It doesn’t seem possible that the 49ers would somehow pass on an edge rusher in the 2019 draft given their weakness at the position and the premium head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch place on the position. However, that’s exactly what they did in Dane Bugler’s latest mock draft for The Athletic. San Francisco opted for Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams instead with the No. 2 overall pick.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this. Our friends at the Draft Wire also had the 49ers taking Williams in one of their mock drafts late in the season.
Another interior lineman doesn’t seem to make a ton of sense for the 49ers. They have a slew of players who can plug in up and down the line based on alignment, including DeForest Buckner who’s proving to be one of the best in the league at that position.
Bugler wrote that Williams’ ability to wreck games from the inside would make him too enticing for the 49ers to pass on:
Ideally, the 49ers will be targeting an edge rusher with this pick, but Williams’ ability to create interior disruption will make him tough to pass up. At such a young age, he shows the unique ability to interchangeably use his gifts to defeat blocks and live in the opponent’s backfield. With high draft picks, the goal should be to find impact players and Williams is special — the 49ers shouldn’t overthink it.
Disruption up the middle isn’t the 49ers’ issue though. They actually did a decent job getting pressure inside this season. Their issues getting after the quarterback came when they failed to get someone around the edge, and they can’t afford to take a swing at an edge rusher in the later rounds. They need to draft one as early as possible to maximize the potential talent they’re getting at the position.
Bugler floated the idea that the Cardinals would be open for business with the No. 1 pick, and if a team in need of a quarterback does trade to that spot, it’s an ideal scenario for the 49ers, who would then have their choice of edge rusher at the No. 2 pick.
It’s still hard to believe they opt to go another direction even if the Cardinals do go with Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa first overall. There’s a scenario where the 49ers trade back a few spots because they’re comfortable with EDGE prospects sliding to them, but skipping the position altogether at No. 2 seems entirely unlikely. They’re not looking at value – they’re assessing what player most helps their team at that spot. Looking at their roster, it’s clear that that player will more than likely be an edge rusher.
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