© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
We’ve got a week to go before the draft, folks. Just one more week of speculating over who definitely is and is not the next quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. And in all this mess of people posing their opinions like facts about a selection that the 49ers are keeping under lock and key, it can be easy to forget that there are six other rounds and eight other picks.
So, before we get into exactly who the 49ers could or should target at all these positions, let’s first take a look at the current roster and what sticks out.
There are currently 83 players on the roster, with nine draft picks. That would suggest, understandably, that the 49ers are preparing for the NFL to go back to 90-man training camp rosters. Last year, due to COVID-19 protocols, only 80 players were allowed to be rostered in full team settings. The other option was to keep 90, but split the roster in half, so that it was groups of 45 each. The 49ers chose the former option and were dealt a brutal number of injuries from the start. That could go back to 90, but as of yet it does not appear anything has been finalized.
Here’s the 49ers’ current slate of draft picks:
Round 1, Pick 3
Round 2, Pick 43
Round 3, Pick 102 (Compensatory)
Round 4, Pick 117
Round 5, Pick 155
Round 5, Pick 172 (via New Orleans)
Round 5, Pick 180 (Compensatory)
Round 6, Pick 193
Round 7, Pick 229 (via New York Jets)
Quarterback (4): Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Rosen, Nate Sudfeld, Josh Johnson
Current depth (QB-TE)
When you add in the incoming rookie, that’s one too many quarterbacks for training camp and two too many for opening day. Garoppolo could of course be traded, but signs currently point towards the 49ers retaining him, which would make sense especially if they draft someone like Trey Lance.
The odd man out at this point is probably Josh Johnson, simply given his age (34) and the lack of other suitors there were for him last year. Rosen, being a still recent top-10 selection is likely worth keeping around at least for camp, and new/old (re-hired after two years away) quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello spent time with Nate Sudfeld in Philadelphia last year, so there’s clearly a chance for him to make the roster. Outside of the incoming rookie, there’s no certainty in this group, other than it being likely that there are four in camp and three on the roster.
Fullback (2): Kyle Juszczyk, Josh Hokit
The 49ers made sure they didn’t have to worry about this position, and have a safety valve in Hokit who has the bonus of another year in the system
Running back (5): Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Wayne Gallman, JaMycal Hasty, Austin Walter
Before signing Gallman, who could project as the 49ers’ third-down back, it seemed likely the 49ers would draft a running back. And they still might, but it’s clearly not a priority. They’ve got four commodities they like and know, and Walter showed out in camp a couple years ago, too. The likely bet is for them to add an undrafted running back or one on Day 3, but if they see a guy they like, they can afford to take a swing.
Running backs tend to lose the war of attrition more commonly than other positions, and given the way other positions have been plugged, going after one wouldn’t be a total luxury. Based on the injuries Mostert and Wilson (and Hasty and the entire running back corps) have suffered over the last few years, adding a guy, especially one with receiving upside, could be a prudent play.
Tight end (4): George Kittle, Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woener, Daniel Helm
Yeah, they need another tight end. Outside of Kittle, you’ve got very little to feel good about. Dwelley usually makes up for his handful of whiffed blocks each game with some insane, sideline catch, and his spot is probably safe. Woerner, too, despite underwhelming in every aspect, probably makes the team again. His whole thing was to be a blocker and he didn’t have a clue in that aspect last season; and his supposed athletic upside as a receiver was minimal. Daniel Helm likely gets cut.
It’s a top-heavy tight end class, and though the 49ers have been reportedly been interested in Miami’s Brevin Jordan, a source tells KNBR that the 49ers haven’t been among the teams who have prominently displayed interest in Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble.
Now, teams draft players they haven’t had contact with every year, so this doesn’t rule them out, but in a limited draft class, it sounds like there could be other teams (the Jets, Cardinals, Falcons, Seahawks, Steelers and Vikings have all expressed strong interest in Tremble) who are willing to pay an earlier premium for a player who may not make it to the third round.
With corner and arguably wide receiver more pressing needs, this could be a position the 49ers choose to target after the third round.
Wide receiver (12): Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Richie James Jr., Mohamed Sanu, Travis Benjamin, Jalen Hurd, Jauan Jennings, River Cracraft, Trent Sherfield, Matt Cole, Austin Proehl, Kevin White
That’s a lot of names, and not much you can count on. There are basically three safe bets in this group in Aiyuk, Samuel and James Jr. If Mohamed Sanu is healthy, he probably makes the roster, too, but the 49ers clearly didn’t love what they saw from him last year. Travis Benjamin is also an intriguing option and a guy they signed last year with outside speed and special teams/return ability.
If Jalen Hurd finally gets healthy, too, he’ll probably make the roster. But we’re talking about a guy who has yet to play an NFL snap and his two season-ending injuries are a stress fracture in his back and a torn ACL. That’s not at all encouraging for a guy who’s 6’4″ and loves contact.
So there’s not much you can count on from this group, which is why, for the NFL-record, 19th-straight year, I believe they’ll draft wide receiver. Pittsburgh has the second-longest streak, and would hit 10-straight years by drafting a wide receiver this year. There’s genuinely any range for this to happen, including in the second round.
Offensive line (13): Trent Williams, Laken Tomlinson, Alex Mack, Colton McKivitz, Mike McGlinchey, Justin Skule, Shon Coleman, Jake Brendel, Dakoda Shepley, Weston Richburg, Isaiah Williams, Corbin Kaufasi
Richburg is expected to retire, so this number is really 12. What you have here is four starting positions solidified. Daniel Brunskill is another roster lock, but it’s not yet clear if he’ll start at guard or simply provide versatile depth. McKivitz likely makes the roster, too, while Skule and Coleman probably compete for the swing tackle spot.
There is a clear need for interior offensive line depth. McKivitz did little to impress last year, and Brunskill wasn’t outstanding at guard, either. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the 49ers target an interior offensive lineman as high as the third round. I wouldn’t even rule out the second, either, but the 49ers have yet to show they value interior offensive linemen with premium picks. It feels much more like a Day 2 or 3 pick for an athletic, smaller lineman like Pittsburgh’s Jimmy Morrissey or Stanford’s Drew Dalman.
Defensive line (16): Nick Bosa, Javon Kinlaw, D.J. Jones, Arik Armstead, Samson Ebukam, Kevin Givens, Jordan Willis, Dee Ford, Arden Key, Kentavius Street, Darrion Daniels, Maurice Hurst, Josiah Coatney, Daeshon Hall, Alex Barrett
The 49ers have made a conscious effort to reaffirm their depth on the defensive line by keeping Jones and Willis, and adding four veterans in Ebukam, Kerr, Key and Hurst. It’s important to keep in mind that Kevin Givens, who was outstanding last year, was charged with assault in Maryland, and may not be available or suspended this season.
That explains the addition of Hurst, the former Raider who was waived simultaneously with Key, who has registered PFF grades 70 or above in each of the last three seasons.
Dee Ford also cannot be relied upon, so you’re basically going into the season looking for a group of eight or nine, with that first line and Ebukam all locks. Willis and Kerr are both likely, too. There’s probably enough depth already to fill out the roster, but I’d expect the 49ers to go after a defensive end at some point.
While it initially felt like that would happen sooner rather than later, the way they’ve been conscious about adding depth makes me lean towards it being a third round pick or later, swinging on athletic upside. There is enough on the interior line to avoid using a draft pick.
Linebackers (6): Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Nate Gerry, Jonas Griffith
This isn’t really a position of need, given that the team usually runs with five linebackers, and one can be inactive for games, but adding another veteran or undrafted rookie free agent for training camp to compete for a special teams role isn’t out of the question.
The only argument for swinging on a linebacker is that the 49ers may not be able to afford re-signing both Warner and Greenlaw, and that now is as good a time as any to protect yourself from that sort of scenario. I’d argue that’s a little too preemptive at this point.
Corners (9): Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, K’Waun Williams, Ken Webster, Dontae Johnson, Mark Fields II, Tim Harris, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Adonis Alexander
This is the most glaring need. There’s no one behind Verrett and Moseley who inspires confidence, and I’d expect San Francisco to target a corner in the second or third round, and again, likely with one of their fifth-round picks, possibly for a guy who projects well as a special-teamer, and who could be K’Waun Williams’ understudy for a season or two.
It’s evident this is where they need to add the most depth, so I’d expect at least two corner selections.
Safeties (9): Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Tarvarius Moore, Marcell Harris, Kai Nacua, Tavon Wilson, Obi Melifonwu, Jared Mayden, Chris Edwards
There’s something suspicious going on with the safeties. Clearly the 49ers are trying to find something there, and either aren’t sold on Moore and/or Tartt. They worked out former Ravens and Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson, too. I have to believe they are preparing for the fact that this is one of their most consistently injury-riddled positions, and that they may need a new strong safety next year.
They also went to a big nickel formation with three safeties a handful of times last year, and may view having one of their safeties on a tight end while keeping two high as a tricky wrinkle they can employ against talented tight ends and larger receivers.
With so many safeties already rostered, I really don’t see a need here, but again, there really aren’t that many needs for this team, so I wouldn’t rule it out.
Special teams (3): Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper
Best long snapper in the game.