The Complete San Francisco 49ers Draft Primer
The San Francisco 49ers have nine draft picks, but nine might not be enough.
You could argue the Niners need to draft a defensive tackle, a defensive end, two inside linebackers, an outside linebacker, a cornerback, a safety, a wide receiver, a tight end, a running back, a guard, an offensive tackle and a quarterback—13 players.
This year might be the perfect year for the Niners to trade down, then trade down again and then trade down some more. This might be the year to accumulate as many draft picks as possible.
That’s one thing you need to know. Here is everything else you need to know about the Niners heading into the upcoming draft.
Draft Picks
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Draft picks
Round 1, pick No. 15 overall
Round 2, pick No. 46 overall
Round 3, pick No. 79 overall
Round 4, pick No. 126 overall
Round 4, pick No. 132 overall (compensatory)
Round 5, pick No. 151 overall
Round 6, pick No. 190 overall
Round 7, pick No. 246 overall
Round 7, pick No. 254 overall (compensatory)
What to know
1. Trent Baalke never has traded down in Round 1—he only has traded up. In 2010, he traded up to take right tackle Anthony Davis. And in 2013, he traded up to take free safety Eric Reid.
2. Since 2011, Baalke has traded his second-round pick four times. He traded up for Colin Kaepernick in 2011, traded down for defensive tackle Tank Carradine in 2013, traded up for tight end Vance McDonald in 2013 and traded down for running back Carlos Hyde in 2014.
3. The past two years, Baalke has selected six players who were injured before the draft and missed most or all of their rookie seasons: guard Brandon Thomas, cornerback Keith Reaser, defensive lineman Kaleb Ramsey, defensive lineman Tank Carradine, running back Marcus Lattimore and defensive lineman Quinton Dial.
Top Needs
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These are the 49ers top five needs.
1. Inside linebacker
Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retired. NaVorro Bowman hasn’t played since January of 2014 when he tore his ACL and MCL. Who knows how effective he will be when he returns?
While Bowman was out last season, Michael Wilhoite took his place and played all 16 games. Wilhoite is the one inside linebacker the Niners can count on. One is not enough.
2. Cornerback
The Niners haven’t legitimately replaced cornerback Chris Culliver.
He was the starting right cornerback last season but signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Washington Redskins this offseason.
After he signed, the Niners gave a one-year, $2.95 million deal to former San Diego Chargers starting right cornerback Shareece Wright. He is nowhere near as good as Culliver, as their contracts indicate.
Look for the Niners to take a corner during the first three rounds.
3. Defensive line
Last season, Justin Smith and Ray McDonald each played more than 700 snaps—far more than any other defensive lineman on the Niners, per Pro Football Focus.
McDonald is with the Chicago Bears now, and Justin Smith probably will retire. The Niners have solid defensive linemen, but they don’t have any who are as good as McDonald or Smith.
4. Wide receiver
Next season probably will be Anquan Boldin’s last with the Niners. He turns 35 in October and becomes a free agent in 2016.
Theoretically, the Niners can wait and draft his replacement next year. But if they draft a receiver this year, he can sit, develop and learn from Boldin before replacing him.
5. Running back
All-time leading rusher Frank Gore signed with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
To replace him, the Niners gave a one-year contract to running back Reggie Bush. He isn’t much of a replacement—more like a one-year rental.
The Niners want to be a power-running team, so they need another power runner in addition to Carlos Hyde.
Top Targets
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These are the top two targets at each of the Niners' top five areas of need.
Inside Linebacker
1. Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State: He's perhaps the best run-stuffing “take-on” inside linebacker available this year. Take-on linebackers must be big to take on blocks from 300-pounds guards. Former Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney is 6’4” and 247 pounds. But he isn’t particularly good in coverage. He might be just a two-down “Mike” linebacker.
2. Stephone Anthony, Clemson: McKinney is a better run defender than former Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony, but Anthony has the size and speed to be a three-down “Mike.” He is 6’2 ½", 243 pounds and runs a 4.56-second 40-yard dash. But he has questionable instincts against the pass and the run.
Cornerback
1. Trae Waynes, Michigan State: Trae Waynes is the best cornerback in the draft. He’s 6’0” and ran the fastest 40-yard dash by a cornerback at the combine this year. His time was 4.31 seconds. He’s a big, fast and strong press cornerback who has good hands. Not many corners fit that description.
2. Byron Jones, UConn: Former UConn corner Byron Jones matches Waynes' athleticism. He’s 6’1”, runs a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and has terrific hands. He just isn’t as experienced as Waynes. Jones played wide receiver in high school and strong safety his first two years in college.
Defensive line
1. Malcom Brown, Texas: The 49ers have plenty of tall, lanky defensive linemen. Tank Carradine is 6’4”, Tony Jerod-Eddie and Quinton Dial are 6’5”, and Lawrence Okoye is 6’6”. The Niners need a shorter, quicker defensive tackle who can slip past blocks, shoot gaps and penetrate the backfield. Former Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown can do those things. He is quick and powerful, and he’s only 6’2”.
2. Michael Bennett, Ohio State: Former Ohio State defensive linemen Michael Bennett isn’t particularly powerful, but he’s even quicker than Brown. But Bennett needs to get stronger before he can be a good run defender in the NFL. If the Niners draft him, he can play in the sub-packages as a pass-rushing defensive tackle until he bulks up.
Wide receiver
1. DeVante Parker, Louisville: The 49ers probably would have to trade up to get former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper or former West Virginia receiver Kevin White. There’s a small chance former Louisville receiver DeVante Parker will fall to the Niners. Most draft experts consider Parker the third-best receiver in the draft. He is the total package—an effective possession receiver, deep threat and red-zone threat.
2. Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma: Former Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham might be even more talented than Parker, but Green-Beckham comes with baggage. Missouri’s football team dismissed him in April after he allegedly broke into an apartment and pushed a woman down a flight of stairs. He transferred to Oklahoma, but the NCAA made him sit out the entire 2014 season. He probably will be available when the Niners pick in Round 1.
Running back
1. Todd Gurley, Georgia: Former Georgia Bulldog Todd Gurley is the best running back in the draft, but he tore his ACL in November. Some general managers might be reluctant to spend a top-15 pick on him and his surgically repaired knee. I’m guessing Baalke couldn’t care less about Gurley’s knee.
2. Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin: Former Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon isn’t as powerful as Gurley, but Gordon is one of the best outside runners in the draft. And he’s durable. He carried the ball 343 times last season and didn’t wear down. He and Carlos Hyde would make a terrific duo—Hyde supplying the power, Gordon supplying the speed.
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The Latest Rumor
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The 49ers typically don’t leak their draft plans, so you might want to take this rumor with a grain of salt: According to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, the 49ers will draft former Oregon defensive end Arik Armstead if he’s available at pick No. 15.
Armstead is a young prospect (21) who has potential. Oregon primarily used him as a run defender. Does that mean he is just a run defender? That’s the question.
Some draft experts believe Armstead can become an effective pass-rusher as well. If the Niners believe he has that potential, they well might draft Armstead at pick No.15. If they don’t think he can become an effective pass-rusher, they will pass on him and take a run-stopper later in the draft.
7-Round Mock Draft
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Here is how the draft might break for the Niners.
Round 1: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia: If Gurley drops to pick No. 15, how can the Niners pass on him? They’re a run-first team, and Gurley is the best running back to enter the draft since Adrian Peterson.
Round 2: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State: Bennett was one of the best players on a national championship team last season. He instantly would improve the Niners pass rush.
Round 3: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford: Instead of taking former LSU cornerback Jalen Collins in Round 2, the Niners get a similar corner in Round 3. Carter is 6’0” and runs a 4.50-second 40-yard dash; Collins is 6’1” and runs a 4.48.
Round 4: Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina: Hardy made 235 catches the past two seasons. He is a terrific possession receiver who has great hands and body control, like Anquan Boldin.
Round 4: Obum Gwacham, OLB, Oregon State: The Niners need as many pass-rushers as they can get, and Gwacham might be the best one left at the end of Round 4. He’s an explosive athlete with long arms and violent hands, but he has played defense for only one season.
Round 5: Hayes Pullard, ILB, USC: Pullard is a sleeper. He has the speed (4.69-second 40-yard dash) to cover tight ends and chase running backs from sideline to sideline. At the Senior Bowl, he showed the ability to take on blocks from offensive linemen, according to Luke Easterling of DraftBreakdown.com. Pullard has what it takes to be a three-down “Mike.”
Round 6: DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech: Hardy is a small possession receiver (5’10”), and Smelter is a big deep threat (6’2”). They complement each other well. Smelter averaged 18.9 yards per catch in two collegiate seasons.
Round 7: Blake Sims, QB, Alabama: The Niners need a backup quarterback. Blake Sims is athletic and played in a pro-style offense at Alabama. He’s a good fit to back up Colin Kaepernick.
Round 7: Jermaine Barton, OT, Illinois State: Barton is a 6’7” developmental prospect with 36-inch arms. He probably will fall to Round 7 because he had knee surgery in February.
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