Injuries have turned the 49ers’ 2018 season into an evaluation of what their biggest needs are in next year’s draft. San Francisco is still mathematically in the playoff hunt at 1-4. They were realistically eliminated the moment Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt. It doesn’t have to be all bad for the still-rebuilding 49ers though. A bad finish in 2018 could help boost their chances to add elite talent at the positions still hurting them the most on the field. Draft Wire’s latest two-round mock draft gives a prime example of what a bad finish this season could do for the 49ers’ future.
San Francisco winds up with the No. 2 overall selection in Draft Wire’s projections. With that pick they land Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver.
This might give fans pause given the 49ers’ recent history with drafting defensive linemen in the first round, but Oliver is on a different level.
At 6-3, 292 pounds, he can play all over the defensive front, and he has the athleticism to do it. He is a game wrecker on the interior and can stay on the field for all three downs. In 29 college games, Oliver has racked up 178 tackles, 45.0 tackles-for-loss, 10.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups and four forced fumbles. He is a monster who brings a new element of nastiness to the 49ers’ defensive line. It’s hard to imagine them passing on Oliver if they wind up with a top-two selection.
With the No. 34 overall pick the 49ers snag Miami cornerback Michael Jackson. We don’t have his full measurements yet to see if he fits the 49ers’ desired profile for corners, but at 6-1, 205 pounds he’s on the right track. Jackson wasn’t a full-time contributor for the Hurricanes until his junior season in 2017. In 13 games he notched 43 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sacks and four interceptions. He also had four pass breakups. Jackson’s yet to tally an interception in 2018, but he’s already tied his career high with four pass breakups.
Defensive line and cornerback help will be two of the 49ers’ top needs this offseason. They may opt for an edge rusher in the first round with a trade out of the No. 2 spot in this scenario. However, Oliver in Round 1 and a good cover corner in Round 2 would be a nice haul for a team with a ton of needs.
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