49ers draft preview: Another big man in the middle wanted on defensive line
SANTA CLARA — Looks like the 49ers are all out of defensive tackles.
OK, that’s not totally true nor fair to the few remaining options in last season’s rotation.
A decade ago, the 49ers stocked up on defensive tackles, using first-round picks in back-to-back drafts on Arik Armstead (2015) and DeForest Bucker (2016). That duo is gone, and so is the 2024 season-opening tandem of Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins, both released last month in the 49ers’ roster purge.
“We let go of some guys who can still play and who are really good dudes we wish we still could have,” coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters at the NFL’s annual meetings. “But that’s how this league is, with a lot of parity to balance it out.”
This week’s draft allows the 49ers to replenish that unit, starting perhaps with their first-round pick at No. 11 overall.
Otherwise, the 49ers will rely on the backups and injury replacements from last year’s woeful run defense: Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Kalia Davis, and Evan Anderson.
Davis (2022 sixth round; 16 games, one sack) is this regime’s only remaining defensive tackle of six drafted: Solomon Thomas (2017, No. 3 overall), D.J. Jones (2017, sixth round), Kentavius Street (2018, fourth round), Jullian Taylor (2018, seventh round) and Javon Kinlaw (2020, No. 14 overall).
It can be a boom-or-bust position in terms of a first-round expense.
Booms: Pro Football Hall of Famers Leo Nomellini (1950) and Bryant Young (1994), plus Pro Bowlers Charlie Kreuger (1958), Dana Stubblefield (1993).
Busts: Reggie McGrew (1999), Kentwan Balmer (2008), and Thomas (2017).
Here are five candidates who might draw the 49ers’ interest with the 11th overall pick (or earlier, or later):
Mason Graham (Michigan)
6-foot-4, 296 pounds
Mock drafts abound with this unanimous All-American going in the top 10, perhaps the top 5, so it’s unlikely the 49ers could patiently wait for him. He was the 2023 Rose Bowl MVP in Michigan’s CFP semifinal win.
Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
6-5, 313 pounds
He transferred in from Michigan State and racked up five sacks plus 10 ½ tackles for loss at Oregon, earning second-team All-American honors. His 55 pressures led all FBS defensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.
Walter Nolan (Ole Miss)
6-4, 296 pounds
This AP first-team All-American was among the 49ers’ 30 allotted pre-draft visitors. He had 6½ sacks of team’s school-record 52 sacks, plus 14 tackles for loss on nation’s No. 1 run defense. Nolan played the previous two seasons at Texas A&M.
Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
6-4, 331 pounds
This 49ers regime has never drafted a defensive lineman as heavy as Grant, but perhaps they envision this 2024 third-team All-American dropping anchor better than others.
T.J. Sanders (South Carolina)
6-4, 297 posted
A four-year player, he totaled 16 ½ tackles for loss and 8 ½ sacks over the past two seasons. The 49ers have drafted seven Gamecocks since 2011, including Deebo Samuel and Javon Kinlaw.
Roll call: Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Darius Alexander (Toledo), Shemar Turner (Texas A&M), D’Quan Douse (Michigan State), Coziah Izzard (Penn State), Elija Roberts (SMU), Tryion Ingram-Dawkins (Georgia), Jordan Phillips (Maryland), Ty Robinson (Nebraska), Tonka Hemingway (South Carolina), Aeneas Peebles (Virginia Tech)