So it’s come to this.
Every year around draft time we like to look at the ghosts of drafts past with the San Francisco 49ers and reflect on the players allocated from the draft. We luckily have video of each draft thanks to YouTube poster and 49ers fan Marvin49. We’ll be looking at every year up to 2018. Today it’s 2018.
It’s been just one year, so we can’t fully grade the 49ers’ 2018 draft, but so far, so good. Yes, we said the same thing after 2017 and then Reuben Foster had to go get released, but 2018 does show some potential.
For starters, the 49ers burned the ninth pick on Mike McGlinchey, an offensive tackle out of Notre Dame. The biggest draft crush for many was McGlinchey’s Notre Dame teammate Quenton Nelson, but he went sixth to the Indianapolis Colts and there was no way he’d last until ninth. McGlinchey’s run blocking made him climb charts as one of the better tackles in the league, but his pass blocking, while not horrible, paled in comparison to Trent Brown, the man McGlinchey replaced. After the McGlinchey selection, the 49ers traded Brown to the New England Patriots the following day. McGlinchey’s future may be at right tackle, but there also is a chance he’ll be moved to left once Joe Staley retires. Regardless of position, McGlinchey has helped solidify what was one of the worst O-lines in football and made several crucial lanes for running back Matt Breida in 2018. He’s a winner.
Second rounder Dante Pettis didn’t have quite the rookie campaign. The good news Pettis showed promise at the very least. Injured for stretches of the season, Pettis’ ceiling is still being realized, but when he’s on the field, he’s able to get the ball and yardage. Far from a bust. At least so far.
The pick of the draft goes to Fred Warner, a linebacker out of BYU who took Reuben Foster’s job. Warner displayed enough promise to relay communication to the defense that the coaching staff gave him the green dot and made him spend his 2018 learning how to communicate Robert Saleh’s calls. A third round pick has become the leader of the 49ers defense and had a great rookie season as well.
So there’s two names that are starters. That already bodes well. Cornerback Tarvarius Moore was drafted to convert to cornerback and still has some things to show in this year’s training camp, but is darn fast. R2-D2’s pick of DT Kentavius Street, spent his 2018 on IR due to a knee injury, but there hasn’t been much negative said in his practice appearances. D.J. Reed is converting to safety, but also was tried at punt returns (where he flourished in college), if he did well returning punts is up to you. Jullian Taylor had a strong training camp, but his rookie tendencies had Saleh telling people to pump the breaks. Safety Marcell Harris? Well he hits. Hard.
Finally, Richie James. The final pick for the 49ers showed he could be a decent wide receiver and has established himself as kick returner after this gem.
As always, the DMCA biscuits are watching this thing in full force, so go here if you can’t watch it.
Pick Breakdown
Round 1 – Pick 9 – Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Round 2 – Pick 44 – Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
Round 3 – Pick 70 – Fred Warner, LB, BYU
Round 3 – Pick 95 – Tarvarius Moore, S, Southern Miss
Round 4 – Pick 128 – Kentavius Street, DT, North Carolina State
Round 5 – Pick 142 – D.J. Reed, CB, Kansas State
Round 5 – Pick 184 – Marcell Harris, S, Florida
Round 7 – Pick 233 – Jullian Taylor, DT, Temple
Round 7 – Pick 240- Richie James, WR, Middle Tennessee
About the Author: Insidethe49
