The 49ers had a contingent of key talent evaluators on hand for pass rusher Marcus Davenport’s pro day on Wednesday, who’s a candidate to get taken with their No. 9 pick in the NFL draft.
San Francisco sent defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina, a national scout and an area scout to University of Texas-San Antonio to watch Davenport work out, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Davenport (6-6, 264) is widely considered one of the three best defensive ends available along with Bradley Chubb of North Carolina State and Boston College’s Harold Landry. He logged 15 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss combined over his final two college seasons before getting an invite to the Senior Bowl.
The 49ers had 30 sacks last season, tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL. They decided earlier this month not to pick up the 2018 option of veteran pass rusher Elvis Dumervil after he led the team with 6.5 sacks. No other defender had more than three. Improving the pass rush off the edge is one of the team’s most pressing needs after allowing opponents to convert 43 percent of third downs to rank 30th in the league.
Arik Armstead, Cassius Marsh and recently added free agent Jeremiah Attaochu figure to compete for playing time at “Leo” defensive end. Last year’s third-overall pick Solomon Thomas played there, but figures to play on the opposite end and line up as a defensive tackle in throwing situations.
Davenport impressed at the Senior Bowl, making two tackles, a half sack and a fumble recovery. At the combine, he ran an impressive 4.58 in the 40. He jumped 33.5 inches in the vertical and 10-feet, 4-inches in the broad jump.
About the Author: Insidethe49
