Doubling down on WR. Finding a LB who can cover. Getting by with a Day 3 RT. Some takeaways from the 49ers prospect meet ups.
We have a list of prospects the San Francisco 49ers have met with ahead of this week’s NFL Draft. Here are the 30 visits:
WR Johnny Wilson, Florida State
WR Bub Means, Pittsburgh
WR Malachai Corley, Western Kentucky
WR Javon Baker, Central Florida
WR Jacob Cowing, Arizona
CB DeCamerious Richardson, Mississippi State
CB Andru Phillips, Kentucky
CB Chau Smith-Wade, Washington State
OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame
OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
OT Caedan Wallace, Penn State
Edge Chris Braswell, Alabama
Edge Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
DT Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
DT Evan Anderson, Florida Atlantic
DL Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
LB Tatum Bethune, Florida State
LB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky
S/RB Sione Vaki, Utah
TE Erick All, Iowa
S Javon Bullard, Georgia
Of the 21 prospects that have been tracked as 30 visits, five are wide receivers, three are cornerbacks and offensive tackles, with a couple of edge, defensive tackle, safety and linebackers, and a tight end.
Doubling down on a wideout
Whether it unfolds in the first and the fourth, the second and the third, or a mix of rounds, the San Francisco 49ers’ potential strategy to double down on a wide receiver in this draft is a compelling narrative. These visits, which we’ve extensively covered, further solidify the team’s intent to fortify their wide receiver core.
Deebo Samuel could be gone after the 2024 season. Jauan Jennings is on a one-year deal. Danny Gray is…a player on the roster. Outside of Brandon Aiyuk, who we’re assuming will get extended, the position looks bleak in 2025.
Getting by on the right side
Suamataia should beat Colton McKivitz out in training camp at right tackle, but it would be a gift from the football gods if he’s available by the 49ers’ second-round pick. He seems like a trade-down scenario at No. 31.
Wallace and Fisher, both projected to go somewhere in the third and fourth rounds, is the team telling us they believe they could develop an offensive tackle and “get by” without using a top pick. Based on their recent success, arguing with that train of thought is difficult.
If you can solidify receiver and add an edge rusher in the first two rounds, Fisher in the third would make for three quality picks. It also should be noted that players who aren’t drafted early can still produce at a high level. The Green Bay Packers took Zach Tom in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started every game for them last year at tackle. That could be the 49ers plan.
Effort on the edge
A year after the efforts of Chase Young and Randy Gregory were questioned in the NFC Championship, Braswell and Kneeland are the antithesis of those players. Both give you everything they have on every snap, and that’s reflected in their production.
Neither have the length nor athletic gifts Young or Gregory had coming out, but you’re usually rewarded in football when you play through the whistle with good technique.
I imagine Nick Sorensen doesn’t want to worry about coaching effort in his first season. That wouldn’t be an issue with Braswell and Kneeland.
Causing chaos inside
Anderson is 320 pounds but known for his first step. Hall Jr. might have the quickest first step among all interior defenders. Dorlus uses his length to be disruptive. Each defensive tackle the Niners have met with is notorious for causing chaos.
That was a strength of Arik Armstead’s. He may not have finished with a sack as much as fans wanted, but Armstead changed the quarterback’s eye level. When you identify different roles, perhaps the 49ers feel like they’re still lacking a disruptor inside.
Too bad, tight ends
There hasn’t been an offseason that has gone by without us discussing getting George Kittle some help. Given the team’s needs, it’s much easier said than done. The Niners have their big-bodied blocker in Eric Saubert. Brayden Willis and Cameron Latu are question marks.
All is a legitimate receiving threat out of Iowa and is precisely what the Niners have been looking for at the position. But there aren’t many in the draft who can say the same. TCU’s Jared Wiley and Colorado State’s Dallin Holker are other tight ends you’d trust as receivers. Kansas State’s Ben Sinnot might be a Kyle Juszczyk replacement down the line.
But based on where you’d have to take these players and what the 49ers need instead, it might be wise to give Latu a shot and bet on his athletic traits.
Can you cover?
Wallace ran a 4.51 and plays that fast. Bethune and Wallace are both above average coverage linebackers. In the back of their minds, even if they draft a linebacker for depth, it’s impossible to ignore the Kansas City Chiefs terrorizing the 49ers linebackers in coverage down the stretch in the Super Bowl.
Wallace and Bethune are players you can count on in man-to-man coverage. Oren Burks was not.
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