Addition by…no subtraction?
Following eight draft picks for the 49ers in the 2024 NFL Draft, it is time to make an early prediction without seeing a single snap from the newest 49ers on which position group improved the most and which position group did not improve.
First, let’s look at the 49ers additions/subtractions in the offseason before the draft.
Additions:
LB Devondre Campbell
QB Josh Dobbs
DL Jordan Elliott
DE Leonard Floyd
DE Yetur Gross-Matos
CB Chase Lucas
OL Brandon Parker
TE Eric Saubert
RB Patrick Taylor Jr.
WR Trent Taylor
LB Ezekiel Turner
CB Rock Ya-Sin
CB Isaac Yiadom
DT Maliek Collins (via trade with Houston)
Returning 49ers:
QB Brandon Allen
OL Ben Bartch
WR Chris Conley
OL Jon Feliciano
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
DT Kevin Givens
Losses:
DT Arik Armstead
LB Oren Burks
QB Sam Darnold
DE Clelin Ferrell
DE Randy Gregory
DT Sebastian Joseph-Day
DT Javon Kinlaw
WR Ray-Ray McCloud
CB Isaiah Oliver
OT Matt Pryor
S Logan Ryan (retired)
TE Charlie Woerner
DE Chase Young
With the additions of Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing, the most improved group is the wide receiver room. The other receivers in the group include Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Conley, Ronnie Bell, Jauan Jennings (who still hasn’t signed his second-round tender, for what it’s worth), Danny Gray, Tay Martin, Trent Taylor, and UDFA invite Terique Owens.
The 49ers have to assume Samuel will miss a game or some time during 2024. Last season, when Samuel and Trent Williams missed time, the 49ers offense was a shell of itself. The addition of Pearsall and Cowing, at the very least, makes the 49ers more explosive in case of any potential absence from Samuel or any other receiver. While the two draft picks can be viewed as future assets, the reality is that they are immediate depth for the team. The wide receiver group got deeper with potential for the future.
The 49ers added two members to the secondary and offensive line, but I chose the receivers.
The defensive line has been a priority for the 49ers in free agency and the draft during the entire tenure of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. 2024 was only the second draft, and the organization didn’t add a defensive lineman. Adding two potential starters opposite Charvarius Ward in free agency in Ya-Sin and Yiadom, plus drafting Renardo Green, signifies a possible shift in how the 49ers build their defense.
Maliek Collins will be in on base downs with Leonard Floyd as a situational pass rusher. Yetur Gross-Matos has a chance to be the “Charles Omenihu” type found in free agency and has the versatility to rush from the inside and out. Drake Jackson also figures into the mix in year three. The feeling from the 49ers’ run in free agency and draft selections is they are OK with the production they can get from Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, and others while strengthening the secondary.
Just because the defensive line is the least improved hardly makes it a weakness for the team. It’s easy to say the group didn’t improve in the draft when no defensive linemen were selected.
About the Author: Insidethe49
