Addressing your 49ers comments, questions and concerns in our NFL Draft edition of the Niners Nation mailbag.
It’s not only draft week, but we’re just over 24 hours from the start of the 2019 NFL Draft. The San Francisco 49ers hold the No. 2 overall pick and the eyes of the NFL are upon the Arizona Cardinal at first-overall. Will they go with Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray? Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa? We likely won’t have that answer until commissioner Roger Goodell reads the pick on Thursday, but their choice plays a huge role in general manager John Lynch’s decision in Santa Clara.
For now, we’re back in this week’s NFL Draft mailbag. As always, you’re welcome to drop questions in here for our next mailbag or tweet me @Rob_Lowder.
If Nick Bosa goes to the Cardinals, what’s the plan for the 49ers?
Brick is asking the question that many, including myself, are still pondering as the draft inches closer. Are the Cardinals really going to take their second first-round quarterback in consecutive years? Are they really going to allow Bosa, arguably the draft’s best player, to fall to the 49ers? If none of that happens, and the Cards do go Bosa, the 49ers seem smitten with Williams and would likely making him the pick without hesitation, unless the phones begin to ring.
If Kyler Murray is available at No. 2, what does that mean for the 49ers’ draft board?
Early’s question provides me with an ideal transition. If the Cardinals draft Bosa first-overall, that means Murray is still on the board and one can assume the 49ers’ phone begins to ring with trade offers. It will take a significant offer to draw the 49ers away from No. 2 and the blue-chip players like Williams and Josh Allen that are available to them. If this scenario unfolds, I could see the 49ers utilizing all of their allotted pick time to sort through the offers. My guess would still be Williams at No 2.
If the 49ers pick Quinnen Williams, are Arik Armstead or Solomon Thomas in danger of being traded?
I wouldn’t necessary say they’re in danger, Wes, but the option definitely becomes more believable with Williams added to an already crowded front. The 49ers would be more likely to trade Solomon Thomas than they would Arik Armstead, who will be playing on his fifth-year option in 2019. Thomas, the 49ers’ third-overall pick in 2017, has failed to provide the impact you would expect from a player selected at his position. With two years remaining on his rookie deal, team’s would be much more willing to explore a trade for Thomas than they would Armstread.
Could the 49ers go offensive line in the second round?
Absolutely, Salty. I recently wrote that the 49ers should target a receiver or safety in the second round, but an offensive lineman at pick No. 36 wouldn’t be surprising. Starting left guard Laken Tomlinson is still recovering from a torn MCL suffered at the end of the season against the Rams. While he should be ready to go for the start of training camp, additional talent along the interior to compete with Tomlinson and veteran Mike Person would be a wise investment.
Do you think it’s a forgone conclusion that Rounds 2 and 3 are receiver and safety?
While I wouldn’t be willing to label those two picks as a foregone conclusion like Scarlet suggests, I would definitely offer my endorsement of targeting either of both of those positions on Day 2. I wrote about that here. The 49ers are in need of another perimeter threat opposite Dante Pettis and a starting-caliber free safety to compete with Adrian Colbert and Jimmie Ward. The board favors both of those positions as well, and the 49ers are likely to be staring at quality, impact options at the start of Day 2.
Would you rather have a starting tight end opposite of George Kittle or a starting receiver opposite Dante Pettis?
I’d go with the latter, Evan. With veteran Pierre Garçon making his exit after a disappointing two-year stint, the 49ers’ receiving corps is in need of reinforcements. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate the idea of adding another threat opposite Kittle. I’m sure Shanahan could talk at length on the benefits of having two bonafide starting tight ends within his offense. But for now, I think the 49ers should take advantage of the quality receivers that can be found in the draft. Shoot, maybe they get both?
If the 49ers take Williams over Bosa, do we celebrate or riot?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, 49ersCamelot. Both Bosa and Williams are widely regarded as the top two players in the draft by a wide margin. Bosa has long been the assumed option for San Francisco if the Cardinals go with Murray first-overall, but that doesn’t mean that Lynch isn’t strongly considering Williams. I assume it’s a 1A and 1B-type of relationship on the 49ers’ draft board. While there would be plenty of surprise, I don’t think a Williams-over-Bosa scenario should be cause to take to the streets.
What can we expect from Kentavius Street, Jullian Taylor, D.J. Jones and Sheldon Day. Where are the snaps for all these guys coming from?
Marion is here to ask about the 49ers defensive lineman that didn’t get drafted in the first round and I appreciate that. Out of those four, Jones is likely to have the most solidified role as the defense’s nose tackle on base downs. Street, who has yet the take the field for the 49ers after a red-shirt year recovering from a torn ACL, along with Taylor and Day, should fill in as depth behind Buckner, Armstead and Thomas. The modern defensive line relies heavily on a steady rotation of fresh bodies.
Crazy hypothetical: Is getting Jalen Ramsey worth trading down to pick seven?
J brings up the type of trade that few have considered. Ramsey, the Jaguars’ star cornerback and one of the best in the league, has never quite seemed content in Jacksonville. He recently caught some flak for not attending the team’s voluntary workouts, along with some miscommunication between he and head coach Doug Marrone. Moving back from second to seventh in exchange for Ramsey would likely be a deal the 49ers would strongly consider. Ramsey would immediately occupy the starting spot opposite Sherman and serve as his eventual replacement.
Is the Cardinals passing on Murray a smokescreen? If they go Bosa, is Josh Allen worth the second pick?
Its a cop out, Antonio, but we likely won’t know the Cardinals’ intentions until the pick is announced on Thursday. For now, most of the signs point to Murray. If they do go Bosa, I’d put my money on Williams being the pick at No. 2. Allen is definitely an option worth considering though, especially after a senior season consisting of 21.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. He’d be an every-down player on the 49ers’ 4-3 defense.
Does Bosa’s social media actility make you shy away from him on draft day?
It’s definitely worth considering, Alex, as are most aspects of a prospects life prior to the draft. The 49ers will likely defer to Bosa’s teammates and coaches to create a more accurate depiction of his character and make-up. By all accounts so far, Bosa has been regarded as a valuable member of the locker room in both high school and at Ohio State.
Do the 49ers have their heart set on drafting a receiver or could make a blockbuster trade for a big name like AJ Green or Julio Jones?
You can’t blame Brenden for aiming high, but the 49ers are much more likely to target a receiver in the draft than they are to trade for a marquee player like Green or Jones – neither of which have been made available. The draft is stacked with quality receivers and the 49ers only have six picks this year and have already traded away next year’s second-round pick for Dee Ford. Now to backtrack some, the 49ers were in the mix for Odell Beckham Jr., so they’re obviously willing to enter into the fray if one is made available, but I wouldn’t expect any more blockbuster deals from Lynch in 2019.
The Class Clown of the 2019 draft?
Leave it up to Fitch (who I’ve known for quite some time) to ask the question I have no idea how to answer. I’m going to go with Quinnen Williams, who chose to meet with the 49ers after Alabama’s Pro Day at none other than the International House of Pancakes. The man clearly knows his food, and a choice like that speaks to me on a personal level.
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