San Francisco selected eight players in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Drafting in the first round for the first time since 2021, the San Francisco 49ers had an eventful 2024 NFL Draft, ultimately selecting eight players to help compete this season and in the future.
San Francisco entered the draft with minimal holes, as they had filled a majority of their needs in free agency, which allowed them not only to go best player available, but also address needs that may arise in the future in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Now, all eight of their rookies likely won’t make the team, but there are some talented players in San Francisco’s draft class, leading us to the question: how many rookies will be instant contributors in 2024?
WR Ricky Pearsall
Pearsall, the 49ers first-round selection, was an intriguing selection, as he now joins a receiver room headlined by Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Jauan Jennings, who all started in 2023.
At the moment, Aiyuk and Jennings are on expiring deals, while Samuel will have just one season remaining on his contract, making it likely that the core will be shaken up next offseason, which is why it was imperative that San Francisco address receiver in the draft.
Pearsall is a good player who fits the 49ers style of offense and should find ways onto the field, but it’s tougher to see a path where he beats out either Aiyuk or Samuel for a starting spot, while Jennings has been good in his role as a slot receiver.
He should contribute in some way in 2024, but Pearsall seems like a bigger selection for the 2025 season when San Francisco will face a bigger dilemma at receiver.
CB Renardo Green
San Francisco’s second-round pick, cornerback Renardo Green, arguably has the clearest path to playing time of any rookie in the team’s 2024 class.
Green, a physical, press-man corner who can play both inside and outside, enters a cornerback room that has two spots solidified with Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir.
However, that third spot is up for grabs, and Green will compete with veterans Isaac Yiadom, Ambry Thomas, Rock Ya-Sin, and others for the starting role.
Even if he isn’t starting, Green could very well see playing time if an injury occurs in the room, but there’s a chance he could even earn a starting job this offseason.
OL Dominick Puni
The 49ers traded up to take Puni, an offensive lineman out of Kansas who will likely play on the interior in 2024.
I thought this was one of the team’s better selections of the draft, even with the trade up, but this may be more of a 2025 pick than a 2024 pick as well.
Currently, the 49ers have Jon Feliciano at right guard, who started at the position last season in a rotation with Spencer Burford.
That spot could be up for grabs, or the 49ers could move Feliciano over to center, but offensive linemen generally have a longer acclimation period with San Francisco, making it hard for them to see meaningful action in Year 1.
The opportunity is there for Puni, who is a seasoned college veteran with six years of experience, but the 49ers return every starter along their offensive line from a season ago.
S Malik Mustapha
One of the more underrated picks for the 49ers according to a number of draft pundits, Mustapha fits the team’s type of safety as an undersized player who moves well and isn’t afraid to make big hits.
Mustapha enters a safety room in dire need of depth, but his path to a starting job may be blocked by the presence of former All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga and 2023 third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown.
Mustapha may be a better fit for the free safety role, potentially allowing him to earn more opportunities in Year 1, but it feels that he could also be the Hufanga replacement after the latter hit free agency next offseason.
The 49ers haven’t generally spent significant money at safety, and may have found their succession plan in Mustapha, who should also contribute on special teams.
RB Isaac Guerendo
The 49ers traded up for Isaac Guerendo in the fourth round, sending two fifth-round picks in exchange for the Louisville running back.
Guerendo seems like a 49ers type of running back as a fast, one-cut runner who can fly when moving downhill.
He seems like the perfect Elijah Mitchell replacement, as the veteran back is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason.
Now, the clearest path to snaps for Guerendo would be to trade Mitchell this offseason and recoup an asset while they still can, but the running back could also be useful on special teams, where he has some experience in college.
Regardless, following the 2024 season, it seems like there’s a clear path for opportunities for Guerendo to work behind star Christian McCaffrey.
WR Jacob Cowing
Cowing was one of the more intriguing picks in the 2024 NFL Draft for the 49ers, as he doesn’t fit their normal mold of wideouts, standing at 5’8, 168 pounds.
However, Cowing is talented with the ball in his hands, which is why it makes sense he ended up with San Francisco, and he could be a nice gadget player in the slot for the team.
Now, like Pearsall, Cowing has a tougher path to snaps in a crowded wideout room in 2024, but could very well be used in the Ray-Ray McCloud role with some opportunities on offense, but also some on special teams, where the wideout can move well in space.
In 2025, however, Cowing’s role on offense could increase as the wideout room fizzles out with the incumbent talent, providing him a path for more opportunities on offense.
OL Jarrett Kingston
The 49ers took offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston with their lone sixth-round pick, taking a second projected interior offensive lineman in the class.
Kingston could ultimately move to center or play at guard in the NFL, as his athletic profile especially stands out, with him recording a 9.92 Raw Athletic Score(RAS) at the NFL Combine.
This pick seems like one primarily for the future, as Kingston should compete for a backup spot in 2024 with the hopes of elevating to a bigger role in 2025 as the 49ers face some change along their offensive line.
Two of their interior offensive linemen are free agents after the season, while the third, Jake Brendel, can be released without major cap implications as well. San Francisco needs depth in the area, and Kingston provides just that.
LB Tatum Bethune
Doubling up on Florida State defensive players, the 49ers took linebacker Tatum Bethune with their final selection.
At first glance, it’s going to be tough for Bethune to make the team at linebacker, as the 49ers have top-end talent, veterans that have been with the team for a while, and other younger players eager for more opportunity.
However, the 49ers have done a good job of developing linebackers, and Bethune could be a solid practice squad candidate in 2024, with the chance of moving higher up the depth chart as certain players hit free agency next offseason.
But, at the moment, it’s hard to see a role for Bethune with the amount of depth San Francisco has at linebacker.
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