Kurtenbach: The 49ers aren’t trying in free agency, so it’s time to trade down in the draft | Mock Draft 3.0

The 49ers have been showing player after player the door. And while that’s not a problem — a lot of those players overstayed their welcome and underplayed their new contracts — the issue is that no one is coming in to truly replace those players who have exited.

As of Friday morning, the 49ers still need starters — or, if we’re being generous serious camp competition — at one safety spot, weak-side linebacker, the 1,3, and 5 technique on the defensive line, third cornerback, X receiver, left guard, and fullback (if they use a fullback in 2025).

And yet the plan seems to be for the 49ers to fill those copious needs in the NFL Draft.

This is a good time to issue this reminder: Every team drafts for need, particularly early, when the players are expected to provide more immediate impact, but it’s the bad teams that go into Day 2 and Day 3 still “needing” something.

So unless the 49ers can do the wildly improbable and pick up players in a clean sweep in this, the final, cheapest wave of NFL Free Agency (they’ve already let a viable starting 1 technique, Jeremiah Ledbetter, sign with the Giants for a deal that is worth a max of $2 million for the 2025 season — an inauspicious sign), they’re going to be one of those bade teams on Days 2 and 3.

If so, this team should start working on trade-downs now. Consolidating picks between 15 and 50 is the best way to maximize the overall value of the team’s draft capital.

With that in mind, here’s my third mock draft of the offseason:

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Trades: Pick Nos. 11 and 100 to Indianapolis for Nos. 14 and 45; Pick Nos. 14, 113, and 249 to Cincinnati for Nos. 17 and 49.

» As unlikely as it might be for the 49ers to trade down not once but twice before making their first selection — everyone is looking to trade down these days — such moves are necessary. If San Francisco can pull off the moves, they can pick four times in the top 50 — where players are expected to have a Day 1 impact — and once again before pick 100, where players should be expected to have a role their rookie season. Even then, the Niners can fill all the vacancies on their roster.

Round 1 – Pick No. 17: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

» I’m not pivoting off Nolen as the man to take in the first round. His draft stock has slipped, with off-the-field concerns leading the way. I can’t corroborate any of those concerns, so I will go with what’s been on the field: a tailor-made 3-technique for the 49ers’ one-gap system. Concerns about his motor or finishing ability are nitpicky at best — his high-end reps are the best in the class at this position. If the Niners can land their guy and add a couple more picks in the second round, they need to do it.

Round 2 – Pick No. 43: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

» And I’ll stick with Amos at No. 43, as well. Frankly, I’m shocked there isn’t more hype around him, but until he is, he’s my pick for the Niners with this pick. As I said last time: “Amos might be a perfect Cover-3 cornerback. He’s smooth, smart, and willing to engage in the run game… With Renardo Green, Deommodore Lenoir, and Amos, the Niners would be set at cornerback for a half-decade.”

Round 2 – Pick No. 45: Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas

» It’s hard to find players that can set the edge on the outside in this draft. Yes, there is the bull-rushing specialist, Shemar Stewart, but he’ll be well off the board by here (even if I wouldn’t take him before pick No. 20.) Jackson might not have great pass-rush moves, but at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, he, indeed, can set an edge. With serious athletic upside, this is a safe bet of a pick.

Round 2 – Pick No. 49: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

» Here’s your starting 1 technique. At 6-foot-6, 332 pounds and with 35-inch arms and an 85-inch wingspan, Collins is a colossus. He also has absurd pop off the line for a big man. His lack of bounce off opposing linemen will ensure he’s around at this juncture of the draft, but it will also ensure that the A-gap is plugged.

Round 3 – Pick No. 75: Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia

» I’m still all-in on Millum, but as predicted his short arms are scaring teams away. Undeterred and always loving a sale, I pick up a swing tackle for the 2025 season and a starter in 2026 and beyond.

Round 4 – Pick No. 138: Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State

» I do not love this linebacker class. But I like Simon, who isn’t quite a middle linebacker but not quite a fill weak-side space backer, either. That’s going to ding his draft stock — justifiably. But it’s a big win for the 49ers, who effectively use two Mike linebackers behind their wide-split line. Simon will provide competent, if unspectacular competition for Dee Winters, who is being given the starting Will job Dre Greenlaw vacated when he signed with the Broncos.

Round 5 – Pick No. 147: Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee

» Is he a good receiver? Not particularly. But you know what he is? Fast. Running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5 is absurd, and inside an offense that can scheme free releases off the line of scrimmage, it’s a serious weapon. This is the kind of receiver who is either a Day 1 star or a guy who bounces around the league for five years. At 147, I think the risk outweighs the possible reward.

Round 6 – Pick No. 187: Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers

» I still want the mountain on my roster. The Niners can’t afford to leave this draft without two offensive linemen, even though one could argue that on this roster, o-line might be a strong suit.

Round 7 – Pick No. 227: Drew Kendall, C/OG, Boston College

» Kendall is a profoundly competent interior offensive lineman who put up impressive combine numbers, which included the fourth-best 3-cone time of all linemen in Indianapolis. I, for one, would gladly take him early on Day 3, but so long as his stock remains with the late-round fliers, he’ll be a personal favorite.

Round 7 – Pick No. 252: Johnny Walker, DE, Missouri’

» Walker produced for Mizzou last season, forcing three fumbles and registering 9.5 sacks for a 10-win team. I see enough bend and burst to be an NFL rotational end. Yet there seems to be no love for him — he wasn’t even invited to the combine. A team will take him and find it very, very difficult to cut him come August.