The list of 49ers’ needs this offseason is expansive. There aren’t many positions that can really be crossed off as ‘set’ while the team moves toward Super Bowl contention. How they address their needs with six picks in Draft Wire’s first seven-round projection is probably close to in line with how they’ll prioritize their picks in next year’s draft.
Free agency will play a key role in adjusting their depth. A couple of free agent signings could re-prioritize some of the positions around their draft board. Without free agency, and comp picks not yet distributed, the 49ers made out nicely in this seven-round mock:
Round 1, (Pick 2) | Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
It’s no longer inconceivable that Bosa falls to the 49ers. Whether it’s him or Kentucky’s Josh Allen, it’s hard to imagine San Francisco moving back out of this pick given the available edge rushers at that spot no matter who goes No. 1 overall. Bosa is a plug-and-play starter on Day 1 who has the talent to make a game-changing impact on the 49ers’ defense. Picking him is a no-brainer.
Round 2, (Pick 36) | Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
This wide receiver class is fascinating given the depth and the lack of surefire No. 1 player at the position. This mock has Butler sliding all the way to the 49ers. Other mocks have him as the first receiver off the board. San Francisco would be in another situation here where they can’t afford to pass on a player of Butler’s talent. He’s a massive at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, but he doesn’t rely only on his size. Butler does do a great job of high-pointing throws and making contested catches, but he can also take the top off the defense and work the intermediate areas of the field. He had 101 catches for 2,015 yards and 16 touchdowns his second and third seasons for the Cyclones after redshirting his freshman year and only getting minimal production in his first season on the field.
His straight-line speed will be a significant factor in where he goes in the draft. A fall to the second round means he likely ran much slower than most teams want, but his size and overall athleticism make him a fit in a 49ers’ receiving corps that badly needs a go-to playmaker on the perimeter. Butler has all the tools to be that.
Round 3, (Pick 67) | Derrick Baity, CB, Kentucky
Baity was the 49ers’ selection in this spot in Draft Wire’s last three-round mock. His productivity isn’t eye-popping, and his athleticism doesn’t jump off the screen. He is a big, physical corner though who looks every bit of the 6-3, 190-pounds he’s listed at. That sounds like the kind of corner who would benefit a ton from working under Richard Sherman. Baity may not start right away, but he fits the profile of a cornerback in Robert Saleh’s system.
Round 4, (Pick 97) | Lukas Denis, S, Boston College
Safety is one of the positions the 49ers may forego in the draft if they sign a player like Earl Thomas in free agency. Denis has the size, range and ballhawking ability to play the free safety role in the 49ers’ defense. He had seven interceptions in his junior season and 10 in his career. Denis was also credited with 16 pass breakups. His instincts stand out on tape, but there aren’t a lot of instances where he flies up and fills gaps against the run. Denis’ physicality could be an issue at the next level, but if he’s going to step in and pull down interceptions, the 49ers would certainly take it.
Round 6 (Pick 162) | Michael Jordan, OL, Ohio State
Any time a team can draft someone named, ‘Michael Jordan,’ they should do it. Offensive line is down the list of needs for San Francisco, but building depth along the front is never a bad idea.
Jordan is an intriguing prospect. He played guard for the Buckeyes and saw action in all 41 games they played during his three seasons. Jordan is listed at 6-7, 312 pounds – massive for a guard. Perhaps the biggest concern for Jordan’s fit with the 49ers is his athleticism. He did play all three interior spots in school, but his lack of fluidity in the second level could lead to issues as a run blocker in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Round 7 (Pick 192) | Tyre Brady, WR, Marshall
A second wide receiver late in the draft makes a ton of sense for the 49ers. They got solid production out of seventh-round receiver Richie James last season, but Brady offers a much different skill set than James. He’s listed at 6-3, 206 pounds and his ability to locate the ball and out-jump defenders for contested catches makes him a very desirable player for a team like San Francisco which struggled to score touchdowns in the red zone last season. Brady will need to show some kind of viability on a wider array of routes than fades and go’s, but his red-zone potential should put him on the 49ers’ radar late on Day 3.
