The 49ers locked up franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on Thursday with a five-year, $137.5-million contract, signifying the team’s commitment to him as the face of the franchise moving forward. Now they’ll have to use resources to protect their investment in free agency and the NFL draft.

The 49ers’ first draft pick will come ninth or 10th, determined by a coin flip with the Raiders at the scouting combine. We’ll publish multiple mocks throughout draft season, working to identify needs as they change throughout to analyze the draft from multiple angles. While mock drafts ignore the human element to 32 general managers making decisions under pressure, it’s important to examine the various ways the 49ers can approach their options.

After selecting a versatile defender in the first round of our Mock Draft 1.0, the 49ers go the other direction and grab a top offensive player to keep Garoppolo clean and help clear space in the running game.

Round 1 (pick 9) | Quenton Nelson | OG | Notre Dame

Nelson might be the best player in the draft, but it’s unlikely a guard will ever get taken with the first-overall pick. It isn’t valued as highly as other positions. But that doesn’t erase the fact Nelson (6-5, 330) is as dominant along the offensive line as any prospect coming out in the last 10 years.

(Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports)

He’ll enter the league reminding talent evaluators of former Notre Dame guard and Cowboys All-Pro Zack Martin. Nelson plays with power and control. He’s efficient and explosive. He would join the 49ers and immediately become one of the team’s best players. Concerns about his fit in Kyle Shanahan’s outside zone running scheme are overblown. He’s good enough to play in any NFL system and would immediately address one of San Francisco’s most pressing needs.