Things were wide open for the 49ers heading into the 2017 NFL draft. They had a new coaching staff implementing dramatically different systems on both sides of the ball. They didn’t have a quarterback and no one had any idea what they would look like with 22 players on the field in a regular season setting.

A year later, after finishing 6-10 and winning five straight to end 2017 behind Jimmy Garoppolo, we have a much better idea of the 49ers’ construct. We understand their strengths and weaknesses, how certain players fit schematically and how others don’t. We also have a better understanding of how John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan are trying to piece together the roster to make a run at the playoffs in 2018 and remain competitive season after season.

So this year, even with the draft more than three weeks away, I feel comfortable planting a flag for the player the 49ers should take with the No. 9 overall draft pick, assuming that player is still on the board, of course.

Harold Landry, come on down.

It took until the NFL combine to answer the questions surrounding the Boston College pass rusher after a disappointing 2017. His lackluster season derailed by an ankle injury proved he probably should have entered the draft a year ago right after logging 16.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss and forcing seven fumbles as a junior. He might have been a top-five selection – and he might have gone to San Francisco with the No. 2 or 3 pick at the same.

That doesn’t matter now. Landry is the best pure speed rusher in the draft and would give the 49ers something they’ve been lacking since Aldon Smith was still at the peak of his powers in 2013: A dominant edge defender, which is arguably the most valuable position on defense.

The 49ers had the NFL’s 22nd-ranked pass defense last season. They pressured quarterbacks (not including sacks) at 34.8 percent of passing plays, according to Pro Football Focus, while the league average was 34.6. They had 30 sacks, tied for the fifth fewest.

They were miserable on third down, allowing opponents to convert 43 percent of their attempts, the third-worst mark in the league. When does a pass rush pay the most dividends? Correct – third down.

THE TRAITS

Back to the combine, when Landry answered any questions surrounding his physical skills following his ankle injury that led to missing the last four games of 2017 and finishing with just 5.0 sacks.

Landry (6-3, 252) ran a quick 4.64 in the 40-yard dash and logged 24 reps on the bench press. But far more important was the work he did in the 10-yard split and three-cone drill. His 10-yard burst off the line took 1.60 seconds, the second best among all defensive linemen in this year’s class. For context:

10-yard splits

Khalil Mack: 1.56
Jadeveon Clowney: 1.56
Von Miller: 1.57
Vic Beasley: 1.59
Harold Landry: 1.60
Demarcus Lawrence: 1.62
Melvin Ingram: 1.62
J.J. Watt: 1.64
Joey Bosa: 1.66

Landry’s three-cone time was 6.88 seconds – in the 95th percentile among edge defenders. The three-cone drill might be the best indicator of a player’s short-area burst, ability to change direction and overall agility – all crucial elements of quality pass rushers off the edge.

According to Pro Football Focus, the list of 250-pound pass rushers drafted in Round 1 to run the three-cone faster than 6.9 seconds features DeMarcus Ware, J.J. Watt, David Pollack, Engram, Bosa and T.J. Watt.

Those physical skills are strong indications that Landry’s 16.5 sacks in 12 games his junior season were no fluke and his traits translate directly to what the 49ers need along the front seven.

THE FIT

San Francisco still doesn’t have a blue-blood “Leo” defensive end to be a cornerstone of the defense. They brought back Cassius Marsh on a minimal contract and signed former second-round pick Jeremiah Attaochu to compete for a roster spot. Those two have 16 sacks in eight seasons combined.

Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas were tried on the edge with minimal success last season and both seem better suited to pass rush along the interior next to DeForest Buckner. Landry could start as a pass rushing specialist while San Francisco tries Armstead, Thomas or Eli Harold as edge setters in running downs.

That might be the knock on Landry, particularly when comparing him to the consensus top edge player in the draft, Bradley Chubb, who will play all three downs. Landry might be relegated to sub packages, similar to the way San Francisco used Smith his rookie campaign or how Dumervil was deployed in 2017.

Dumervil played in just under a third of the snaps, likely because of his age (33) and the fact the 49ers faced a higher percentage of running plays than all but one team. That’s likely to change if the offense makes an expected jump with a full season of Garoppolo at quarterback.

Bottom line, an explosive player off the edge will only help Buckner and Thomas become more efficient pass rushers. Quarterbacks will have to dodge Landry by stepping up in the pocket, right into the pressure along the interior. Buckner was fifth among all defensive tackles with 52 pressures last season, according to PFF, yet he only had three sacks due largely to the lack of consistent pressure off the edge.

THE COMPARISONS

The Seahawks, Falcons, Chargers and Jaguars all run Pete Carroll’s famous defensive scheme which the 49ers adopted last season under former Seattle assistant Robert Saleh. And all those defenses took sizable steps when they added pass rushers off the edge comparable to Landry – although no players or their situations are apples-to-apples comparisons. But they do provide a line of thinking the 49ers might follow.

The Seahawks in 2013 signed Cliff Avril and saw their sack total increase from 36 (18th) to 44 (eighth). Avril, who joined Seattle as a free agent, entered the league the same height and weight as Landry, and ran his three-cone drill in 6.9 seconds, .02 slower than Landry.

The Falcons used the eighth-overall pick in 2015 on Clemson pass rusher Vic Beasley to be their new “Leo.” He led the NFL with 15.5 sacks his second season playing opposite Shanahan’s offense, helping Atlanta reach the Super Bowl. Landry and Beasley share similar explosive traits off the line of scrimmage.

The Chargers, of course, have Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, who form arguably the top pass rushing duo in the NFL. They combined for 41.5 sacks the last two seasons while the defense improved to 20th against the pass to third last season. Landry’s 10-yard split was quicker than both.

The Jaguars had a historically good defense for most of 2017 thanks largely to their pass rush. Yannick Ngakoue (6-2, 252), a third-round pick in 2016, has 20 sacks over the last two seasons working at “Leo.” Jacksonville had 55 sacks, second most in the league, with Ngakoue complimenting interior rushers Malik Jackson and Calais Campbell, creating a blueprint the 49ers might follow with the addition of Landry next to Buckner and Thomas.

THE ALTERNATIVES

For now, a likely run on quarterbacks early in the draft could make Landry available at pick No. 9. There could be four signal callers off the board when San Francisco selects, making it probable it can land an impact player even if Landry isn’t on the board.

If the unexpected happens, and Landy goes before No. 9, the 49ers should still have good options. Players like Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, Florida State safety Derwin James, Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and/or Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson could be available.

All would offer the 49ers upgrades at their respective positions. However, zooming out on the entire roster, Landry could seemingly have the greatest impact of those prospects. His position is inherently more valuable and there’s the widest gap between his talent and others the 49ers already have at the position. Landry has all the apparent traits – and production, despite a down year in 2017 – to be the missing piece of the pass defense, which has clearly been the team’s Achilles heal.

It’s proven year after year top-flight pass rushers don’t hit the market in free agency. Additionally, there don’t appear to be many game-changing options in the later rounds of this draft class.

Landry is the best bet at No. 9. His selection would be the right marriage of value and fit for San Francisco. He should be the pick.