The 49ers’ trade for the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft puts them in an intriguing spot in the draft order. While they’ll have a chance to snag a strong prospect there regardless of how the draft shakes out in front of them, they’re in prime territory to stop a top prospect from sliding past them.
They’re not going to see LSU quarterback Joe Burrow fall to them. Nor will a player like Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young. However, there are a number of other top prospects who could fall in the draft for one reason or another and give San Francisco a shot at getting great value with the pick they acquired in the DeForest Buckner trade.
While it may not be likely that any of these players make it to the 13th selection, here are some prospects that the 49ers would love to see tumble to them.
Isaiah Simmons | LB | Clemson
The 49ers don’t necessarily need a linebacker, but Simmons is such a sensational defensive prospect that the positional fit wouldn’t matter. He’s a chess piece defensive coordinator Robert Saleh could line up all over the field on any down in any situation. Simmons said his position is “defense,” and a matchup-proof talent would be a game changer for any defensive unit.
Simmons is projected to go No. 7 to the Panthers in Draft Wire’s latest mock.
Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State
Cornerback may not top the 49ers’ list of needs in this year’s draft, but it’s certainly on there. They have enough talent at that spot that they can afford to wait until after the first round to find one, but there’s no passing up on Okudah if he somehow lands outside the top 10. The Ohio State product is a well-refined prospect with all the tools to be a Day 1 NFL starter. He’d immediately top the 49ers’ depth chart ahead of Emmanuel Moseley and Ahkello Witherspoon.
Okudah is projected to go No. 3 to the Lions in Draft Wire’s latest mock.
Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama
Of all the players on this list, Jeudy is the one most likely to slide to the 13th pick. Teams may value CeeDee Lamb or Henry Ruggs III over him, or the run on receivers may start later than expected. Jeudy is an excellent route runner with good after-the-catch ability. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan schemes a lot of space open, but Jeudy is more than capable of generating that space on his own. General manager John Lynch should sprint to the podium if Jeudy is available when San Francisco is on the clock.
Jeudy is projected to go No. 11 to the Jets in Draft Wire’s latest mock.
Tristan Wirfs | OL | Iowa
The 49ers have an opening at right guard and a slew of veterans on the roster that could conceivably step into the starting role. Wirfs is a different animal though. The superb athlete is a long-term fit at tackle, which benefits the 49ers with left tackle Joe Staley in the twilight of his career, but he has the tools to fit in at guard for his first couple of seasons. His athleticism is a perfect fit on the 49ers’ offensive front, and it’s easy to see the team falling in love with his tenacity as a run blocker.
Wirfs is projected to go No. 4 to the Giants in Draft Wire’s latest mock.
Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn
This pick would be more about value than it would be about positional fit. Brown probably doesn’t project as a three-technique that can replace DeForest Buckner. However, he’s a tremendous pass rusher with enough athleticism to move around the defensive line depending on the situation. Teams would have to account for him on the interior, and the one-on-ones he’d get while lines focus on other 49ers’ pass rushers would allow him to thrive early in his career.
Brown is projected to go No. 9 to the Jaguars in Draft Wire’s latest mock.
Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama
No, we’re not trying to get Jimmy Garoppolo out of town. This would be prime for the 49ers though in their quest to acquire more picks between Rounds 1 and 5. Tagovailoa had his final season with the Crimson Tide cut short by a devastating hip injury. Teams won’t be able to check him out before the draft with travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19. A bit of a tumble for him is very real. However, No. 13 is great value for a team looking to jump up and snag a top quarterback from this year’s class. San Francisco could trade back a few spots, recoup some draft capital in the middle rounds, and still get a quality player a little later in the first round. The Dolphins, Broncos, Jaguars and Patriots are all teams that stand out as potential candidates to move up for a sliding QB.
Tagovailoa is projected to go No. 5 to the Dolphins in Draft Wire’s latest mock.
