San Francisco 49ers: Analyzing Latest NFL Draft Rumors and Reports
The San Francisco 49ers tend to pick players who visit them before the draft.
In 2014, the Niners were one of 10 teams that met with former Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward prior to the draft, according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. The Niners took Ward with the 30th pick in Round 1.
In 2013, the 49ers met with former LSU free safety Eric Reid at the combine before taking him with the 18th pick in Round 1.
And in 2012, former Illinois wide receiver A.J. Jenkins visited the 49ers facility in Santa Clara before the Niners drafted him with the 30th pick in Round 1.
Chances are the Niners' first-round pick will be someone they’ve met with already. With that in mind, here are five players the 49ers have met with and might be interested in drafting.
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
1 of 5
On 95.7 The Game, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com recently said this about the 49ers' first-round pick: “If DeVante Parker is there at 15, they probably take him.”
According to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, the Niners have met with Parker twice—once in April at the team's facility, and once in March at Parker's pro day. Most draft experts consider Parker the third best receiver in the draft behind former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and former West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White.
Last season, Parker had 214 receiving yards against Florida State in his second game back from a broken foot. Florida State’s starting cornerbacks were P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby—two of the best cornerbacks in the upcoming draft. Parker made them look pedestrian.
Parker would be a terrific addition to the Niners. They probably won’t get him, though. The Miami Dolphins have the 14th pick—one slot ahead of the Niners—and the Dolphins need a wide receiver after trading Mike Wallace to the Minnesota Vikings this offseason.
Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
2 of 5
When asked on Twitter which cornerback the 49ers most likely will draft, Matt Maiocco wrote, “Expect the unexpected, right? Jalen Collins.”
The 49ers like tall cornerbacks, and Collins, the former LSU Tiger, is the tallest of the top cornerback prospects in the upcoming draft. He is 6’1.5”.
He also ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the combine, meaning he’s big and fast enough to match up with receivers like Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions and Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons.
But Collins probably won’t be a starter his rookie season. He wasn’t even a full-time starter in college. He started seven of 13 games last season. During his entire three-season college career, he started just 10 games total. He needs a year to develop his technique.
He would get that year on the Niners. They signed former San Diego Chargers cornerback Shareece Wright to a one-year contract this offseason. Collins can sit on the bench and develop his rookie season, then take over for Wright in 2016.
Collins would be a terrific pick in Round 2.
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
3 of 5
Former Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory met privately with the 49ers at his pro day, according to Tony Pauline of draftinsider.net.
Here’s what Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee said about Gregory’s fit with the Niners: “This one’s a bit strange…Gregory is considered one of the best edge-rushers in the draft…He’s also much smaller—235 pounds—than the 49ers typically like their edge-rushers. He does, however, have the long arms (34 inches) (49ers general manager Trent) Baalke covets.”
Gregory’s weight shouldn’t be a concern—he’s only 22 years old. He can put on weight. Let's focus on his other attributes.
He has long arms and violent hands, and he initiates contact with offensive linemen, just like 49ers pass-rushers Aldon Smith and Aaron Lynch.
But Gregory is even more athletic than those two. He’s 6’5” and he runs a 4.64-second 40-yard dash and a 6.79-second three-cone drill. He has the speed and quickness to catch Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the open field—Smith and Lynch do not. Wilson literally runs circles around them.
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Mario Edwards Jr., DE, Florida State
4 of 5
The 49ers met with Mario Edwards Jr. this past Monday, according to Jared Shanker of ESPN.
Here’s what Matt Barrows wrote about the Niners’ possible interest in Edwards Jr.: “With Justin Smith set on retirement and Ray McDonald gone, bolstering the defensive line should be paramount and fast-rising Florida State defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr., who really put together some average tape while in Tallahassee but possesses freakish athleticism, is a possibility.”
Edwards Jr. definitely is a freak athlete. He’s 6’3”, 279 pounds and he runs a 4.84-second 40-yard dash. For a comparison, former 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald ran a 4.88 before the Niners drafted him in Round 3 of the 2007 draft. If the Niners want to replace McDonald with someone from the upcoming draft, Edwards Jr. might be the best candidate.
McDonald is one of the best run defenders in the NFL. Edwards Jr. is a terrific run defender, too—he made 23 tackles for loss in 26 collegiate starts. But he isn’t much of a pass rusher—he had just eight sacks in three seasons. Still, he would be a good replacement for McDonald and a good pick in Round 3.
Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
5 of 5
San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke passed on former South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery in the 2012 draft.
Big mistake.
This year, Baalke has a chance to redeem himself. He can get a receiver similar to Jeffery—former Michigan Wolverine Devin Funchess. According to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, the Niners met with him on April 14.
Compare Funchess and Jeffery.
Funchess: 6’3”, 232 pounds, 4.47-second 40-yard dash, 6.98-second three-cone drill, 38.5-inch vertical leap, 122-inch broad jump, 33.5-inch arms, 9.75-inch hands.
Jeffery: 6’3”, 216 pounds, 4.48-second 40-yard dash, 6.71 three-cone drill, 36.5-inch vertical leap, 122-inch broad jump, 33-inch arms, 10.25-inch hands.
Funchess is bigger and more explosive than Jeffery, a Pro Bowl receiver.
Jeffery had a more productive college career than Funchess, but Funchess played with inaccurate quarterbacks at Michigan (Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner). Funchess also bounced back and forth between wide receiver and tight end.
He has the talent to become a Pro Bowl player like Jeffery if he sticks to one position and plays with a quality quarterback.
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