The 49ers didn’t pick until late in the third round of the 2023 draft. It didn’t seem like a big deal considering they still walked away with a nine-player class that had a chance to fill a couple of key needs.
There was never a realistic possibility the 49ers’ rookie class had a wide swath of contributors. However, the early returns from that group can’t even be labeled as “not promising” because the reality is a vast majority of the players haven’t had any chance to make a real contribution.
We went through the rookie class and dished out “grades” for their first half performances. It won’t take long to notice a pattern:
Round 3, Pick 87: S Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State
Grade: Incomplete
Brown hasn’t gotten many chances to contribute on defense. He’s played just 26 defensive snaps and they all came during blowouts. The 49ers are deploying Brown on special teams, but as their tackling and coverage woes mount they may want to turn to the rookie safety they traded up to draft.
Round 3, Pick 99: K Jake Moody, Michigan
Grade: C
Moody has been mostly fine. He’s connected on all 26 of his extra point attempts all eight of his field goals inside of 40 yards. Getting beyond that 40-yard mark is a problem though. He’s four-of-seven on tries of 40-plus yards, including a missed game-winner from 41 in Cleveland. The good news for Moody is he’s essentially the only rookie contributing at the position he was drafted to play.
Round 3, Pick 101: TE Cameron Latu, Alabama
Grade: Incomplete
Latu had knee surgery before the season and went on season-ending IR before he could be named to the final roster.
Round 5, Pick 155: CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
Grade: Incomplete
Luter had his practice window opened the Monday before Week 10. He didn’t participate in training camp after a knee injury he sustained on the final day of OTAs landed him on the PUP list. It’s unclear whether the team intends to move him to the roster or place him on season-ending IR after his three-week window closes.
Round 5, Pick 173: DE Robert Beal Jr., Georgia
Grade: Incomplete
Beal is in almost exactly the same boat as Luter. He did get a little bit of camp in, but was hampered by a hamstring injury. His IR stint began after he made the initial roster so he’s eligible to return. His practice window was also opened Monday.
Round 6, Pick 216: LB Dee Winters, TCU
Grade: Incomplete
Winters is a special teams regular, but he’s contributed only 17 defensive snaps. He’s also buried on the LB depth chart behind Oren Burks and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. It doesn’t appear as though he’s moving up either.
Round 7, Pick 247: TE Brayden Willis, Oklahoma
Grade: Incomplete
Willis has been active for three games. In the first game he was up he didn’t play at all. In the second game he played five offensive snaps in a blowout win over the Giants. In the third game he played one offensive snap and three special teams snaps. Beyond those instances he’s been a healthy scratch.
Round 7, Pick 253: WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan
Grade: C
Bell has a leg up on most of his fellow 2023 draftees in that he’s been active for every game. It looked like he was trending up in Week 3 when WR Brandon Aiyuk was out and Bell played a career-high 31 snaps. In that game he caught two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown. Once Aiyuk returned, Bell went back to almost exclusively playing on special teams. WR Deebo Samuel’s absence didn’t translate to more snaps for Bell who played just six downs on that side of the ball in the three weeks since Samuel got hurt. As a seventh-round rookie WR though it hasn’t been a bad first year for Bell.
Round 7, Pick 255: LB Jalen Graham, Purdue
Grade: Incomplete
Graham has yet to suit up after having a fine preseason.
