San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft: Final 7-Round Predictions
Fans of the San Francisco 49ers are now counting down the hours, not days, leading up to the 2015 NFL draft.
Round 1 kicks off on Thursday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET, and one can rest assured knowing that 49ers general manager Trent Baalke is putting the finishing touches on the team's big board.
The 49ers are armed with nine picks—two compensatory—and hold the No. 15 pick overall. Here's a breakdown of the picks courtesy of Christian Gin of Examiner.com:
"#49ers 2015 Draft picks: Rd 1 - 15th overall 2 - 46th 3 - 79th 4 - 126th, 132nd 5 - 151st 6 - 189th 7 - 246th, 254th Can't trade 132/254
— Christian Gin (@Christian_Gin) March 24, 2015"
2015 provides a different situation compared to the previous two years. The nine picks are the fewest amount Baalke has had to work with since 2012. Additionally, a tumultuous offseason marked by coaching changes, retirements and free-agent departures has mandated that Baalke cash in on this year's draft class.
So who will fit the bill for San Francisco in 2015?
Let's dive straight into this final mock as the draft approaches and see which players wind up in the 49ers' hands.
Round 1: CB Marcus Peters
1 of 9No. 15: Marcus Peters, Cornerback, Washington
San Francisco might have a deep pool of cornerbacks on the roster even after losing defensive backs Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox this offseason. But aside from No. 1 corner Tramaine Brock, there isn't exactly a bona fide playmaker at this position.
Defensive backs Dontae Johnson, Jimmie Ward, Kenneth Acker and Keith Reaser all have promise—Acker and Reaser missed all of 2014—but are young and still developing. Veterans like Chris Cook and Shareece Wright could produce solid seasons too, although Wright struggled during his tenure in San Diego. San Francisco feels good about his chances, however, per Taylor Price of 49ers.com.
Other needs might exist, but it would be difficult to imagine the 49ers passing up on a playmaking corner that could emerge as a starter in his rookie year.
The top pick is cornerback Marcus Peters out of Washington.
Peters does come with some character concerns, per Rob Rang of CBS Sports. But Rang also notes that Peters is the most gifted corner available in this year's draft.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee also backs up this selection by writing, "Yes, [Peters] has significant attitude concerns. But he’s also the best cornerback in the draft."
"See @mattbarrows’ picks for first round of NFL Draft http://t.co/oYctfWzkNP pic.twitter.com/0ywcqgp5IP
— The Sacramento Bee (@sacbee_news) April 29, 2015"
Barrows also rules out some other targets, some via trades, which might be on San Francisco's radar:
"What about those falling pass rushers? Nebraska's Randy Gregory and Missouri's Shane Ray, considered at one point Top 10 talents, likely will reach the 49ers at No. 15 due to off-field issues. Ray, for instance, was cited for marijuana possession on Monday. Should San Francisco catch them?
My sense is that even if the off-field issues didn't exist, neither player fits the mold for what Baalke likes on the defensive edge. Gregory, for instance, is right around 235 pounds and has had trouble packing on weight. Ray is bigger, but at 245 pounds, he is still 20 pounds lighter than what Baalke prefers.
"
Peters could emerge as the elite shutdown corner that San Francisco has largely lacked in recent seasons. He would perpetuate a secondary that ranked No. 5 in fewest passing yards allowed last season (3,531).
Round 1: WR Dorial Green-Beckham
2 of 9No. 31 (from New Orleans): Dorial Green-Beckham, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
Yes, the 49ers have two first-round picks in this mock. To do this, San Francisco sends its own second- and third-round picks to the New Orleans Saints to land the No. 31 overall pick (initially from Seattle).
The value adds up according to Walter Football's draft value chart. The Saints might even be willing to throw in an additional late-round pick in return for 2016.
With the 31st pick in hand, the 49ers grab wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham out of Oklahoma.
Like cornerback Marcus Peters, Green-Beckham may be the most physically gifted player at his position in this draft. Also like Peters, Green-Beckham comes with significant character concerns.
Perhaps even larger ones.
Maybe this is the reason why the 6'5", 237-pound Green-Beckham is listed as a late first- or early second-round pick per CBS Sports and not higher.
But the 49ers could use an impact wide receiver this season, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. It's also important considering that aging veteran Anquan Boldin will enter the final year of his current contract.
"“I think Dorial Green-Beckham can be an outstanding player." #49ersDraft Q&A w/ @BuckyBrooks http://t.co/oorP1VOj32 pic.twitter.com/SDYFOSri2Z
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 28, 2015"
Green-Beckham probably won't be on the board when San Francisco is slated to pick in Round 2, which would mandate the trade-up. But the Saints could use an additional pick, and drafting Beckham would immediately add a playmaking red-zone threat to a once anemic 49ers passing game (No. 30 last year with 3,063 yards).
Rounds 2 & 3: No Picks
3 of 9
Rounds 2 & 3: Zero Picks for San Francisco
After trading back into Round 1, the 49ers no longer have the option for selecting players in Rounds 2 and 3.
This puts pressure on general manager Trent Baalke to find excellent value picks in the later rounds of the draft, much like he did with outstanding linebacker Aaron Lynch a year ago.
But on the positive side, San Francisco has already landed two impact players in cornerback Marcus Peters and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.
This solves two pressing needs the 49ers had entering the draft.
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Round 4: DE Za'Darius Smith
4 of 9No. 126: Za'Darius Smith, Defensive End, Kentucky
San Francisco will be looking for some long-term options along the defensive line—largely dependent on whether veteran DE Justin Smith decides to retire this offseason.
Regardless, a long-term solution is needed here. Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area describes this further:
"Regardless of whether Justin Smith returns, the 49ers still have Darnell Dockett, Glenn Dorsey, Ian Williams, Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial and Tony Jerod-Eddie. So they have plenty of pieces for their three-man line.
None of those six players listed is signed beyond the 2016 season. Williams and Jerod-Eddie have contracts that expire after this year. There might not be an urgent need for this season, but the 49ers will need to get another player to develop for the future.
"
With their early picks gone, the 49ers will be looking for undervalued, late-round steals to supplement this need. One such player is Kentucky defensive end Za'Darius Smith, who was named by Doug Farrar to Sports Illustrated's 2015 Draft All-Underrated Team (h/t @ExCats).
"Sports Illustrated's "All-Underrated Team" for NFL Draft includes UK's Za'Darius Smith: http://t.co/ZFWaGde2pH pic.twitter.com/ORfkMWWc6z
— ExCats (@ExCats) April 29, 2015"
Smith has an ideal body type for defensive end (6'4" and 274 pounds), but he is projected as a late third- or early fourth-round pick by CBS Sports.
The 49ers will bank on Smith falling to them with the 126th overall pick.
Round 4: ILB Ramik Wilson
5 of 9No. 132 (compensatory): Ramik Wilson, Inside Linebacker, Georgia
The 49ers should be looking for an inside linebacker to replace the production given from retired LBs Patrick Willis and Chris Borland.
San Francisco's starting tandem will likely consist of All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman and workhorse Michael Wilhoite. But one would expect a worthy backup.
Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area describes the needed depth.
"A healthy NaVorro Bowman and Michael Wilhoite should fit well together in the middle of the 49ers’ defense. If Bowman returns to being the sideline-to-sideline presence, Wilhoite can excel in more of a dirty-work role. The team does not have proven depth behind them.
The current depth chart does not include a backup with long-term starter capability.
"
Fortunately, the 49ers have another Round 4 pick to address this need. One target should be Georgia linebacker Ramik Wilson.
Wilson led the SEC in tackles in 2013 with 133 and backed that up with a 110-tackle effort the following year.
And Dane Brugler of CBS Sports remarks that Wilson has "well-put-together size for the position with good bulk and length [and] More than enough speed and pursuit skills."
Borland was a tackling machine during his brief tenure with the 49ers. Wilson has the potential to be the same if called upon.
Round 5: OT Corey Robinson
6 of 9No. 151: Corey Robinson, Offensive Tackle, South Carolina
San Francisco readied itself for the free-agent departure of left guard Mike Iupati back in 2014. That year, Trent Baalke selected offensive linemen Brandon Thomas and Marcus Martin. Martin saw time at center his rookie year while Thomas was redshirted.
Returning to the line will be center Daniel Kilgore, who missed most of the season with a leg injury. As such, the 49ers have amicable depth along the interior positions.
But there isn't much depth behind starting tackles Joe Staley and Anthony Davis, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, and the 49ers could use a swing tackle to back them up.
Offensive tackle Corey Robinson has that capability and could even develop the versatility to move inside to guard if needed, per CBS Sports.
Ranked by CBS as the No. 144 prospect, Robinson might have to slip a few picks in order for San Francisco to add him to its list of developing protégés.
Round 6:WR Darren Waller
7 of 9No. 189: Darren Waller, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech
By this point in the draft, and most likely earlier, the 49ers will simply be looking at the best player available for each pick.
But one enticing prospect who could add to the competition might be Georgia Tech wideout Darren Waller.
Waller's size is reason enough for San Francisco to take a flier on him. He is 6'6" and 238 pounds, which suggests that he could emerge as another red-zone threat assuming the 49ers' efforts to develop wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham don't pan out.
More importantly, Waller has soft hands. These are evidenced in the video above and by Derek Stephens of NFLDraftScout.com (h/t CBS Sports) who wrote:
"Huge, athletic receiver who led all Georgia Tech wide receivers with 17 receptions for 367 yards and 3 TDs in 2013. Demonstrates soft hands, tracks the ball well vertically and is naturally a contender for any jump ball.
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At the least, Waller would provide the added competition in training camp and during the preseason. The 49ers could even consider stashing him away on the practice squad until their future wideout situation is known beyond 2015.
Round 7: RB Akeem Hunt
8 of 9No. 246: Akeem Hunt, Running Back, Purdue
Running back Frank Gore is gone via free agency, which leaves No. 2 back Carlos Hyde to step in as his heir apparent. Hyde will be backed up by runners Kendall Hunter and the newly acquired Reggie Bush.
Yet the 49ers might also want to add another back in a class that is deep with talent. While it would be unlikely for San Francisco to utilize an early pick, taking a flier on a late-round prospect isn't exactly a bad idea.
This makes sense considering that both Hunter and Bush were hindered by injuries last season and Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne is an unknown commodity at this point, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
Purdue running back Akeem Hunt ran for 949 yards and six touchdowns last season for the Boilermakers, and he averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the process.
He at least would provide some depth in case one of the 49ers' three backs suffers an injury.
Round 7: QB Cody Fajardo
9 of 9No. 254 (compensatory): Cody Fajardo, Quarterback, Nevada
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is the starter and No. 2 Blaine Gabbert is his backup. Little should change in the immediate future, and it isn't as if this year's draft class provides a lot of options after the first few names.
But what if San Francisco elected to develop a prospect quarterback that was literally in the mold of Kaepernick?
Such would be the case if the 49ers targeted Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo in Round 7.
Fajardo took over for Kaepernick in the Wolf Pack's spread offense and wouldn't be too difficult to immerse in the 49ers' offensive system built around their incumbent starter.
For whatever it's worth—both good and bad—Fajardo emulates a lot of the characteristics that Kaepernick has. He has excellent mobility but also focuses on his primary reads, per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports.
Fajardo would be little more than a project, but at least he would be similar in design and style to Kaepernick.
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.
Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.
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