The 49ers stink in 2018, but that could pay dividends in the spring.
The NFL is heading into Week 8, which will bring a little over half the league to the halfway point of their 2018 schedule. There is a lot of football left to be played, but we are starting to get a little clarity on who will be in the playoffs and who will be competing for the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Through seven weeks, the New York Giants hold the No. 1 overall pick, followed by the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and Oakland Raiders. I asked Josh, Alex, and Greg to put together a six pick mock draft, along with their thoughts on the 49ers pick. I went with six picks because right now that’s the group most likely competing for the top pick in the draft. The Cleveland Browns sit at No. 7 with a 2-4-1 record, but I think they’re showing enough improvement that they won’t climb that high in the draft order.
Greg Valerio
The cold hard slap of reality has shattered 49ers’ expectations of the season, and the preseason high we were excitedly riding to cloud nine has quickly become a spiraling nose dive into a pool of misery. Nonetheless, we are entering the time of season where a potentially high draft selection is creating some excitement amidst the sorrows of 49ers’ gameplay. The question is, is this the year the 49ers finally draft a glaring need fans have been clamoring for? It is no secret the 49ers’ pass rush has been less than desirable for a few years now. To put it bluntly, the edge presence sucks. With the second pick in the draft, selecting Nick Bosa would be a step in the direction of transforming the 49ers’ edge presence into a feared dominating force.
It is rare to see two brothers sharing high-end success at the next level, but Nick Bosa is on the path to match older brother’s “Joey” ride and success in the NFL. The junior is a tremendously gifted athletic talent showcasing a terrific combination of size, strength, athleticism, natural ability, power, quickness, football intelligence, and superb technique. A man amongst boys, Bosa is an all around complete player with excellent technique, adept in all facets of the game whether rushing the passer, wreaking havoc in the backfield, or as a stout run stopper. NFL bloodlines runs thick and Bosa’s successful transition to the next level is pretty much a sure thing, but first he needs to get healthy.
Alex Eisen
The 49ers biggest need has been, and will continue to be a pass rusher (or two) until it is addressed. The blueprint and foundation for a Super Bowl roster includes a quarterback who can make accurate throws downfield and captain the offense, an offensive line that can protect their leader, a defensive line that can create disruption along the line, and pass rushers who can get to the quarterback. Nick Bosa is the best pure pass rusher in this upcoming draft class. His ability to create disruption along the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback in the opponent’s backfield is second to none. Bosa has made a tremendous amount of big-impact plays, and is downright nasty against blockers. He is a nightmare to game plan against for any offensive coordinator. Bosa is a pure blue-chip prospect, who will not only improve the 49ers defensive line, but upgrade and take the 49ers entire defense to a whole other level. Bosa is a no-brainer pick for a team that has their franchise quarterback locked up long term.
Josh Eccles
The cup runneth over when it comes to the talent level and potential for the defensive linemen in the 2019 NFL Draft. There is honestly no shortage of suitable prospects within the first 3 rounds, which begs the question: should San Francisco spend what is going to be a high-end pick on a position that can be answered in a later round? My answer to that is no, especially given the lackluster play and inconsistency we have seen from the 49ers’ secondary this season. Greedy Williams out of LSU fits the bill for the future of this defense as he possesses every quality you’d want to see in a shutdown corner and, if given the opportunity, will be able to learn from one of the game’s best in Richard Sherman.
About the Author: Insidethe49
