Three of the five mock drafts have the 49ers taking a wide receiver.
Today, some of you will be on the edge of your seats, wondering if you’ll ever be able to wear your No. 11 jersey again. Get ready to witness the thrilling unpredictability of the NFL Draft.
Speaking of the draft, let’s round up the final mocks from NFL insiders to see again if there’s any overlap. This first mock will not calm your nerves about Brandon Aiyuk.
Benjamin Allbright: LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
There are some WR that may be traded during the draft that could definitely shake up the outcomes (Aiyuk, Sutton).
49ers (via JAX)* – WR Brian Thomas Jr I projected an Aiyuk trade and pick swap here
SF/ JAX: Jax gives pick 17, 116 for Aiyuk and 31
With the news that the Detroit Lions made Amon-Ra St. Brown the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, San Francisco may be hesitant to do the same for Aiyuk if those are his demands.
A trade wouldn’t be surprising if Aiyuk were on the roster. What would be taking Thomas Jr., a wideout from LSU with plenty of speed to burn, but a player who seems like he’s not close to being the player Aiyuk is today. Thomas needs to become more physical, a better route runner, and more sound overall. You’d be trading away Aiyuk for a receiver, and you’d have to re-teach everything you did with Aiyuk. The process seems off if this is the 49ers plan.
Daniel Jeremiah: Texas WR Xavier Worthy
This is my favorite fit in the first round. We saw what Tank Dell did in a similar offensive system with Houston, and we know what Mike McDaniel has been able to build with so much speed at receiver in Miami. Worthy gives Kyle Shanahan a similar weapon.
Dell was also selected in the third round. Through the first 12 weeks of the season, prior to Dell’s season-ending injury, he was third on the Houston Texans in targets. There are ways to scheme him open, and the same is true for Worthy, but these are not No. 1 receivers, nor players you take in the first round.
It would be a shock if the 49ers selected Worthy. His teammate went one pick after him to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Trevor Sikkema – PFF: South Carolina WR Xavier Legette
31. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: WR XAVIER LEGETTE, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Niners reportedly held a formal visit with Legette at the scouting combine and also brought him in for a top-30 visit. This could open up the door for a Brandon Aiyuk trade.
Three mocks. Three receivers. Legette seems like he’d be there at No. 63. This would be viewed as quite the reach, and a pick that would not go over well with many fans or draft pundits.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner: Missouri DL Darius Robinson
Nick Wagoner’s pick: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
The run of offensive tackles leaves the Niners in a spot where they would probably look to either move up to get one or move back for someone like Roger Rosengarten or Kingsley Suamataia in the second round. And while a receiver or cornerback can’t be ruled out, history says the Niners are always willing to bolster the defensive line if the fit is right.
Can’t argue with Nick’s logic. This is a team that loves their defensive linemen. Robinson is a player who doesn’t have a high ceiling and isn’t overly athletic, making him more of a tweener. The 49ers did this in 2017, and we saw how that turned out. Robinson would make more sense if they traded out of the first round. Even then, I’m not sure where he wins in the NFL.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco: Arizona OT Jordan Morgan
Round 1, No. 31 — Jordan Morgan
Position: Offensive line
School: Arizona
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 311 pounds
There will already be a lot of offensive linemen off the board when the 49ers’ first pick rolls around, but this is not a selection that is based entirely off of need.
Morgan has the requisite skills to excel in the 49ers’ offense under the direction of line coach Chris Foerster. He has the athleticism and aggression required to carry out the duties in the run game.
The only question is whether he projects at guard or tackle for the long term. He started 37 games at left tackle in college. Morgan will be counted upon to be a long-term starter while getting an opportunity to work his way into the lineup from Day 1.
I’d have plenty of questions for Kyle Shanahan if he took Morgan over the likes of Roger Rosengarten or Kingsley Suamataia in the first round. Morgan has never played guard or on the right side. And there’s a little tape of him performing like a first-rounder. Offensive tackle is a position of need, but I struggle to see Morgan being an upgrade from what’s currently on the roster — especially at this spot.
Peter Schrager: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
Yes. Easy yes. Big yes, even. I don’t think Shanahan can go wrong here. This is a player worth trading up for. Anonymous scouts said Mitchell was difficult to deal with and uncoachable due to his diabetes. On the field, Mitchell is everything and then some. He’s a star.
So, six mocks, five thumbs down for me, and one gold star. Happy draft day, everybody!
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