Mock drafts are a funny thing. Rarely are the selections correct and yet they are so widely scrutinized. Why? Well, because it’s fun. Anytime you can play mock GM for 32 teams you have to take it, right?
The pinnacle point in draft season ended earlier this week with the Combine, so now it’s time to look at how the draft could fall out before free agency hit. Expect trades and free agency to drastically change things up, but for now here’s how I see the first two rounds of the draft.
Throughout the mock draft there will be several targets for the 49ers *highlighted whether that be a trade down target or a position of need.
Were you expecting Kyler Murray? If you were I don’t blame you. Below you’ll see why I didn’t slot Murray here, but to clear things up — When the dust settles I see Murray being the first pick in the draft. There actually isn’t much doubt that he’ll be the first pick in April, but him to the Cardinals just doesn’t add up yet. Murray could wind up with the Cardinals, but it’s still only March.
Moving onto their actual pick, Alambama's Quinnen Williams — It's simple, he was the most dominant player in college football last season and he’s now the best player in this draft class.
On Top of his elite skills as a pass rusher and run stuffer Williams is the cleanest player in this class. The Cardinals need all the help in the world and they get the biggest game wrecker in the draft with Williams at one.
No other team could be more happy about Kyler mania than the San Francisco 49ers. If Murray or Williams go number one (which both look like legit possibilities) the 49ers will strike gold and get their guy Nick Bosa with the second overall pick.
Bosa impressively went wire-to-wire as this classes top prospect and that speaks to the type of player he will be at the next level. He’s incredibly refined for a young pass rusher with every type of rush in his repertoire. Bosa can beat offensive tackles with speed around the edge, power up the middle and elite hands. He also has all-pro bloodlines which mean he understands how to be a professional. He’s about as polished of a prospect you could possibly get and he lands in Santa Clara.
Bosa is a slam dunk no brainer for the 49ers. Outside of the injury bug, Bosa is one of the cleaner and safest prospects in the entire class. He’s a guy that can step on the field and immediately put up double digit sacks, something the 49ers haven’t had and desperately need.
The Jets are sitting at a prime time spot to trade back if Murray falls, or if a team wants to take Dwayne Haskins early, but here they bite the bait and draft the combine's most dominant athlete, D.K. Metcalf from Ole Miss. The Jets seem like a team that will fill a lot of holes in free agency and use the draft to find a weapon for Sam Darnold.
*As intriguing as it would be for Metcalf to line up in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, it’s just a little too early for the 49ers to select a wide receiver with the holes they have. This receiver class is incredibly deep with a bunch of unique targets that will be available late where Shanahan could mold and develop his way.
The buzz around Kyler Murray going number one overall is so loud you just can’t ignore it, but for now it's so loud it seems like smoke. If you’ve paid attention to anything I’ve said or written you shouldn’t be surprised by the hype of him going number one. I’ve been banging the table for Murray to go number one for awhile, but here he falls to four. We know about the skill and after his combine we have our questions answered about the size.
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*Kentucky’s Josh Allen might be one of the harder prospects to grade in this class. He has a ton of hype and produced in the toughest conference in college football, but what does he do special to be worth a top-3 pick? That’s a question the 49ers will be contemplating over the next few months and why he falls to the Lions here.
It might be a surprise to some to see Taylor Rapp’s name this early, but let me be very clear— Rapp is one of the best players in this draft class. He can do it all from the safety position and showed off great athleticism at the combine. Rapp has stellar instincts matched with a great football IQ. We haven’t mentioned how good he is mixing it up downhill in the box. Don’t be shocked when Rapp’s name gets called way earlier than you may expect.
The Dolphins are amidst a full rebuild where they seem to be prioritizing character and leadership over skill. Before they take the plunge to find their next quarterback, they’ll try and fix their losing culture that’s been a problem for years. Christian Wilkins might be the brightest player in this class and the Dolphins reach to get him in their building to lead their change.
*Gary is this classes projection pick. He didn’t have elite production in college, but as all the traits teams crave in a pass rusher. Great first step, elite athleticism and power, but still a project. Gary is somewhat of a tweener between an edge and defensive tackle right now. He’s too reminiscent of Solomon Thomas for the 49ers, but he could be a player the Raiders take a risk on that turns into the next dominant defensive tackle.
Another one of my favorite players in the class rises after a solid combine performance. Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler lands in Washington where they’ll probably have Josh Rosen after Arizona decides to take Murray first overall. Butler has elite size with speed to stretch the field. A lot of evaluators are split on Butler, but not me as I believe the gap between him and Metcalf in the WR 1 debate is a lot closer than many think.
The NFL has become a game of mismatches and their might not be a more unique weapon in this class than Iowa’s Noah Fant. Fant is everything a modern play caller wants on their team: size, versatility and speed. The Panthers have found success in finding weapons for Cam Newton in the past with players like Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel. With Greg Olsen aging they grab his replacement with Fant.
It’s hard to fathom a situation where Oliver falls out of the top-15, but somehow here we are. Nine months ago Oliver was looked at in the same light as Nick Bosa, but now things have changed. He had a solid combine, but their are still some questions about where his best position at the next level. I would be surprised if Oliver falls this far, but in March the Browns take the best player available approach and run to the podium to grab him.
*Maybe the combine’s greatest riser is NC State’s Garrett Bradbury. Bradbury would be a homerun pick for the 49ers if he were to fall to the second round, but after a great Senior Bowl week paired with an impressive combine makes him a lock for the first round. If the 49ers trade back, expect Bradbury to be a target.
*In a few seasons it wouldn’t be a surprise if Brian Burns is considered the best player in the entire draft class— yes, he’s that good. But with so many good defensive linemen available he falls to 19. Keep in mind Burns could be a legit sleeper for the 49ers at two overall. Burns is a lethal pass rusher with a bevy of rush moves mixed with serious speed. He also has the classes best bend on the outside. If Bosa goes one and the 49ers don’t love the idea of another interior defensive linemen they very well could opt for Burns. Burns is be another candidate in a trade back situation for the 49ers.
*Since there’s been a run on 49ers trade down targets we have to mention Michigan’s Devin Bush. Bush is a serious thumper in the middle of the defense. What makes him special is his athleticism to run sideline to sideline. If the 49ers add an edge rusher in free agency it wouldn’t surprise me if they switched their sights to Bush.
*Similar to everything I said about Bush, Devin White from Louisiana State is another talented off ball linebacker. White is universally loved by many in the draft industry maily for his range and football toughness. He’s this classes prototypical linebacker that should produce anywhere he lands. Similar to Bush, White could be a target if the 49ers take their eyes off edge rushers.
*Months back I circled Risner as a potential 49er. He’s a fierce blocker with unique athleticism that would fit right in next to Mike McGlinchey. It wouldn’t surprise me if the 49ers aren’t praying he falls to the second round, but Risner is simply too nasty to drop out of the first round.
Still no edge rusher for the Raiders? That’s okay because slotting Byron Murphy across from Gareon Conley gives the Raiders a youthful, but strong set of corners that can help slow down Tyreek Hill and Keenan Allen.
*After his almost otherworldly combine performance Montez Sweat is a name that is flying up draft boards. Personally, I’m not overly impressed with Sweat. His combine stood out, which will take me back to the tape, but for now he’s still outside the top-20. He’s got unreal speed for a person his size, but he’ll need to develop a few more rushes to win at the next level. Sweat’s potential could make him a guy the 49ers target in a trade back situation if his stock keeps rising.
The Raider badly need help in the run game even if Beastmode returns. Drafting a running back in the first round in looked at differently than it was years ago, but with the Raiders having three picks in the first round they can afford to use one on this classes best back. Jacobs is a fierce runner that isn't afraid to lower his shoulder, but he also showed skills to be a finesse back. He also has limited mileage, which makes him even more suitable to be the first back off the board.
*Speaking of sleepers, Mississippi State’s Jonathan Abram could be another wildcard trade back target for the 49ers. Abram is a ruthless hitter that can bang in the box with the best. If the 49ers acquire a centerfield backend safety in free agency and add Abram in the draft their secondary could turn from a weakness to a strength.
35. Oakland Raiders — Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR, Oklahoma
The Raiders will need to add some weapons for their new franchise quarterback and in the second round they add Murray's teammate "Hollywood" Brown. Brown has blazing speed, but a foot injury caused him to miss the combine which pushes him out of the first round. Something that could make the Raiders secretly happy as they're desperate for someone who can hit the home run play.
When talking about the draft with 49ers fans, the question that comes up is “What wide receiver are they taking?” It wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers went with a cornerback or interior offensive linemen here, but instead the fans finally get their wide receiver. Parris Campbell is one of the combines biggest risers after posting a 4.31 40 and looking crisp in the gauntlet drill. Campbell is one of the classes best deep ball threats and also possesses a lethal release off the line.
Campbell has a lot of subtle creativity to his game that is remiscent of Dante Pettis' crafty style— something Shanahan values that will make him the pick at 36.
*Deebo Samuel is another hot name in 49er draft circles and could very well be the pick at 36. Samuel is arguably the most dynamic player with the football in his hands in the entire draft class. He checks a ton of boxes for the 49ers and I’m struggling to not put him higher, but for now he becomes part of the Jaguars rebuild with Nick Foles and Hockenson.
*Jenkins is a versatile and mobile mauler who fits what Shanahan wants from his interior linemen. A name I played around with at 36. Jenkinsg is a name that 49er fans should familiarize themselves with.
*If the 49ers decide to take Williams, Chase Winovich is a guy they will target next. Winovich has the motor and character football decision makers covet across the league. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Winovich goes way earlier than this after his impressive athletic showing at the combine.
If you’ve read my work before, you know how big of Jachai Polite fan I’ve been. I’ve been telling people about Polite since mid-season which makes it difficult to see him fall this far.
There were some question marks surfacing about Polite’s character and maturity heading into the combine. Polite bombed the combine with a slow 40 time, confusing negative comments in media interviews while looking outright unprepared. Polite put an end to his nightmare weekend in Indianapolis with a hamstring pull after his first attempt in the 40.
Polite would’ve been a potential option for the 49ers prior to his combine. Now rumors say Polite could fall out of round 1 or even round 2. I’m a little bit skeptical to stamp that one home as of now, but Polite should be seriously worried about his stock after the combine.
Polite’s skillset on the field are worthy of a top-10 selection, but his combine brought up serious maturity red flags the Super Bowl champs could maybe fix.
59. Indianapolis Colts — Dexter Lawrence, IDL, Clemson
*Ferguson had record breaking production at Louisiana Tech, but lacks some traits you want to see from a pass rusher. The positive with Ferguson is his elite hand usage that you cant find in many pass rushers his age. If Ferguson somehow slips into the third round he could be a target for the 49ers since they are familiar with him from the Senior Bowl.
With the last pick of the second round the Patriots find their backup for Tom Brady. Analytical people love Will Grier’s potential making him a perfect sleeper for the Patriots who have a bundle of picks in the top-100.