Earlier today, we discussed the 49ers and their mock drafts as the new March Madness, which brings us to another 49ers mock draft. This one comes from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, and it’s four rounds of NFL mock fun. Reuter did trades in the first round, but after that, it’s your standard three rounds. The 49ers are active in three of these four rounds because they don’t have a third-round pick anymore.
First up is the 49ers’ first-round pick, Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu. Again. I still stand by what I said about Lomu last month: he’s awesome at pass blocking, but his run blocking needs work. Here’s what Reuter says about the pick:
Trent Williams’ contract renegotiations are in flux, but even if he returns for another season, the 49ers must prepare for the 37-year-old’s eventual departure. Lomu’s still growing as a run blocker, but his natural pass-protection skills are first-round worthy.
If you think the run blocking can be developed in the meantime, I guess it’s worth getting him competing with Colton McKivitz? Let him be depth? I dunno.
Regardless of what we think of Lomu the player, I don’t see the offensive line getting addressed with the 49ers’ first pick. I’m not the only one, either; it’s been speculated that wide receiver or edge will be the pick. I know, trying to address the offensive line sounds logical, but—
—Actually, hold that thought. Speaking of logic—or lack thereof—this next pick has the 49ers written all over it. Reuter has the 49ers taking Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price. Because what is a 49ers draft without burning a pick on a running back?
I like Price, I think he’d be great in the Kyle Shanahan offense. I don’t like how he’s had some ball-handling issues on the goal line or how he’s called a good “complementary back” at the NFL level. Knowing that, I’m not sure why a complementary back would be targeted in the second round, but some of those running back picks were head scratchers. Why would we think it wouldn’t happen this year? The 49ers don’t have a third-round pick, so that changes everything. A second round pick is expendable, I suppose. So they still need an edge rusher, and they will have to wait.
Not to worry, because they have four picks in the fourth round to address those needs. This is a round where they historically have one hit among several misses or TBDs. Here’s the haul of who they get:
Pick 127 — Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
Pick 133 — LT Overton, Edge, Alabama
Pick 138 — Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
Pick 139 — Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
Of these four picks, my favorite is Bowry. He needs some work, but taking an OT here might make more sense than the first round. I know, I’ve said the line needs to be addressed, but if it’s going to be an offensive tackle, one that high only to sit for a year seems a bit ill-advised. This isn’t a quarterback.
The others? Well, they are fourth-round picks. They have their weaknesses and need development. I don’t hate the first round pick of Lomu, but I also think it’s unnecessary with the Trent Williams negotiations going on, the Colton McKivitz contract, and an edge rusher that could get the defensive side of the ball to be absolutely filthy. The running back pick, I’m scratching my head on. Yes, they need to plan for the day Christian McCaffrey calls it a career, but they might want to figure out who blocks for the next running back they get.
What are your thoughts on this mock draft?
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