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A three-round mock draft from the Athletic lays out what may be a perfect strategy for the San Francisco 49ers on the first two days of this year's draft.
Given the long list of needs for San Francisco, a trade back in the first round may be the best option for them. It allows them to accumulate additional draft capital while also moving back into a portion of the first day that still gives them an opportunity to fill a need with a good player.
A trade isn't guaranteed to materialize, though, which may force them to take a different route. That's what happens in this three-round projection from the Athletic's Nate Baumgardner. Instead of trading back or attacking their No. 1 need, the 49ers take the best player available at No. 11 overall and fill out the rest of their priorities on Day 2.
Let's run through each pick:
Campbell is a fascinating 'tweener' prospect who checks a couple of boxes for the 49ers. He has the athleticism and skill set to play as an off-ball linebacker alongside Fred Warner. The converted defensive end still has a ton of pass rushing chops that could make him a dangerous edge rusher the 49ers are also searching for. A rotational edge rusher who can be on the field for all three downs as a Swiss Army knife for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh would make a ton of sense.
If the 49ers can't find a defensive tackle in Round 1, Williams would be an excellent consolation in Round 2. He's a big, athletic interior lineman who should be able to start for San Francisco on Day 1. He's not a dominant pass rusher, but he can push the pocket enough to be on the field for all three downs. As a run defender there aren't a ton of holes to poke in his game. That aspect alone would make him a valuable player for the 49ers. Whatever they can get as a pass rusher would be a nice bonus.
It doesn't sound like the 49ers view offensive tackle as a major need in this year's draft. At least, not major enough to try and find a starter on Day 1. Instead, they could kick the can down the road and find a player like Williams on Day 2. Williams has good physical tools at 6-6, 317 pounds with 34 1/2-inch arms. His overall game needs polish after starting just 16 games at right tackle in college, but his upside is high. If he can take the next season or two as a swing tackle, he could develop into a long-term replacement for Trent Williams assuming he's able to successfully switch to the left side of the offensive line.
Snagging a defensive end with upside is a nice way for the 49ers to hypothetically round out the first two days of the draft. Umanmielen posted 22 sacks across the last three seasons, including a career-best 10.5 in 2024. He spent four seasons at the University of Florida before breaking out with Ole Miss last season. He's 6-4, 244 pounds with 34-inch arms, good athleticism and good production in college. Umanmielen may go earlier than this, but in a world where the 49ers are sitting on pick 100 and still in need of pass rush help, Umanmielen makes a ton of sense.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers' nearly flawless strategy in 3-round mock draft by the Athletic
Continue reading...
Given the long list of needs for San Francisco, a trade back in the first round may be the best option for them. It allows them to accumulate additional draft capital while also moving back into a portion of the first day that still gives them an opportunity to fill a need with a good player.
A trade isn't guaranteed to materialize, though, which may force them to take a different route. That's what happens in this three-round projection from the Athletic's Nate Baumgardner. Instead of trading back or attacking their No. 1 need, the 49ers take the best player available at No. 11 overall and fill out the rest of their priorities on Day 2.
Let's run through each pick:
Round 1, Pick 11: Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell
Campbell is a fascinating 'tweener' prospect who checks a couple of boxes for the 49ers. He has the athleticism and skill set to play as an off-ball linebacker alongside Fred Warner. The converted defensive end still has a ton of pass rushing chops that could make him a dangerous edge rusher the 49ers are also searching for. A rotational edge rusher who can be on the field for all three downs as a Swiss Army knife for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh would make a ton of sense.
Round 2, Pick 43: Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams
If the 49ers can't find a defensive tackle in Round 1, Williams would be an excellent consolation in Round 2. He's a big, athletic interior lineman who should be able to start for San Francisco on Day 1. He's not a dominant pass rusher, but he can push the pocket enough to be on the field for all three downs. As a run defender there aren't a ton of holes to poke in his game. That aspect alone would make him a valuable player for the 49ers. Whatever they can get as a pass rusher would be a nice bonus.
Round 3, Pick 75: Texas OT Cameron Williams
It doesn't sound like the 49ers view offensive tackle as a major need in this year's draft. At least, not major enough to try and find a starter on Day 1. Instead, they could kick the can down the road and find a player like Williams on Day 2. Williams has good physical tools at 6-6, 317 pounds with 34 1/2-inch arms. His overall game needs polish after starting just 16 games at right tackle in college, but his upside is high. If he can take the next season or two as a swing tackle, he could develop into a long-term replacement for Trent Williams assuming he's able to successfully switch to the left side of the offensive line.
Round 3, Pick 100: Ole Miss DE Princely Umanmielen
Snagging a defensive end with upside is a nice way for the 49ers to hypothetically round out the first two days of the draft. Umanmielen posted 22 sacks across the last three seasons, including a career-best 10.5 in 2024. He spent four seasons at the University of Florida before breaking out with Ole Miss last season. He's 6-4, 244 pounds with 34-inch arms, good athleticism and good production in college. Umanmielen may go earlier than this, but in a world where the 49ers are sitting on pick 100 and still in need of pass rush help, Umanmielen makes a ton of sense.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers' nearly flawless strategy in 3-round mock draft by the Athletic
Continue reading...
