NFL Draft: Identifying the 49ers’ five greatest positions of need
SANTA CLARA – At minimum, 262 reasons exist to not overreact about the 49ers’ first-round pick Thursday in the NFL Draft.
So careful about obsessing on who they pick, where they pick, who they acquire, or what they trade, be it their No. 31 overall selection or, gasp, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Brock Purdy changed the draft game years ago. Specifically, his arrival with the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 draft. It showed that no one knows who might become a franchise’s most important player.
It certainly was not Trey Lance, their 2021 selection with the No. 3 overall pick, which they splurged to obtain by shipping three first-round picks and a third-rounder to Miami, only to have Lance start four games for them before getting traded to Dallas last summer.
Alas, in this boom-or-bust world, a first-round pick must become a full-time starter who merits a second contract to earn kudos. So much is weighted into who that subject will be.
John Lynch can always claim to take the best player available on the 49ers’ draft board. But that still involves targeting a perceived void on a championship contender.
Thus, the first-round pick should fulfill a need at a position. So could the other nine picks at the 49ers’ disposal. They have at least one in each round. Reminder, Rounds 2 and 3 are Friday, and, Rounds 4 through 7 are Saturday.
To defend the NFC crown, the 49ers seemingly have all their offensive and defensive starters in place, though competition, depth or future jobs may factor into the “need” category. Such as:
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
This is a popular target for mock draft predictors. That should be based more on the need to discover left tackle Trent Williams’ eventual successor, which could be current right tackle Colton McKivitz. Williams, 35, said after the Super Bowl he wasn’t retiring; four years ago, he came aboard via a trade upon Joe Staley’s post-Super Bowl retirement. The backup tackles on the roster now are Jaylon Moore and ex-Raiders starter Brandon Parker.
Candidates: Olu Fashanu (Penn State), Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State), Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma), Roger Rosengarten (Washington), Graham Barton (Duke), Jordan Morgan (Arizona), Kingsley Suamataia (BYU), Patrick Paul (Houston), Caeden Wallace (Penn State)
DEFENSIVE END
Edge rushers will forever be welcome at 4949 Marie P DeBartolo Way. Sure, the 49ers have Nick Bosa and March’s prized addition of Leonard Floyd. But that defensive end rotation always needs bodies, unless you forgot last October’s trades for Chase Young and Randy Gregory, both of whom have left in free agency. Drake Jackson, their 2022 top pick, and Robert Beal aren’t on scholarship anymore.
Candidates: Chop Robinson (Penn State), Darius Robinson (Missouri), Laiatu Latu (UCLA), Marshawn Kneeland (Western Michigan), Adisa Isaac (Penn State)
CORNERBACK
The 49ers always could use cornerback depth, but they almost never use a first-round pick on one. At least they haven’t since 2002 with Mike Rumph; 2014 top pick Jimmie Ward was better at safety and nickel back than as an outside cornerback. This position returns starters Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, and this spring brought Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin. Someone, though, has to play nickel back, which was Nick Sorensen’s area to coach before this year’s promotion to defensive coordinator.
Candidates: Cooper DeJean (Iowa), Mike Sainristil (Michigan), Kamari Lassiter (Georgia), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama), Andru Phillips (Kentucky), Chau Smith-Wade (Washington State), Max Melton (Rutgers), D.J. James (Auburn)
WIDE RECEIVER
This position becomes a top priority if Aiyuk forces his way out via trade to avoid playing out his rookie contract at $14.1 million. Is Deebo Samuel untouchable, guaranteed to debut his new No. 1 jersey? Is Jauan Jennings cool playing on a $4.9 million tender? That trio should return for Brock Purdy’s sake. An influx of talent and depth is required, too, however. The 49ers also could use a receiver who doubles as a return specialist who can cleanly field punts, and, perhaps, seize on the NFL’s new kickoff format. Trent Taylor and Ronnie Bell are the leading candidates for that job title.
Candidates: Adonai Mitchell (Texas), Brian Thomas (LSU), Xavier Worthy (Texas), Ladd McConkey (Georgia), Malachi Corley (Western Kentucky), Brenden Rice (USC), Ricky Pearsall (Florida), Luke McCaffrey (Rice), Xavier Legette (South Carolina)
SAFETY
Talanoa Hufanga is coming off anterior cruciate ligament surgery, Ji’Ayir Brown is coming off his rookie year, and the 49ers don’t have much starting-caliber depth, all due respect to special-teams stud George Odum. A lot of big-name veteran free agents remain on the market if Lynch ignores his safety roots in the draft.
Candidates: Jaden Hicks (Washington State), Javon Bullard (Georgia), Malik Mustapha (Wake Forest), Tyler Nubin (Minnesota), Cole Bishop (Utah), Sione Vaki (Utah)