news is the 49ers could wait as late as day three to grab a player with the upside to develop into an exciting defender at the next level in Kansas' JaCorey Shepherd, who heads into the draft having put up extremely impressive numbers in his collegiate career.

Displaying exceptional ball skills, Shepherd racked up 30 passes defensed and five interceptions in his time with the Jayhawks and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2014. At 5'11" and 199 pounds, Shepherd possesses an athletic frame and has the light feet, short-area quickness and the awareness from his days as a receiver to use his quick hips to turn and stay with opposing wideouts.

A lack of top-end speed should be a significant concern for a player who, with his size, may be asked to play in the slot in the early stages of his pro career. However, with a sixth to seventh-round grade attached to his name, Shepherd represents excellent value and it would be foolish on the part of any NFL team not to consider a player with such an obvious nose for the football and history of strong production.

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