San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft: Updated Day 3 Predictions
Day 2 of the 2015 NFL draft is complete, and the San Francisco 49ers have added two more prospects after grabbing defensive end Arik Armstead in Round 1.
San Francisco still has seven picks remaining. Three of them fall in the upcoming fourth round.
"7 picks for the #49ers tomorrow. Name them all right now. Go.
— Taylor Price (@TaylorPrice) May 2, 2015"
The 49ers then have one pick in the fifth and sixth rounds with two more in Round 7.
All of general manager Trent Baalke's first picks thus far have focused on the defense. While an inside linebacker remains a concern, the 49ers will likely look to reinforce areas of offensive need. San Francisco has yet to target a wide receiver and help for the offensive line.
Perhaps these needs, and more, will be covered by Baalke in the final rounds of the draft.
So which players fall to the 49ers? Is Baalke going to be able to find late-round gems like he did with linebacker Aaron Lynch last season?
This Day 3 mock provides the last bit of insight regarding those players who might be on San Francisco's radar.
Recap of Rounds 1 Through 3
1 of 5The 49ers moved down from No. 15 to No. 17 in Round 1. Trent Baalke then selected Oregon defensive end Arik Armstead.
Armstead may be a project as his underwhelming collegiate numbers suggest (four sacks in three years). But if head coach Jim Tomsula can develop the towering Armstead into a legitimate defensive line force, this could wind up being a brilliant pick.
Rather than shifting to an offensive focus, Baalke then drafted safety Jaquiski Tartt out of Samford and defensive end/outside linebacker Eli Harold out of Virginia in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively.
Tartt reinforces a secondary that already consists of safeties Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea. But with Bethea turning 31 years this season and with Reid's history of concussions, the addition of the hard-hitting Tartt gives San Francisco some long-term options here.
Harold also adds to the defensive prowess. In three years at Virginia, Harold totaled 17.5 sacks and 36.5 tackles for a loss. San Francisco needed pass-rushing help after totaling just 36 sacks in 2014—21st in the NFL last year.
Harold gives the 49ers an option to move on from third-year pro linebacker Corey Lemonier and provides insurance for linebacker Aldon Smith as he enters a contract year in 2015.
Baalke noted via the team's website that he wanted to "go big and stay big" in the draft.
"Baalke: "We said we were going to go big and stay big in this draft and we have.” #49ersDraft LIVE NOW: http://t.co/9bKzkZnthA
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 2, 2015"
San Francisco has added some size, but Baalke has yet to address any of the offensive needs. This should change in the subsequent rounds.
Round 4: CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, WR Dezmin Lewis, ILB Ramik Wilson
2 of 5The 49ers will have three picks in Round 4 after the Day 1 trade with the San Diego Chargers. San Francisco's final pick in the round (No. 132) is compensatory and cannot be traded.
While Trent Baalke could feasibly trade up in the round, it's likely that he'll seek out the best player available and that fits a need. Later rounds typically define this.
No. 177: Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
Baalke has no worries over drafting injured players and stashing them away on the non-football injury list for their rookie seasons. Offensive guard Brandon Thomas and cornerback Keith Reaser were examples from 2014.
This season, Baalke could do the same with cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu out of Oregon. Before a knee injury prior to the Rose Bowl dropped his draft stock, and the 5'9", 192-pound defensive back is still available.
Ekpre-Olomu's size means that he'll likely project to the nickel position at the NFL level, per Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of CBS Sports.
But the 49ers could sit on him for a season and see how their largely young and developing crop of defensive backs pans out at the pro level.
No 126: Wide Receiver Dezmin Lewis, Central Arkansas
For whatever reasons, the 49ers were unable to land one of the high-profile wideouts available in the first three rounds of the draft.
But San Francisco can't avoid targeting another weapon on offense. After all, the 49ers' receiving game ranked No. 30 in the league last season with just 3,063 yards. And many of the offense's struggles came within the red zone.
Central Arkansas wide receiver Dezmin Lewis is a red-zone threat. While he may not be the blazing-speed guy that many teams covet—4.58 in the 40-yard dash—his 6'4", 214-pound stature and soft hands suggest a worthy weapon.
"Anyone like Dezmin Lewis as a WR? He is 6'4 & runs a 4.45 forty yard dash. Is raw a bit but has potential IMO. Thoughts? #49ers
— ShakSports (@shakkhan79) May 2, 2015"
His good hands and solid route-running abilities are among his more positive traits, per Rob Rang of CBS Sports.
No 132 (compensatory): Inside Linebacker Ramik Wilson, Georgia
The 49ers still lack depth after losing linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland to retirement this offseason. Likely starters NaVorro Bowman and Michael Wilhoite should receive some help here.
One player that fits the mold of Borland is Georgia linebacker Ramik Wilson.
Like Borland, Wilson is a tackling machine. He led the SEC in 2013 with 133 tackles and backed that up with 110 the following year.
Dane Brugler of CBS Sports describes the 6'2", 237-pound prospect's positive attributes:
"Well-put-together size for the position with good bulk and length. More than enough speed and pursuit skills. Athletic enough to flip and run down the seam with pass-catchers, positioning himself well downfield. Comfortable and coordinated in his drops. Smooth lateral movements, staying balanced on the move with natural change of direction skills.
"
Wilson could also be had late in the fourth round. According to CBS, he is ranked as a late fourth- or early fifth-round pick.
Round 5: OT Corey Robinson, South Carolina
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No. 151: Offensive Tackle Corey Robinson, South Carolina
If San Francisco's current depth chart along the offensive line remains the same, the 2015 49ers will likely employ O-linemen Joe Staley, Daniel Kilgore, Alex Boone, Anthony Davis and whoever wins the position battle between Brandon Thomas and Marcus Martin.
The interior positions have a lot of depth after adding offensive guard Erik Pears—who can also be used as a swing tackle.
But the 49ers should also consider a project player in the late rounds to supply some depth a season removed from an injury-riddled year. Linemen like Davis, Kilgore and Martin all experienced lengthy absences in 2014.
South Carolna offensive tackle Corey Robinson is ranked by CBS Sports as the No. 144 overall pick. Falling to pick No. 151 isn't that far from possible should the 49ers look to address this unit.
Robinson converted from the defensive line to the O-line after 2012 and still has a lot of work to do in order to have a successful NFL career, per CBS Sports. But CBS Sports' analysis does state that he could have the flexibility to move to guard and might work well within a power-based NFL offense.
That could play right into San Francisco's offensive strengths.
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Round 6: WR Darren Waller, Georgia Tech
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No. 190: Wide Receiver Darren Waller, Georgia Tech
The draft of wide receiver Dezmin Lewis in Round 4 might have negated the need for the 49ers to seek out another red-zone threat.
But the transition from college to the pros can be difficult for wide receiver prospects. Former 49ers wideout A.J. Jenkins is a perfect example.
Should Lewis not pan out in San Francisco's plans, a wise late-round flier would be Georgia tech wideout Darren Waller.
At At 6'6" and 238 pounds, Waller is another one of those physical specimens who can provide a legitimate target for the 49ers' passing game. And his red-zone presence could greatly benefit what has largely been a San Francisco weakness in recent seasons.
"Darren Waller RT @SoCaliSteph: I'm happy with Harold. TE or wideout? You think 49ers can hit on one like Keenan Allen at this point?
— 49ers Gab (@49ersGab) May 2, 2015"
Like Lewis, Waller doesn't exactly have blazing speed. But his soft hands and large catching radius make up for this shortcoming, per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports.
Waller is projected as the No. 188 overall prospect. San Francisco has the 190th pick.
Round 7: RB Akeem Hunt and QB Cody Fajardo
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No. 246: Running Back Akeem Hunt, Purdue
The 49ers don't exactly need a running back after signing free agent Reggie Bush this offseason. He'll back up fellow backs Carlos Hyde and Kendall Hunter and be used as a receiving threat on screens and out of the backfield.
But like a number of other positions, running back grew dangerously thin last year. For the early portions of 2014, San Francisco carried only two backs on its active roster.
Purdue running back Akeem Hunt averaged 5.5 yards per carry during his collegiate tenure.
If the experiment with Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne doesn't pan out, Hunt could easily fill the void on San Francisco's depth chart.
No. 254: Quarterback Cody Fajardo, Nevada
San Francisco's final pick in the draft is compensatory. And the 49ers could benefit from a project quarterback.
With Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert holding down the Nos. 1 and 2 quarterbacking positions, Nevada's Cody Fajardo could seek out a job as the third quarterback.
Fajardo succeeded Kaepernick at Nevada and is already familiar with the Wolf Pack's spread offense.
"2015 NFL Draft Profile: Nevada QB Cody Fajardo http://t.co/bj7ugMoKC9 pic.twitter.com/Cwx8ABGzyq
— Daniel Connolly (@DanielVConnolly) April 30, 2015"
The Nevada prospect shares a lot of Kaepernick's traits as well. He has a solid arm and is mobile within the pocket, per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports. But Brugler also notes that Fajardo tends to stare down his receiver too frequently—another Kaepernick trend.
But if the 49ers wanted to have a project who didn't differ much from their current No. 1 guy, Fajardo would be the likely pick.
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference and Sports-Reference 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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