Let’s take a look at how the 49ers did in the 2019 NFL Draft this weekend.
After all the pre-draft evaluations and mock drafts, the San Francisco 49ers finished the weekend with eight new draft picks. Here’s a list of the players that John Lynch and Co. selected during the three days:
1 (2). Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
2 (36). Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
3 (67). Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor
4 (110). Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah
5 (148). Dre Greenlaw, LB, Arkansas
6 (176). Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford
6 (183). Justin Skule, T, Vanderbilt
6 (198). Tim Harris, CB, Virginia
Before these players suit up for San Francisco in training camp, let’s take a look at some winners and losers from this weekend.
Winners
Pass Rush
The 49ers needed to upgrade their edge defense this offseason and did they go ahead and do that. After signing free-agent Dee Ford to a large contract, San Francisco doubled up on the position by drafting Ohio State’s Nick Bosa with the second pick of the NFL Draft. Considered as the draft’s best pure pass rusher, Bosa will bring a much-needed threat to the edge.
With the likes of DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas already lined up along the defensive line, the addition of Bosa this weekend should only strengthen this group.
Wide Receiver Competitions
Training camp and preseason this year is going to be an absolute dogfight for a receiver spot, given the additions of wideouts Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd during the second day of the NFL Draft.
With a group that already features Marquise Goodwin, Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, Dante Pettis and newly-signed Jordan Matthews, a spot on the roster won’t be easy to attain. With not much consistency from this group last season, Lynch and the front office did well to add more skill players to the mix.
2018 Defensive Backs’ Room
49ers’ fans pounded the table for a defensive back through the first five rounds of the draft. With every corner taken, fans wondered why the 49ers’ brain trust passed on that specific player. While corner Richard Sherman locked down one side of the field last season, the opposite side was a swinging door.
Corners Ahkello Witherspoon, Tarvarius Moore and Jason Verrett will compete for that final position, but most people surely thought the 49ers would prioritize the position in the draft. Given that the only player that Lynch chose was Virginia’s Tim Harris with their final selection of the weekend — it’s safe to say that the 49ers really believe in their young core already on the roster.
Mock Drafters
Most people had the 49ers’ first two selections nailed right on the head. Since the Senior Bowl, San Francisco has been linked to wideout Deebo Samuel, given his route-running abilities and quickness off the line of scrimmage. The 49ers’ coaching staff was one of the Senior Bowl staffs, so the connection made even more sense.
Since quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury, 49ers’ fans have been pounding the table for Nick Bosa and that became a reality on Thursday. While the 49ers’ first two selections were highly predictable — the front office hit it out of the park.
Losers
TE Garrett Celek
With the emergence of tight end George Kittle last season, Celek fell into a Robin role, primarily as a blocking tight end. The 49ers added Stanford’s Kaden Smith on Day 3, who was utilized heavily as a blocking tight end during his collegiate career. Given the addition of Smith, that likely could signal the end of Celek’s run in San Francisco.
If Smith shows up to training camp and can outperform the veteran, he will likely end up on the final 53-man roster, leaving no spot for Celek.
Punter Naysayers
The immediate reaction once the 49ers’ fourth-round selection was announced was a brief moment of shock, followed by ridicule on social media. A few years after the 49ers chose punter Bradley Pinion in the fifth round, San Francisco outdid themselves by choosing Utah’s Mitch Wishnowsky in the fourth round.
In recent seasons, the 49ers chose defensive lineman Kentavius Street, running back Joe Williams, corner Rashard Robinson and tight end Blake Bell in the fourth round. Given that those players don’t contribute on the football field, Wishnowsky sure looks a lot better.
While most disagree with the pick, choosing a special teams’ player that could potentially be a 10-year starter was worth the Day 3 selection.
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