Welcome: DT, Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

Perfecting the “I’m at the club, and I know that guy across the room” celebration [USA Today]

The first of our deep dives into our incredibly small 2020 draft class. I’ll be using the GTFO Man rating system to evaluate the pick then go in-depth on the player and how they’ll be used at the bottom of the post.

Spoiler Alert: this is a Solomon Thomas situation. All the draft maneuvering was done perfectly, they got who they wanted, and they added draft capital by trading down a slot. Whether this turns out to be a slam dunk or a giant missed opportunity on Wirfs/Jeudy/Lamb is going to be dependent on whether or not Kinlaw’s play matches his tremendous physical ability.

GTFO Man

Good Evaluation: As always, this grade is TBD until they actually play, but will take a look at the bottom. 

Top Tier: A+. The Niners said Friday morning that both Kinlaw and their second first-rounder Brandon Aiyuk were among the "six foundational players" that they'd seen while evaluating this draft. So given that, this is a no brainer.

Fills Need: A-. With so many starters and key backups returning, there were really only two positions (or three, if you count right guard) where a rookie could come in and start right away. Three-tech was one of them. 

Our current options at the position are rotational players, stop-gap options, guys coming off injury, and/or guys who are "too young to tell." As a prospect, Kinlaw dwarfs all of the above, and as an added bonus there isn't THAT much developmental overlap (i.e. bringing in a new guy hindering the development of another young guy; like if we were to draft a corner here and then bench Moseley without knowing how good he could become). Solly has had plenty of time to prove himself, Taylor is coming off a late-season ACL injury, and asking Givens to go practice squad-to-starter would be a lot in year two.

So realistically, the grade should be an A. The only reason I'm giving an A- is that this pick lends more credence to the idea that everyone along our defensive line needs to be a great player and that we will ALWAYS be spending high picks on defensive linemen to accomplish that. We have now spent three of four of John Lynch/Shanahan's first-round picks (picks 3, 2, and 14 overall) on defensive linemen, despite already having two or more first-round picks spent on the position group at the time of each selection. More defensive linemen play rotational roles than really any other position on our roster, so I understand that we'll always be on the hunt for depth and eventual starter-level replacements. But obviously, there are sustainability issues if we're always spending our highest pick there. When there are classes that are weaker along the defensive line, when we have fewer first-round picks, and/or when we have bigger roster holes that we need to address, committing so strongly to the defensive line won't be possible. At some point we need to be able to field a strong defense without complete and utter dominance along the D-line.

To be fair, there are extenuating circumstances that imply this may be the end of our constant big-time capital expenditure at the position. Solly didn't pan out as expected, Armstead didn't breakthrough as a pass rusher until last year -- after Bosa and Ford were added -- and DeFo leaving not only takes away our All-Pro three-tech but also puts us in a position where one of his backups (Sheldon Day) is gone, and nose tackle DJ Jones, three-tech Solly, and occasional interior rusher Ronald Blair all have their contracts up at the end of the year. 

In general, it's more frustrating than it is unreasonable, largely because the draft fell in almost perfect fashion for what we wanted and players like Tristan Wirfs, Jerry Jeudy, and CeeDee Lamb were all available at 13. But ultimately, you can understand -- given their incredibly high grade on Kinlaw -- the decision to spend another giant chunk of capital on the position group.

The hope is it's the last time we spend that type of capital at the position for quite some time.

Optimizes Slot Value: A-. Sliding down one spot, adding a pick, and still getting the player you wanted -- a player who could have gone in the top ten and no one would have batted an eye -- is always a slam dunk.

It's only an A- because -- in an ideal world -- we could have moved down further. With the pick after us the Broncos were clearly going wideout (so clearly that they've already drafted two wideouts as I type this) and were also rumored to be moving up in the draft. It's incredibly nit-picky, and I would assume the reason why the Niners took their entire draft clock to make the pick at 14 was that they were indeed trying to move down again (it takes two to tango after all). But in a draft where we desperately needed picks, it would have been nice. We got a fourth-rounder to move down one spot, but moving down two or three could have potentially netted a late third-rounder (with a late round pick in return) or even two fourths.

Manages Future Capital: A. Gaining a fourth-round pick for what is functionally nothing. That'll play.

Bio

Javon Kinlaw is clearly a large man, but it’s surprising quite how big he really is and how well he carries that weight. While two inches shorter than DeFo and 30 pounds(!) heavier, he certainly doesn’t look it. Like Deebo, he’ll have to work in the NFL to keep his weight in check, but also like Deebo, you want him playing as heavy as he can without it limiting his movement skills. You combine Kinlaw’s size with long arms (34 7/8” wingspan lands somewhere between DeFo and former Gumby prototype Aldon Smith), truly elite physical tools, and a highly-respected work ethic stemming from an absolutely absurd story of growing up homeless in D.C., and it's easy to see the All-Pro potential.

The youngest of three boys, Kinlaw moved around between D.C., Mississippi, and South Carolina in his youth, spending part of that time homeless after the age of ten, when his mother, a Trinidadian immigrant, was fired and they lost their apartment. During that time, Kinlaw and his brothers would steal snacks from CVS, hop turnstiles to ride the metro all day just to stay warm, walk over dead bodies in D.C.(!), and bounce between friends' houses and basements -- some lacking electricity or where the only running water was from a neighbor's garden hose:

Per an interview with Tom Huddleston Jr. of CNBC:

“We had a gas stove,” Kinlaw said. “We would light the stove with a little match or something, get a tall pot, boil the water, mix it with some cold water, put it in a bucket, take it upstairs, take a shower like that.”

Part-way through his freshman year, his mom sent him to South Carolina to live with his dad to have a better opportunity in a safer area. Since then he grew a whole heckuva lot and shaped himself into the player / prospect / mountain of a man that he is today. And now his father, a long-time Niner fan, has become internet famous for his post-draft reaction:

Mr. Kinlaw is a lifelong #49ers fan.

When @JavonKinlaw got drafted 14th overall, he was floored... literally 😂🙏 pic.twitter.com/sGhKUyJDK2

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 24, 2020

Obviously Kinlaw is a dude you can easily root for, and that work ethic will be necessary as he has a decent amount of development to do if he’s going to maximize his incredible physical tools.

College Career

In three years at South Carolina, Kinlaw started 34 of 37 possible games, being named the Gamecocks' DPOTY in each of the past two years and garnering First-Team All-American recognition in 2019. His production during that time does not jump off the page (18 TFLs, 10.3 sacks) but if you watch a full game of tape it's clear there were mitigating circumstances. You see, Kinlaw is the first South Carolina defensive lineman to be drafted since 2014 (Jadeveon Clowney) and only the second defensive player taken during that time (defensive back Rashad Fenton went in the 6th round last year). He was a bit of a one-man wrecking crew on defense.

While a Bama defensive lineman or a player like Derrick Brown, whose partner on the interior DL was drafted in the second round this year, had teammates who could punish offenses for double teaming, South Carolina definitely did not. So naturally, entire offensive gameplans went out of their way to double team and avoid Kinlaw for all four quarters. 

Take Kentucky for example, a game in which Kinlaw recorded only a single tackle. What doesn't show on the stat sheet is that he lived in the backfield in the first quarter and disrupted the Wildcats' offense so much that, from the second quarter on, I saw only 2 or 3 snaps where he wasn't double-teamed. While there's plenty of refinement needed to Kinlaw's game and he needs to be much more consistent, the media and coaches were able to see his impact during awards season. I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of top-tier college production given the circumstances.

Scouting Report

Let's talk about the physical tools. In terms of speed and power, the man is practically a cheat code. His first step is truly unfair for a man who is, again, 6-5, 324 pounds.

Take a look at this snap against North Carolina: 

Kinlaw is the nose tackle in the center of the frame. He's the guy who's not only firing off while everyone else is still in their stance, but he's already engaged before the ball is even halfway through the air to the quarterback. His snap-timing isn't consistent, but when he hits it, he is alarmingly fast off the line. At times he simply shoots through a gap untouched, which seems nearly impossible given his size…

Watch and share Kinlaw TFL Vandy GIFs on Gfycat

Granted, those quick shots through a gap often come with balance issues, as seen in the play above, which is a trend for him. At times he sacrifices his position and leverage for a chance to make a play. That could be while shooting a gap (granted, he did still make the play in this case), or when he gets stood up and his pads turned because he's tried to slip to the side instead of holding his ground. With improved discipline, the hope is that we can harness that first step speed without leaving open lanes inside.

When someone does try to block Kinlaw, he shows a powerful punch and a great straight arm, using his length and tremendous strength to keep offensive linemen off of his body. Against the pass, it's a good starting spot to set-up pass rush moves and can transition effortlessly into his monstrous bull rush, which can put linemen on skates in a hurry.

Here he is (above the right guard) using his bull rush to embarrass a 350-pound redshirt senior from Alabama…

Watch and share Kinlaw Bull Rush Bama GIFs on Gfycat

And (above left guard) showing the sustained power he brings, despite a “double team” from Georgia…

Watch and share Kinlaw Bull Rush Georgia GIFs on Gfycat

His straight-arm also allows him to read-and-react in the run game, where he shows the lateral agility of a much smaller player as he slides down the line and collapses gaps. He keeps his head up and does a good job finding the ball, even if you'd like if he were to track play flow just a tick faster. While he is likely too tall and his body type too long to become a monster double-team eater, he's got all the traits to become an excellent stacking-and-shedding presence in the run game.

In terms of his pass rush toolkit, Kinlaw has a solid chuck-and-rip move and uses his long arms on a surprisingly agile swim (over left guard)...

Watch and share Kinlaw Swim Vandy GIFs on Gfycat

And while his mechanics aren't the cleanest, there's plenty of potential for them to get there. In part because his rare big man agility allows him the flexibility and hips of a much smaller player. In part because he ragdolls a lot of very large men with his big-time punching power (over right guard).

Watch and share Kinlaw Club Kentucky GIFs on Gfycat

That kind of ability to force an overset and then chuck a guard out of position with violent punches and yank downs is a great building block for any number of pass rush maneuvers.

He needs to clean up his technique and get more efficient in his movements (pretty much across the board), but those are all coachable areas, and Kinlaw is known as a very coachable and hard-working player. For me the question lies in the two traits that are the hardest to project in defensive line prospects: instincts and pass rush fluidity.

Sometimes a player's instincts improve after a new coach explains things differently, or, with increased field experience, that player develops a new level of comfort in reading and reacting before plays develop. But you can't always teach the mental-processing speed to decipher keys and reads and the confidence required to trigger into action before a play develops. Sometimes a player has just gotten by on physical skills and will never have great instincts, no matter how hard they try. Yes, players can take big steps forward, but relying on instinctual improvement is and will always be a bit of a crapshoot. Kinlaw isn't amazing in that regard, but he's not bad either. There’s certainly hope that he can close the gap, and if he can’t then at least it's not as important along the interior as it would be at say, inside linebacker. This isn't my main worry...

Regardless of how much you teach pass rush moves and the technique required to execute them, the ability to string together multiple moves and counter on the fly is something that some players have and some players don't. Every defensive lineman comes in with a pass rush plan and every offensive lineman has a plan to counteract that, and when the first attempt doesn't work, how quickly and effectively you move to your counterattacks is often what separates Pro Bowl performers from first-round busts. That was the #1 reason why Nick Bosa had such an incredibly high floor coming out of college. He was a hand-fighting technician who already showed the ability to execute a move and then -- when an offensive lineman countered or adjusted over the course of a game -- move fluidly into an effective counterattack without having to think. Kinlaw has a couple moves. He has the potential to have a couple really good moves. But he has not yet shown the ability to string them together when his first attempt is stopped. 

With professional reps, a greater technical proficiency, and a better understanding of how these moves string together, can he get there? Absolutely. But regardless of work ethic or coaching, this is always the gamble you make when you take a player who hasn't yet shown that ability on film.

Fit with Niners

Kinlaw is a three-tech in our defense, where his size and speed will find more one-on-one matchups and his length and upright playing style will be less exposed to double teams. He’ll get his reps in 2020 but it’s hard to say how impactful this rookie class will be given the many questions as to mini-camps and off-season preparation based on COVID stuff. Regardless, Kinlaw’s not a plug-and-play starter who should be expected to slide into the massive snap count left in DeFo’s wake. He's got some developing to do before he can take on that kind of workload.

While his tools seem perfect for the attacking style of play of our Wide 9, you wonder if he can keep himself in control enough to develop his instincts and refine his eyes and technique or if he gets caught up in the aggressive nature of the scheme and it hinders him long-term. It’s an odd balance having a player who is perfect for a certain scheme but who also might have benefited starting his career in a less aggressive scheme and/or as two-gapping end where he can read, react, and develop his fundamentals. Luckily, Kocurek is one of the best DL coaches in the business and we have enough depth at the position that we can play other bodies there if he starts developing too many bad habits early.

All that being said, he still should lead the team in snaps at the three-tech. To start, I would guess he plays mostly on passing downs, although I might be worried about lane integrity against the Russell Wilson and Kyler Murrays of the world, while rotating more with Solly and whoever else is healthy at DT on run downs.

Due to the surrounding talent we have on our defensive line, it’s equally likely that Kinlaw has an Aldon Smith-like rookie year of incredible efficiency as the coaches pick-and-choose his deployment to match his strengths or that Coronavirus issues delay his development. Considering our aggressive approach to ring-chasing in 2020, the hope is that he starts showing out sooner rather than later.

Draft Recap: All-in for 2020 (and hopefully after that too)

Wingspan warriors [49ers.com]

A lot of coordinators can't cut it as head coaches because (among other things) they fail to respect and develop the opposing side of the ball. Offensive coordinators neglect defensive starters in lieu of a fourth wideout who will undoubtedly fail to live up to his lofty forty time while defensive coordinators continually assemble overlapping front seven pieces while running an offensive scheme that resembles the Big Ten in the 70's during a snowstorm. At the very least, we don't have to worry about that with ShanaLynch. 

For the third time in four years, the Niners went defensive line with their first-round pick, reinforcing the idea that they need front four talent to field a high-level defense, while they can manufacture more offensive success through a collection of lower-priced schematic fits.

But this draft -- which was inordinately busy given the paltry number of selections we had -- also reaffirmed that the Niners are doubling down in a few other ways. 

Run it Back

We are committed to getting back to the Super Bowl in 2020. With an off-season that featured two major departures (DeFo, Emmo) but otherwise little roster turnover (we cut our starting guard, let a rotational DT leave), this team only really had two positions where a young player could come in and immediately get major reps. We filled both of them in the first round. 

This is a team that got really good at least a year earlier than scheduled and since then has been committed to chasing a ring. Our decisions this weekend have helped that cause. At least for 2020.

YAC Yards 4Ever

Given how deep and versatile this receiver class was, how we approached filling Emmo's shoes was going to shed light on what type of receiver corps Shanahan wanted to develop. If we got Mims or Pittman, two bigger purely outside X receivers, then we were looking for wideouts with clear and specific roles that they could specialize in. If we got Ruggs or Reagor we were prioritizing take-off-the-top vertical speed so that we could threaten defenses deep. If we got Shenault or Bowden, two less-developed swiss army knives, then we were moving more towards a "Warriors on grass" kind of set up where we could deploy a handful of versatile positionless weapons. By drafting Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings, the clear plan is to double down on YAC yardage.

Aiyuk led the nation in yards after catch, averaging an absurd 11.1 YAC / reception, a mark that is doubly impressive considering he was the clear No.1 target on the offense of a Top 40-ish Power 5 program. While Aiyuk did most of his damage with speed, burst, and open field running, Jennings did so with rare power, as his 30 broken tackles led all FBS receivers in 2019. In addition, both wideouts help improve one of our offense’s biggest weaknesses. They have vertical chops.

This focus on YAC makes sense given our rushing attack, Shanahan's ability to scheme up RPOs and backside slants to get receivers in space, and Jimmy G's comfort-level in the short-to-intermediate passing game. Thus, our wideout additions were able to keep our offensive identity largely intact, while (hopefully) addressing one our offense’s biggest limitations in 2019.

No DBs

For back-to-back years, outside pundits have had defensive back as a problem position for the Niners entering the draft, and for back-to-back drafts, the Niners declined to draft any early defensive back help (with 2019 sixth-rounder Tim Harris being the only DB drafted in 13 combined picks). Due to the high number of DBs that play both on special teams and on defense in any given year and the tentative contract situation of most of our secondary, I would expect that to change next year. But the Niners’ reluctance to tap this draft class for a defensive back could allude to the fact that they must think highly of the youngsters currently on roster. Which would obviously help us next year, and — perhaps more importantly — the year after.

Kittle by Committee

Whether it was Austin Hooper or Jordan Reed, the Niners kicked the tires on a number of different tight ends throughout the off-season. And while the majority of free agents and draft prospects they chatted with were catch-first guys who often lacked in the blocking department, the Niners decided to address the need in a different way on draft day: taking snaps out of Kittle’s hands with a committee approach.

6th-round Georgia tight end Charlie Woerner is known mostly, if not entirely, for his effort and blocking ability, particularly at odd angles and on the move. While not much of a receiving threat, his versatile blocking ability means he can be groomed to absorb blocking snaps from Juice and Kittle. While Jauan Jennings, discussed above, profiles as a big slot, where he will backup / compete with Jalen Hurd for duties that require a particular blend of jumbo, tough receiver and in-the-box blocker — duties that Kittle, without a big slot on the roster, typically had to take on himself in 2019.

With the new additions of (functionally) three new rookies, all who can spell Kittle at different locations and roles on the field, the Niners can rest easy knowing there will be a player (or two) who can give their star tight end a rest and preserve his body for the long haul.

Getting Their Guys

For better or worse, the Niners have shown a propensity to go out of their way to target “their guys,” flipping mid-round picks to move up and get their top tier players in the first. If these players pan out, then yes, it’s a no-brainer to go up and select two of your highest-rated players. But this is nearly the exact same scenario that unfolded in 2017 when the Niners traded down one spot to pick Solomon Thomas and then used one of those additional picks to trade up into the bottom of the first and take Reuben Foster. Let’s hope it works out better this time.

But the “getting their guy” mindset clearly worked out with the trade for Trent Williams. Despite their successes starting a handful of games at tackle in 2019, I doubt any of us were thrilled at the idea of Justin Skule or Daniel Brunskill immediately protecting Jimmy G’s blindside for an entire season. Or the oft-injured and largely unproven Shon Coleman. Or the incredibly unproven 5th-round rookie Colton McKivitz. If he stays healthy and shakes off the rust, Trent Williams is a top 5 NFL tackle who is familiar with the scheme, but he’s also entering the final year of his contract. 

If Williams excels and wants to stay, it’s hard to say how much he’ll get paid as he’ll be 32 before the 2020 season begins. Just last year, Trent Brown, then 26, signed a contract that paid him $16.5M/year, and Lane Johnson, then 29, signed a deal that gives him $18M/year. Laremy Tunsil just got an extension that pays him $22M/year but he’s 25 and that was the Texans, and you can’t really use them as a measuring stick for any rational management decisions. It’s not unreasonable to expect a then-33-year-old Williams to take something closer to Brown/Johnson’s rate for a three-or-four year extension. And it wouldn’t be unreasonable to hope that the time away from football has let his body heal and that he’d be able to play out the length of that contract at a high level. 

At this point that’s all a guessing game. If he excels and we can pay him then great. If he excels but is too rich for our blood, then we’ll hopefully have groomed a replacement by then and will likely net a 2022 third-round comp pick when he leaves. Ultimately, the risks are well-worth the reward, especially given the immediate need and modest price point. 

Clearing Cap

Staley’s retirement and the flurry of trades have made the Niners’ salary cap situation much different than a few days ago. With Joe Staley’s contract gone (minus the $1M in signing bonus money accelerated from the next two years), Goodwin being traded (minus the $1.25M in dead cap we’ll eat), Breida’s entire cap figure being shipped to the Dolphins, and the addition of a $12.5M charge from Trent Williams’ current deal, we now have somewhere between $15.5M - $17.5M in cap space. Throw out ~$7.5M to sign our rookie class and that leaves us with $8-10M. 

Does that extra space help clear room for a Kittle extension? Perhaps. Extending him now costs us more in 2020 but theoretically puts the long-term math in our favor, as we can compare his current salary ($2.2M) with the franchise tag equivalent he’d make in 2021 ($9.7M) and 2022 ($11.6M), promising him considerably more money, guarantees, and security over the next handful of years than he would gain on a year-by-year projection. We’ve also always expected any extension Kittle signs to have a team-friendly 2020 cap hit before jumping in future years, and it may be time to jump on that now. There will be no shortage of roster decisions we have to make next year, and we’d prefer if Kittle wasn’t one of them.

Questions for 2021 and Beyond

While 2020 featured an off-season of mostly re-signing our squad and hoping to run it back, it’s safe to assume 2021 will have much more roster turnover. After the 2020 season, the following major contributors enter unrestricted free agency: George Kittle (barring extension), Trent Williams, Richard Sherman, Jaquiski Tartt, K’Waun Williams, Juice, DJ Jones, Robbie Gould, Tevin Coleman, Kendrick Bourne, Ronald Blair, Solomon Thomas, Ahkello Witherspoon, and Trent Taylor. It’s also worth mentioning that much of the theoretical cap savings we’ll have from these expiring contracts will be sucked up by the Kwon, Richburg, and Ward contracts, which see their respective 2021 cap figures hop $12M and $11M and $7M from their current 2020 marks. 

While the 2021 salary cap will spike due to the larger share of revenue the players negotiated for in the newest CBA, it was expected to spike A LOT under the idea that the NFL’s next lucrative media deal would already be in place. Well, I have to assume that negotiations on that deal are put on hold until after Coronavirus clears up, and with so many questions facing the future of sports when we return from toilet paper apocalypse, the salary cap in 2021 and beyond becomes a major guessing game.

This is where the five draft picks hurt us. Typically, you plan to develop young talent via the draft to replace departed free agents, then rely on the comp picks you get from those free agents leaving to continue to add talent in future years. But by committing to an aggressive approach of obtaining free agents before and during last season and packaging picks to move up during this draft, we ultimately wound up with five draft picks. Additionally, any comp picks garnered from the above names departing won’t be gained until the 2022 draft (and cutting or trading someone like Kwon, Richburg, or Dee Ford will take them out of the comp pick formula). So even if we assume we destroy the 2022 draft and accumulate loads of talent, in 2021, most of the players that will be asked to replace the departing names of the 14 contributors above are already on the team or will have to be drafted to play as rookies.

Yes, we’re far from devoid of talent among our backups. The fact that we went 13-3 despite having -- according to Football Outsiders -- the sixth-most losses due to injury in the NFL last year, proves that. We have guys like Jullian Taylor and Tarvarius Moore, who could be ready for bigger responsibilities; untested but talented youngsters like Kevin Givens, Tim Harris, and Jalen Hurd, who could carve out roles with more snaps this year; studs like Raheem Mostert and Nick Bosa locked up on reasonable deals; and at least two more bargain-basement ERFA years out of promising starters Emmanuel Moseley and Daniel Brunskill. But you need draft picks in numbers to replenish departed free agents, and we’re already down a second-day selection in 2021 from the Williams trade. 

The Niners’ brass has made contending in 2020 a top priority this off-season, and given the number of high-performing players we have on friendly expiring contracts, that makes a lot of sense. And if there ever was a draft where it hurts less to have a lot of picks it's the one in a year when a global pandemic will almost certainly shrink the off-season and limit preparation time for rookies. But while the Niners have done a great job of assembling and retaining a contending team for next year, if we want to keep our championship window open beyond 2020, we’ll need to shift our priorities more towards accruing comp picks and maximizing the number of players we can get via the draft. 

Draft Preview: Secondary

50/50 chance this stadium had a rubber track around the field [USA Today]

Safeties

Necessary Traits: The typical Seattle 3 scheme asks for one deep free safety and one box strong safety, with the free safety needing the range and instincts to play the single-high deep middle role and the box safety being bigger and more of a box hitter who deals more with tight ends and shallower zones.

While some of that distinction surely still exists, we've now moved to more of a multiple look that asks our safeties to be much more interchangeable. That means everyone has to cover and everyone has to hit. So while we can still bring in a limited box thumper as a strong safety, it's unlikely that type of player becomes a starter, and if forced into action (like Marcell Harris last year), they could be in for some tough matchups.

Roster Need: Jimmie Ward just got signed to a three-year extension. While he's an injury risk, the combination of him and capable backup Tarvarius Moore shores up one of our starting positions. On the other side, equally injury-prone Jaquiski Tartt is entering the final year of his contract and there have been rumors of him being floated for a potential trade. While he played very well last year when healthy, this may be a chance for the Niners to start investing in a 2021 replacement who can stay on the field more consistently.

But unlike wide receiver or offensive line, this need isn't immediately pressing. So if a future starter doesn't fall to them, they may add some later round developmental or subpackage players. So the second day is the earliest we're likely to get a safety, with the third day probably being the most likely.

Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne: The first of two small-school prospects who have skyrocketed up draft boards, Dugger blends excellent size (6-1, 217 pounds) with impressive speed and explosiveness (4.48 forty, 42" vertical, 11'02" broad) and three years of All-Conference play at the Division II level. An instinctual, explosive athlete, he uses his long arms and big hands to stack and shed against the run and break up passes, notching 36 pass deflections and 10 picks in college (and 6 punt returns for TDs lol). With prototypical size and athletic ability, he really was a man amongst boys on the Division II level, and sometimes he played like he was almost bored, not exploding out of breaks or taking a little while to get going. But when he had to step up against Senior Bowl competition, he shined. He'll need to see things quicker and adapt to the big leap in competition, but has all the tools necessary to become an impact starter in the NFL. [Round 2]

Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois: The second of our small-school wonders, Chinn takes after Steve Atwater, his long-time NFL safety uncle and 2020 Hall of Fame inductee, by being a gigantic (6-3, 221 pounds) hard-hitting force at the safety position. Built more like a linebacker but with cornerback athleticism (4.45 forty, 41" vertical, 11'06" broad), Chinn is at his best as a versatile man defender and ballhawk (13 picks in four years, with at least 3 picks every year). But as a pure safety, he'll need to up his awareness and instincts in order to maximize his considerable physical skills. Right now he gets caught watching and guessing too much, which will certainly make teams wonder if they need a specific coaching and deployment plan for him to be consistently effective in the NFL. At the very least, a cleanup in technique should make him a giant nickel / coverage linebacker / man specialist on tight ends and jumbo slots, but if his instincts and recognition skills catch up to his body, then the potential is considerably higher. [2nd Round]

*Ashtyn Davis, Cal: The rare unheralded dual-sport walk-on who also has top-notch measurables, Davis didn't get to run at the combine but if he had it surely would have helped his stock. Despite his father and grandfather both being addicted to meth, Davis got into Cal academically but things fell through and he wasn’t able to walk-on to the football team. So he joined the track team in the spring, email spammed the shit out of the football coaches until they gave him a tryout, and — within two years — had been offered a scholarship for both sports. An All-American in track and the 2018 Pac-12 champ in the 110m hurdles, Davis has tremendous range with both high-end speed and excellent burst. Pair that with his reckless physicality and strong ball skills (7 interceptions and 19 pass deflections over four years), and you have a high-ceiling prospect that's still developing the nuances of the game. His natural recognition skills seem strong but he can be a step late diagnosing and requires more experience and trust in his reads, and his aggressive nature can get him caught on double moves and misdirections. There are also times where he chases the big hit too much, which can lead to missed tackles or friendly fire. Overall, he's a high-ceiling free safety prospect with a great story, but someone who needs some developing and who you likely wouldn't want manning the back of your defense as a rookie. [2nd - 3rd Round]

Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota: Son of long-time cornerback and former Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield Sr., Junior lacks ideal size and length but makes up for it with tremendous IQ, instincts, and playmaking skills. He's a ballhawk, with seven interceptions last year, and he's dangerous on the turnaround, notching an average of 21 yards/interception and scoring twice over nine career picks. He's equally instinctive against the run, shooting gaps and playing in the backfield with regularity, and his all-around play has some Honey Badger-ish tendencies. But his lack of size and length (72" wingspan) are a problem in coverage, with very few pass breakups, and against the run, where he's never going to be able to take on blockers and has a small margin for error as a tackler. There are also durability concerns -- as he's missed major time with Lisfranc and hamstring injuries -- and character concerns -- as he was initially part of the group of players suspended for sexual assault allegations in 2016 before being reinstated on appeal. That case, which led to the firing of the entire football coaching staff, the suspension or expulsion of ten players, and a $45 million lawsuit against the university from said players for alleged racial discrimination and for disregarding evidence that supported them, ultimately wound up in five players being expelled from the school and five -- including Winfield -- being totally reinstated. So if there's any interest in him, the Niners had best do their homework. [2nd - 3rd Round]

*K'Von Wallace, Clemson: Heady player who started 36 games for a highly successful Clemson defense, relying largely on his intelligence, quick diagnostic skills, and competitiveness as a back half defender for the Tigers. Moves well, is physical, and probably does his best work as a slightly larger nickel defender where he can blitz and play the run, but he lacks ideal size and athleticism. He can get out-sized by tight ends or out-quicked by speedy slots, which makes him project more as a subpackage defender out of the slot. [5th Round]

Alohi Gillman, Notre Dame: Downhill safety who uses quick read-and-react skills and strong instincts to close space to the LOS and deliver hits on ball carriers. Is smart, competes hard, and showed better than expected movement skills (4.08 shuttle, 6.81 three-cone) that give hope for his coverage potential on the next level. However, he's more of a smaller linebacker than a safety, struggling when he has to turn and run down the field and lacking ball skills at the catch point. As a pro he projects as a sub-package box safety and special teamer. [6th Round]

*Daniel Thomas, Auburn: Thomas combines rock-solid bulk (5-10, 215 pounds) with good straight-line speed and does his best work moving forward. He's a strong run defender with quick run-game instincts, good burst through the hole, and powerful finishing skills. But when he's not playing forward he can have some issues. His lack of size makes him a liability against bigger tight ends and wideouts on jump balls and he simply doesn't have great coverage awareness on anything other than short, smaller zones. He's a subpackage type against the run who could become a strong special teamer. [6th - 7th Round]

Still the best mascot in football [GoFrogs.com]

Boundary Cornerback

Necessary Traits: For outside cornerbacks, the Seattle 3 System likes taller, longer players who can be physical at the line and tackle. Because they're so often asked to cover a deep third of the field they need to be able to play vertical routes without help (where the size helps) but are less often required to run man coverage and shorter zones (where the focus would be more on quickness). Again, there's some flexibility here because of how we've adjusted our defense in the past year, but we're still primarily a zone defense so anyone who plays DB for us has to be capable there.

Roster Need: Both Sherman and Witherspoon have their contracts up at the end of the year (Moseley does too but we still have another year of ERFA flexibility so realistically he's on a two-year deal). While everyone and their mother says we need an upgrade opposite Sherman, I think Moseley -- who wasn't a starter until mid-way through last season -- is still ascending as a player. Now if the team wants to move on from Sherman, who will be 33 next off-season, after his contract is up then we should add a body to the mix, but I don't think that means we absolutely need an immediate outside starter this year. We have Moseley, there's still some shallow amount of hope left for Witherspoon, and there's still Tim Harris, who will undoubtedly not amount to anything since I keep talking him up. 

While that may not sound like much, it's important to note that our decision to play a Seattle 3 with a wide 9 front means that we're going to be focusing more resources to the defensive line and less towards cornerback play, where you can theoretically draft and develop cheaper players as they're put on islands less frequently. So the earliest I'd want to select a CB is at the bottom of the first.

*CJ Henderson, Florida: The draft's consensus second-best cornerback, Henderson has all the physical traits necessary to be a lockdown press-man defender, with good size (6-0.5, 204 pounds), fluid movement skills, and an explosive burst out of his breaks (37.5" vertical, 10'07" broad). His timed speed (4.39 forty) is probably a shade faster than his play speed, but he's plenty fast to blanket receivers, and his length, footwork, and man-to-man instincts will help compensate against any burners.That being said, there are a handful of reasons to wonder if he's the right fit for our scheme. First off, he's a press-man corner, and we run primarily zone. And while that isn't necessarily an issue, Henderson has shown mental lapses in zone coverage and doesn't show the same level of reading and recognition skills when he's not latched onto a receiver's hip. Secondly, he's not a ballhawk (six interceptions in 33 games). In fact, he struggles to play the ball in the air, particularly when his back is to the quarterback, and will draw flags as he tries to read receivers' eyes instead of turning and locating. While that theoretically could be mitigated by zone play, there's no situation where poor tracking skills aren't somewhat of a liability. And finally, he offers very little in terms of run support, a trait that is more important for corners in zone defenses. Now is there a chance that most of this could be worked through with added experience and good coaching? Yes. But that's a lot of ifs for a player who many people are mocking to us at #13 overall. [Top 15]

Jeff Gladney, TCU: Tenacious press-man and zone defender, Gladney has started 42 games over four years for the Horned Frogs, often trailing the opposition's best receiver. He uses his strong movement skills and long arms (75" wingspan) to get into the frame of bigger receivers and knock smaller ones off their routes. Smooth mover who anticipates routes, aggressively breaks on the ball, and is highly competitive from the intial snap through the catch point. Sticky in man coverage and instinctive in zone, if anything he's too physical at times, drawing flags down the field as he competes for the ball. While he's got quick feet and good burst, he probably ran a bit faster than he is on the field (4.48 forty) and he lacks ideal NFL size (5-10, 192 pounds). While he plays the ball well (43 pass deflections), he isn't a ballhawk (5 interceptions), and has had his fair share of drops. His zone awareness will continue to grow with more reps, and while he needs to get less handsy with receivers, he has the skills to cement himself as a long-term starter at nickel corner or outside, which could prove rather useful as we evaluate our roster's many expiring contracts. [1st - 2nd Round]

Trevon Diggs, Alabama: The little brother of (now) Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon is a jumbo corner (6-1, 205 pounds) with the strength of a safety who plays the ball like the converted wideout that he is. He's got incredible length (78 3/4" wingspan), which he uses in press man and to snatch passes out of the air with his tremendous ball skills. While deep speed is a very real question mark, he's got good movement skills and short area quickness and could theoretically mask the speed issues with strong technique. However, he does not have sound technique. Since he's a Bama CB he doesn't backpedal, which isn't a dealbreaker but has allowed him to get really lazy in his footwork and stance. And since he is a bigger dude with lesser speed, that can get him in trouble. Physically he mostly matches what we want, and there are reasons to believe he can be an Aqib Talib / Marcus Peters type on the outside, but his focus and approach to the game are worrisome given the position and the potential draft slot. [1st - 2nd Round]

A.J. Terrell, Clemson: Last we saw him he was getting absolutely obliterated in the national championship game by future top-15 pick Ja'Marr Chase. But with Terrell there is still more good tape than bad. He's a super smooth mover whose got good size (6-1, 195 pounds), the strong body control to mirror receivers, and very good ball skills at the catch point. Where you worry about him is everything you saw in the playoffs. When faced with an uptick in competition (OSU, LSU) he had some issues, his biggest one being that he lacks catchup speed down the field and that -- in conjunction with his less than ideal timing and burst out of his hip turn -- really makes you worry about how he's going to play vertical routes in the NFL. He's never going to fix the speed issues, but with his physical demeanor and strong work ethic, improving his hip work will go a long way to minimizing the damage caused by vertical threats. Additionally, shifting to more zone coverage may help him. There's starter ability here, but a lot of question marks for this high in the draft. [1st - 2nd Round]

*Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State: With good height (6-2, 188 pounds), quick feet, and strong short-area burst, Dantzler has a nice base blueprint for a corner who can press or handle a deep third. He's physical at the line of scrimmage, competes well at the catch point, and seems to have a good understanding of route combos and a natural nose for the football (even if he's only average at tracking it in the air). Despite running the second-slowest forty time amongst corners (4.64) he's done a good job of using his body and feet to stay in phase with vertical routes. He's handsy, will get flags, and will have to adjust to NFL rules. He's a tall, skinny dude, so you worry if he'll be a liability on the edge run game, and he stands up too tall on some transitions, which -- combined with his lack of speed -- kills his burst and is something he needs to clean up as he moves to the pro. All that said, he has potential outside starter tools to work with. [3rd Round]

Bryce Hall, Virginia: A four-year starter with great size (6-1, 202 pounds) and length (78 1/2" wingspan), Hall dominates at the catch point, where he uses his size, excellent ball skills, and basketball background to excel (24 pass deflections in 2018 alone). Instinctive in zone and aggressive to undercut routes, Hall is a ball-hunter, which will inevitably mean he will gamble wrong at times. But he's right more often than not based on instincts, ball tracking skills, and diligent film study. He lacks great long-speed and that isn't helped by his upright transition style. He also missed all but six games from his senior year after suffering a serious ankle injury, so medicals will be crucial and it's hard to say what that entails during corona lockdown. If he can clear medicals and clean up his technique in and out of breaks, he could be a very nice fit in our zone defense. [Round 3]

*Michael Ojemudia, Iowa: Good-sized athlete (6-0.5, 200 pounds) with a physical knack for coverage and run support (but done so in a sublte way, as he only had one PI penalty in 2019). He has good experience playing off-man, keeping plays in front of him and tracking the ball well in the air, but his lack of ideal burst may make him best in press zone looks. Tested pretty well across the board (4.45 forty, 36" vertical, 6.87 three cone), although he doesn't look as athletic on tape. Has the NFL body and has had some college production, but very much a work in progress. [4th Round]

Nickel Cornerback

Necessary traits: Nickels need to be a bit more versatile, as they inherently play more man or man-like coverages lining up over the slot. These players don't need to be as big as boundary corners, but they need to be adept at man and zone coverage, and quickness is a higher priority for them. They have to be very comfortable in space. If they can blitz as well that's a bonus, but blitzing in general isn't something we do a lot of. 

Roster Need: K'Waun Williams' contract is also up at the end of the year and the current replacement for him is some combination of DJ Reed on slot receiver types and backup safety Tarvarius Moore on bigger bodies. Luckily for us, nickel corners often come cheaper in the draft and are often highly accomplished collegiate boundary cornerbacks who must slide inside due to size limitations. Unless we get a player who could play either inside or outside (see: Jeff Gladney above), I wouldn't expect to draft a corner until -- at the very earliest -- the third round.

*Josiah Scott, Michigan State: An undersized (5-9, 185 pounds) and short-armed (71 1/4" wingspan) overperfomer, Scott has quick feet, great closing burst, and good speed (4.42 forty). He was rarely beat vertically in college despite his size and is impressive disrupting passes at the catch point (32 pass deflections, 7 interceptions in 30 career games, all starts). As a tackler he's willing but he's never going to be that good. Due to his size he certainly projects as a nickel, and he should have the athleticism and tape to translate to that kind of role. He's got really solid coverage chops. The biggest question is whether his lack of size, length, and strength are finally too much to overcome on the NFL level, or if he is a nickel corner mainstay for years. Either way, he would be a subpackage player for us as a rookie. [3rd Round]

Darnay Holmes, UCLA: As a former five-star recruit out of high school, Holmes is unsurprisingly a really good athlete. While he only tested for the forty at the combine (4.48), his movement skills were on display in the positional drills, and he has all the athletic traits you need to play corner in the NFL. He's competitive at the catch point, has very good ball skills (28 pass deflections and 8 interceptions in three years), and is dangerous with the ball in his hands (2 INTs and one kickoff returned for TDs). That being said, his tape is just okay. His instincts don't seem great, he's late to recognize and trigger, and he struggles to burst out of transitions due to some messy mechanics and tight hips. Additionally, his height (5-9.5, 195 pounds) and length (69 3/4" wingspan) are red flags and could limit him to a nickel role. Now will he be able to focus more on technique and hone in on things mentally if placed in more man-heavy nickel roles? Or will his struggles staying on routes mean he quickly flounders? A lot of projection there for a mid-round pick. He's a high-upside gamble. [3rd - 4th Round] 

Lavert Hill, Michigan: Under defensive coordinator Don Brown, Michigan's man-heavy defense has churned out nickel corners (Jourdan Lewis, David Long) and Hill -- while significantly less heralded than the other two -- is the next in line. A talented lockdown cover man who was All-Big Ten the past three years (first team the past two), Hill has good quickness, change of direction skills, and ball skills. For his height, he has solid length (74 3/8" wingspan), which helps him in press and at the catch point, and Michigan's defensive diversification last year even exposed him to more shallow zone coverage. But Hill's two most glaring weaknesses bring big questions as to his pro transition. First off, there's his size (5-10, 190 pounds with a super slender build). He can struggle against bigger wideouts. Then there's his top-end speed. While he didn't run at the combine, it's not great, and when players get a step on him he tends to lose body control and get supper grabby in the transition (8 PI or defensive holding calls in 2019). Thus, it is difficult to project how well he  will transition both to the pro game and a nickel role. [6th - 7th Round]

Draft Preview: Defensive Line

Wingspan. We needs it. [Inside the Star]

Like all defenses, ours is better with a healthy rotation of defensive linemen. While defensive backs and linebackers are asked to play a much larger chunk of defensive snaps, the constant impact and energy expenditure of defensive linemen (along with their larger size) means they need to be rotated out more to be kept fresh. And while our shift to a Wide 9 front paid dividends in 2019, the aggressive nature of that alignment and scheme means we always need to have defensive line depth. Otherwise, our starters get tired and we can wind up looking like we did near the end of the regular season.

So this year, like probably every year, we’ll be taking a good long look at whose available along the defensive line, both to add depth and (potentially) a future starter.

Defensive Tackle 

Necessary traits: Playing along the interior of the line, defensive tackles need to be better against the run than their edge counterparts, as they're more likely to see double teams and there are fewer ways to compensate for a blown-out hole on the interior than on the edge. Our wide 9 system still asks the nose tackle (DJ Jones) to anchor some against combo blocks, but in general we're looking for quicker, penetrating dudes (like DeFo) as our goal is to knife past the linemen or ride a shoulder to string out a play rather than shoving a guard into the backfield via brute force.

Roster need: I know that DeFo is gone and that leaves a hole, but -- as discussed in length previously -- I don't love the idea of trying to fill that hole immediately with a defensive tackle at 13. In part because we have some young guys who could step up in a rotational manner, in part because we can't just spend all our picks and money on the defensive line and see that as a sustainable strategy. That being said, losing DeFo and backup Sheldon Day and having Solly on the last year of his contract means adding someone later in the draft could make sense. So for the most part I've included options along the interior with projections more on the second day and later.

That being said...

Derrick Brown, Auburn: If Brown is on the board at 13 we should totally take him. An absolute monster of a man, Brown uses explosive power, long arms, and brute strength to constantly win at the point of attack. And despite his subpar testing numbers, he has the range and the instincts to gobble up ball carriers and get after the quarterback. Because he rushes upright and inefficiently at times, there are some questions as to whether or not he'll ever make the jump from pocket pressurer to sack man, but he has the talent, production, instincts, and positional versatility, to thrive in our scheme. [Top 10]

Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina: One of the most popular picks in many mock drafts for us at 13, Kinlaw is an explosive, long-limbed (83" wingspan) athlete with the physical profile (6-5, 324 pounds) of an absolute terror on the interior. Adept at the swim move and with the elite burst to dive into the backfield in a hurry, he'd likely be at his best in attack mode and avoiding double teams in our wide 9 system. His potential is as high as it gets, and that -- combined with his work ethic -- makes it understandable why so many people would see him as a natural fit. That being said, the consistency is severely lacking in his tape. His instincts aren't really there yet and his mechanics are sloppy. Yes, he saw double teams often and didn't have the luxury that Brown had of playing beside another top 50 pick on the interior, but 18 TFLs in 34 career starts is worrisome. His upright style makes his long frame play against him at times and leads to balance and body control issues, and it's worth wondering if the wide 9 scheme that he could eventually thrive in may also allow him so much space and freedom early in his career that it could stunt his growth. The potential is there, and -- at his best -- the Chris Jones comparisons make a lot of sense. But that's at his best. If we're picking him at 13 we'd better be confident he'll approach that level. [Top 15]

*Ross Blacklock, TCU: A bit longer and leaner than most prospects (6-3, 290 pounds), Blacklock shows great short-area quickness and agility and good top-end chase speed (4.90 forty). Really athletic in short areas, showing some Aaron Donald-ish shades. Slips off blocks and squares up to play multiple gaps against the run and shows the effort and agility of a disruptive pass-rusher. But a lot of that's still projection, as he's currently a better pressurer than he is a finisher. Plays high at times and thus has some issues holding up against double teams and big power inside, but this could be mitigated somewhat by our attacking style. Tore his Achilles and missed all of 2018, but returned looking full-strength. Needs consistency and clean-up, but there's a lot to like. [1st - 2nd Round]

*Justin Madubukie, Texas A&M: Also on the leaner side (6-2.5, 293 pounds), Madubukie makes up for his lack of size with leverage, power, and an explosive get-off. Really good body control, movement skills, and flashes good chase down speed (4.83 forty). Plays strong and powerful, but his lack of size and anchor ability shows when his pad level gets inconsistent. Has flashed ability as a pass rusher but doesn't have a lot of counters and lacks the fluidity of stringing multiple moves together that makes someone like Nick Bosa so incredibly effective. He's a three-tech with nice upside, but is a bit of a project. [2nd Round]

*Raekwon Davis, Alabama: A towering man (6-6, 311 pounds) with a rare combination of leverage, height, and power that at times resembles DeFo (but is not nearly the explosive athlete). Has good movement side-to-side and is at his best as a two-gapping run-stuffer where he can show off his raw power. Seemingly doesn't have incredible pass rush traits due to his lack of burst but did rack up 10 TFLs and 8.5 sacks as a sophomore in 2017, which hints at potential pass-rush upside. That being said, when he took on a full-time starting role he had fewer tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (2) in the next two years combined than he did as a sophomore, which brings up a number of questions about maturity and work ethic. [2nd - 3rd Round]

*Jordan Elliott, Missouri: A Texas transfer who didn't start a game his first three years in college, he dedicated himself to the weight room, lost 30 pounds prior to his junior year, and put together a strong 2019 season. Good first step quickness with explosive upper body strength and strong handwork to keep blockers off his frame, excelling most as a stack-and-shed type against the run, but could take a step forward in the pros as he's faced with fewer double teams. A physically impressive prospect with all the necessary physical traits and a trajectory that's pointing upwards, he certainly seems to have his best football ahead of him, but teams will have to be sure they're fine with the emotional immaturity that led him to transfer from Texas and the fact that he'll have to stay on top of his weight throughout his professional career. [2nd - 3rd Round].

*Larrell Murchison, N.C. State: With a smaller frame and less than elite athleticism, Murchison gets by with great hustle, good short-area quickness, and a knack for finding the football. While his ceiling is much lower than many others, his technical skill set and motor will likely keep him around the league for a while. He projects best as a rotational three-tech, perhaps similar to the role Sheldon Day held for us last year. [4th Round]

*Malcolm Roach, Texas: A former defensive end in a 3-3-5 scheme, Roach is a bit of a tweener, with shorter arms for a defensive lineman and lacking the athleticism to stick on the edge. That being said, he's got some one-gapping ability, good instincts to find the ball in the backfield, and provides some positional versatility as a backup subpackage player tasked with getting backfield penetration. [5th - 6th Round]

I’d have to learn how to spell his name, but it could be worth it [Sam Wasson / Getty Images]

Defensive End

Necessary traits: The Wide 9 emphasizes speed from our edge rushers, but when employed with a good first step, great leverage, power, and hand-fighting can also be highly successful (see: Bosa, Nick). Basically, with the wider alignment (in the "9" gap extended a full split outside of the tight end), they have to be able to aggressively collapse to the quarterback, while keeping the discipline and strength to hold up against off-tackle runs, and the disengagement skills and change-of-direction necessary to play contain.

Roster need: We have two sure things locked up for the next handful of years in Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead. Dee Ford, while highly disruptive when he's been healthy, is -- if reports are to be believed -- theoretically available for the right price. Ronald Blair is a great talent off the bench but is recovering from an ACL injury and is on a one-year contract. With so many question marks, what we're likely looking for is a versatile defensive end (not a direct replacement for Ford), who we can expect to play with our second line and get some snaps on the edge when Armstead slides inside on passing down.

With Armstead and Bosa in the fold, I wouldn't expect a first-round pick to be used on an edge rusher, so I haven't included anyone with a locked in first-round grade. And with Dee Ford still likely here for at least another year, the most likely scenario is that we get a defensive end on the third day or we pick up a second-day prospect who has slid in the draft.

*Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State: Long levered, flexible athlete whose long-striding speed, wingspan (82"), and action-figure-like hip fluidity to turn the corner resemble Aldon Smith (off the field... jk). While he doesn't have a huge pass rush toolbox, he's already stringing together what he's got and his coachability is said to be high (although he was suspended for the 2019 season for a violation of team rules). He doesn't have an explosive first step, needs technical refinement, and will require some time to continue filling out his frame, but once he does he could be both an impactful edge rusher and someone who has the size and length to condense inside on passing downs. [1st - 2nd Round]

Josh Uche, Michigan: A one-trick pony who does that one trick very well, Uche is an explosive athlete off the edge with the bend, flexibility, and length to chase down quarterbacks and ball carriers. He's super dangerous on loops and twists and is able to slip into tight spaces with speed. But against the run? You're not getting much. He's vastly undersized for the edge (6-1 245 pounds), spent the large majority of his career as a pass-rush specialist, and will need a lot of coaching to make him a more complete rusher and complete player. If picked, he would project more as an eventual Dee Ford replacement [2nd Round]

Julian Okwara, Notre Dame: While we're on the subject of explosive edge rushers who lack refinement and size but have high speed rusher potential, Okwara has got the first step, bend, and pursuit speed to develop into an edge specialist. He even has some coverage experience and, when he can convert speed to power, packs some punch with his hands. Like Uche, he is a minus run defender, and he lacks many pass rush tools and the ability to string them together. He also plays a bit out of control at times, projecting him as a high-risk, high-reward speed rusher. [3rd - 4th Round] 

*Kenny Willekes, Michigan State: A former walk-on who built a career for himself that included 229 tackles, a school-record 51 TFLs, and 26 sacks over three years based largely on hard work, relentless effort, and really good ball-hunting instincts. He's got strong hands and great body lean and plays with his hair on fire (for better or for worse, as he tallied nine penalties in 2019 alone). The question now becomes how he translates to the professional level, as he lacks ideal size and length and is an average-at-best athlete. While he will likely top out as a rotational piece, he's typically the kind of player you don't want to bet against and could be a nice addition late in the draft. [5th Round]

*Alton Robinson, Syracuse: Explosive edge rusher with the first-step quickness (35.5" vertical), long arms, and long-striding speed (4.69 forty) of a disruptive NFL pass rusher and a player drafted in the first two days. In fact, coming into this season, he was expected to be drafted in the first two days. But after recording 10 sacks as a junior, he followed up with 4.5 as a senior. Despite showing good handwork and tenacity, he doesn't have ideal bend, which gets him too far upfield at times and makes it difficult for him to run the arc. And while he shows flashes of speed-to-power with a nasty bullrush, his overall strength is subpar, which hurts him against the run and as a tackler. Additionally, he was arrested in 2016 for stealing an ex-girlfriend's purse and allegedly pushing her into a bush and suspended for Syracuse's 2018 bowl game. While there are those who say character is no longer a concern, anyone looking to draft Robinson will have to do a deep dive in determining whether the risk is worth the reward of an off-the-bench edge rusher. [5th Round]

*Derrek Tuszka, North Dakota State: Small-school standout with very intriguing potential given his draft projection. Totaled 40.5 TFLs and 28.5 sacks over three years as a starter for the Bison, a team that has won 8 FCS National Championships in 9 years. Instinctual player who has aggressive, active hands, uses a handful of basic rush moves to good success and tested fairly well athletically with a 4.79 forty and an outstanding 6.87 cone drill that really accents his hip bend and movement skills. In terms of frame, he's a bit of an OLB tweener, with lack of ideal bulk and functional strength to hold up against the run, and -- perhaps the biggest red flag of all -- short arms. That being said, the production, movement skills, and temperament project him as at least a situational pass rusher as well as an intriguing developmental player who -- as he adjusts to the jump in competition and adds more counters to his pass rush repertoire -- could have the upside for more. [5th - 6th Round]

*Ron'dell Carter, James Madison: Another FCS standout, Carter started at Rutgers before transferring to JMU, where he improved each year while leading the team to a FCS Championship berth as a senior. In 2019 he tallied 66 tackles, 27 TFLs, and 12 sacks and that production plus his solid size (6-2.5, 265 pounds) and length (80") makes him an intriguing late round prospect. While not a plus athlete or standout in any particular way, he'll have a chance to prove himself in training camp somewhere. [7th Round / UDFA]

Offensive Line + Tight End Breakdown

Wrapping up the offensive side of the draft preview with offensive line and tight ends. I know the Niners have also looked at and interviewed both quarterbacks and running backs in this class, but any quarterback will likely be an undrafted free agent (UDFA) to compete in training camp while any running back will likely be a late round or UDFA addition (and would require us moving on from someone in our currently crowded backfield).

So, I decided to focus on the offensive line and tight ends, two position groups that we’re almost certain to add talent in the draft or (in case we don’t find the right fit at tight end) in the bargain bin of free agency.

This man (#74) ran almost as fast as Jarvis Landry at the combine [USA Today]

OFFENSIVE LINE

As stated before, the only position coaches the Niners sent to the combine this year were their WR and OL coaches. They WILL be picking an offensive lineman in this draft. It’s just a matter of who, when, and what position they’ll be playing.

As a quick recap, the Niners could select (1) a tackle who can eventually succeed Staley and potentially compete at guard right away, (2) a guard who can play sooner rather than later, or (3) a future center who can compete at guard this year.

Since I have no access to endzone cameras and sideline film of offensive linemen is largely useless, I'm simply going to break everyone down into groups, summarize the consensus opinion on a handful of prospects, star(*) those that have e-visited with the Niners, and put their projected draft slots in [brackets].

Immediate Starting Tackle

Any tackle we’re looking at really needs to be able to move so they can function in our outside zone scheme, so we typically look at athleticism over raw power. All of this crop of guys could be immediate starters on the outside, but -- considering Joe Staley should be playing with us for at least one more year -- could easily moonlight on the inside at guard while they bide their time.

Jedrick Wills, Alabama: Mauling run blocker on both the first and second level, Willis has excellent foot quickness, a powerful punch, and explosive leverage. A student of the game, he has consistently improved in pass protection, and while he will occasionally overset or get beat inside, he has the tools to shore up his few weaknesses and reach his All-Pro upside. He also will be long gone by the time we pick. [Top 10]

Tristan Wirfs, Iowa: An absolute freak of an athlete who, despite a 6-5 320-pound build, can power clean 450 pounds and notched a 4.85 forty and 36.5" vertical at the combine. Despite lacking ideal length, oversetting at times, and having inconsistent footwork, he rarely loses in pass protection, and has elite ability as a zone and stretch run blocker. He would slot in as an immediate starter at guard and a future mainstay at tackle in our stretch running game. He’s worth a long look in the unlikely case he's around at 13. [Top 10]

Mekhi Becton, Louisville: Pairs massive body (6-7 364 lbs.) with long arms (7-foot wingspan) and shockingly quick feet. His frame, powerful hand punch, and movement skills project him as a high-upside anchor-type who can excel in a number of different schemes. That being said, his bust potential is higher than the names listed above because of the quickness and potential weight concerns that come with a player of his frame. Also, he had a positive drug test at the combine but as it was for marijuana, it’s unsure how/if that really will effect his draft stock. While the potential is sky-high with Becton, we may opt instead to pick a tackle later on who is a bit leaner, more mobile, and thus better suited to our outside zone scheme. [Top 15]

Year 2 Starting Tackle

These guys aren't likely to play a lot as rookies, which is good because while they all possess certain franchise tackle traits, they each need to clean up their technique and/or add strength before seeing major snaps

*Josh Jones, Houston: Plus athlete with smooth movement skills and great bend who thrives in space. While he's a better pass blocker than run blocker at the moment, he's super comfortable climbing up to the second level, pulling across the formation, and working outside the tackle box, and projects best in an outside running scheme like ours. Needs to add weight and strength and has work to do in terms of technique and consistency, but improved vastly during his senior season, and the fact that he played for three different coaching staffs and five different OL coaches during his college career must be taken into account. As a perfect athletic fit for our system, Jones could be a one-year bench stash who gives us a succession plan to Staley. [1st - 2nd Round]

Austin Jackson, USC: A two-year starter at USC, Jackson is raw but has flashed high-level play that matches his elite athletic traits (5.07 forty at 6-5 322 pounds). Has quick, agile feet, and mirror ability that projects well, but needs to work on the hand placement on his punches and develop more strength throughout his long frame. Lower floor than some, but plenty of upside to work in a movement-based offense such as ours. [1st - 2nd Round]

*Ezra Cleveland, Boise State: Great athlete who has the body control and rare foot speed (4.93 forty at 6-6, 311 pounds) to comfortably operate outside the hashes, work up to the second level, or mirror defenders in pass sets. Smart, technically sound, and seems tailor-made for our outside run game, but his lack of overall strength and explosive punching power make for issues when anchoring. Bulk/strength and coming from a Non Power 5 school were the big knocks on Staley back when he was drafted. If Cleveland can increase his playing power and mean streak then he'll be a steal at his current position. [1st - 2nd Round]

Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn: A very latecomer to the sport, Tega Wanogho didn't play football until his last year of high school and didn't play offensive line until college. However, his rare athletic ability let him transition quickly. He's very comfortable in space, has great recovery quickness, and possesses the bend of a starting NFL tackle. But despite 32 starts over four years, he's still new to football and has technique, timing, and experience concerns. With good coaching, he seems to have the athleticism, intelligence, work ethic, and coachability to iron those concerns out, but how long will it take for him to actualize his potential? [3rd Round]

Developmental Guard

A pure guard drafted in the top 2-3 rounds would likely be expected to compete for major playing time immediately. However, with Brunskill in the fold and his arrow pointing up, I wouldn't expect any selection at this position until the third day.

At guard we are a little more flexible with what we're looking for. A guy who can pull and get out in space is preferred, but someone like Laken Tomlinson (who gets by more on strength than on movement skills) can succeed in this system when surrounded by other mobile players. But they have to be able to seal block on stretch plays. Additionally, two of the guards who we've interviewed have been more power-scheme road grading types with struggles in space, so perhaps the Niners are looking for a run game subpackage guy now who they can hope to develop into a future starter? 

*Damien Lewis, LSU: Thick, physical road-grader in the run game who gets a ton of movement on power and inside zone concepts, but has had his struggles playing in space and is only okay as in pass pro. Limited athleticism and balance on the move make me question the fit, but he was one of the Niners' pre-draft visitors so will include him. [3rd - 4th Round]

Netane Muti, Fresno State: Insanely injury-prone player who has missed all but five games in the past two seasons, but is a bully in the run game and has high-end developmental traits that would have likely made him a selection in the top two rounds if not for injury. Only potentially worth it as a flier late in the draft to stash on the PUP list. [5th - 6th Round]

Danny Pinter, Ball State: Smaller guy with strong movement skills who plays well in space. Currently lacks the functional strength to be a full-time player but could potentially develop into one with weight room work and patience. [5th - 6th Round]

*Michael Onwenu, Michigan: Massive guard (6-2.5, 344 pounds) with tons of power and surprising body control and agility for a man of his size, he'll need to work to keep his weight down and is perhaps a better fit for a power scheme as he's not totally comfortable in space, but there's traits to work with as a developmental player. [6th Round]

*Cordel Iwuagwu, TCU: Another medical case, Iwuagwu started every game as a senior and created some scouting buzz because of it. He's got good size and length and some natural power to him, but would need to fix his balance issues for him to contribute as a pro. [7th Round / UDFA]

Future Starting Center / Immediate Competition at Guard

All centers have to be smart communicators. Our centers really have to be able to move. Combo blocking and smoothly working up to the second level are a must, as is the ability to reach block when covered. Pulling into space isn't as much of a staple, but if we're drafting someone in the first two days with the intention of them becoming a long-term starter, I'd say it's a must as well.  

If we're looking for a center prospect who could moonlight as a guard, we luckily have some options this year. Each of the top four prospects at the position could be long-term centers, but only the top two seem guard capable from the jump.

Cesar Ruiz, Michigan: Smart, athletic, and quick on his feet (5.08 forty at 6-3 307 pounds), Ruiz started two straight years at center and the last five games of his true freshman campaign at guard. He played in a pro-style scheme his first two years then -- after some adjusting early as a junior -- moved smoothly into a spread scheme to cap off his college career. He's not going to be a massive anchor against power rushers, but his guard/center flexibility, plus athleticism, and great intelligence and field awareness should give us a long-term starter and both immediate and future positional flexibility. [1st - 2nd Round]

*Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU: In addition to having a name that sounds like a British dignitary in the 16th century, he's super long and powerful and will not lose reps to bull rushers. Very smart and did well in pass pro  despite LSU's heavy reliance on five-man pass protection sets. Has potential space concerns as he isn't the athlete that Ruiz is, but moves well and is certainly athletic enough to work to the second level and reach defenders in our stretch running game. [2nd Round]

Matt Hennessy, Temple: Very good athlete who is at his best on reach blocks and seal blocks, while mirroring defenders, and really at any point where he can use his great foot quickness and balance. Smart guy, team leader, and hard worker, but has ordinary point-of-attack strength and isn't going to road grade anyone. Unsure if he has the power to play guard or not. [2nd - 3rd Round]

Nick Harris, Washington: Athletic prospect who is quick to climb, pull, or in general move on to the second level where he excels. Gritty, smart, and makes and communicates split-second reads. Has some power issues and gets overeager at times. May be limited to center only. [3rd Round]

*Kyle Hinton, Washburn: Small-school prospect is leaner and lighter than most, but is a really good athlete. Super quick slider, pulls well, and seems to understand hitting angles on a moving target. Was actually an All-American in both football and track (throwing) last year. However, he was a small school tackle and will require multiple years of development, coaching, and weight training as he adjusts to the massive jump in competition. That being said, getting an eventual interior starter or guard/center swing this late in the draft is a good way to maximize pick value and stock the cupboards for the future. [7th Round]

*Luke Juriga, Western Michigan: A four-year starter, Juriga played guard until his senior year, where he moved to center and had his best season. He's got solid athleticism and tenacity, but his lack of length hurts him. Unsure of long-term potential, but could be a practice squadder as we find out. [UDFA]

Remember when this game meant something? [Robert Fauthier / Los Angeles Times]

TIGHT ENDS

The Niners are looking for someone who can take some of the load off of Kittle and who can make their 12 personnel groups a bit more formidable on passing downs. That being said, it's a little hard to determine what exactly it is that we're looking for in this supporting role. The job title would seem like a dual-threat who can catch and block, but the interest in Austin Hooper and Jordan Reed implies that perhaps the blocking isn’t that important and the focus is on receiving ability. If that’s the case, then maybe we’re looking at someone who could create mismatches underneath and on play action?

Regardless, we currently don’t have a single selection between picks 32 and 155, and I don’t think we’d use a second-round pick (even one acquired in a trade) on a player that tops out as a backup. Thus I've cast a wide net and listed a couple of options who could be available in the third round or later.

Adam Trautman, Dayton: Despite playing only quarterback through his freshman year of college, Trautman leaves Dayton as the most accomplished receiver in school history. A smooth, fluid athlete who had the third-best three-cone time (6.78) in the entire combine (and you know how much Shanahan loves the three-cone), Trautman won't burn by anyone, but he's plenty athletic to become a starter in the NFL. A jump ball specialist with a basketball background, he'll need work as both a receiver and a blocker to adjust to the NFL's huge jump in size and competition. While he'd be a good fit with the Niners, he'll likely get swooped up earlier by a team in need of a starting tight end. [2nd - 3rd Round]

Cole Kmet, Notre Dame: The latest from Notre Dame's factory of giant WRs and TEs, Kmet (6-5.5, 262 lbs.) was a fifth-round pick by the Chicago White Sox out of high school and played both football and baseball while at Notre Dame. A long-strider with solid speed (4.7 forty) and linear explosiveness (37" vertical), he's shown flashes and has good potential as a seam stretcher and jump ball weapon and should develop more quickly now that he's focusing on one sport. At this point he's frankly not a blocker, and he's also likely to be off the board by the time we pick. [2nd - 3rd Round]

Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri: A "move" tight end with tremendous speed (4.49 forty). Racked up 11 tugs as a sophomore and an additional 12 in his last two seasons in college. Can box out and win at the catch point and clearly has the physical traits to stretch the seam. That being said, it kind of seems like all he does is run straight down the field or play jump balls. That's one thing if you constantly blow by defenders and come down with contested catches, but that's far from the case. Other than TDs, his stats were pretty lackluster throughout college, and since anyone who is drafted outside of the last ~two rounds will be expected to play next year, Okwuegbunam seems a little risky for what we're looking for at the position. [3rd - 4th Round]

Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic: The first Non-Power 5 player to win the John Mackey Award for the nation's top tight end, Bryant led all tight ends in receptions (65) and receiving yards (1,004) last year, projecting as a technically sound receiver who finds openings in zones and presents a little burst after the catch. While a fluid athlete, he's not going to win a ton of box out battles as he lacks ideal bulk and has small hands and short arms for his stature. Those issues translate down to his blocking, which is fundamentally sound and done with strong effort but will be an issue if he's asked to play inline consistently. As a move tight end with a high floor, Bryant could be a decent pickup depending on where he falls in the draft. [3rd - 4th Round]

*Devin Asiasi, UCLA: A former highly touted recruit who initially signed at Michigan and showed promise as a two-way stud before transferring to be closer to home, Asiasi is a large-bodied guy (6-3 257 lbs.) with smooth athleticism, quick feet, strong overall movement skills, and decent top-end speed (4.74 forty). A tough receiver over the middle with a huge wingspan (80") who is a load to take down after the catch, he's raw in his routes as well as his blocking technique, but he saw action in all 13 games at Michigan as a true freshman due to his blocking prowess so it wouldn't be insane to believe his lack of development has largely been a coaching problem (cough, cough, Chip Kelly). Supposed to be a good dude, but I'm sure the Niners asked him about his three-game suspension at UCLA in 2018. A quality two-way backup with starter potential down the road could make for a nice addition at the right price. [3rd - 4th Round]

*Hunter Bryant, Washington: Whether it's his big-play speed or his ability to sky up to haul in 50/50 balls, Bryant's film is filled with plays that make him look like a giant wide receiver. Loose, smooth, and with better field speed than timed speed, he's more of a move TE (or in our offense, potentially even a fullback?) as he lacks the size (6-2 248 lbs.) or the blocking prowess to be a full-time inline tight end. In fact, it's doubtful he'll ever become a plus blocker, but then again... Jordan Reed; Hunter Bryant has several similarities. With upside as a receiver and the movement skills to develop into a mismatch problem, Bryant could be a nice addition. But he also has an extensive injury history, which I'm sure was part of the reason the Niners wanted to chat with him before the draft. [3rd - 4th Round]

Colby Parkinson, Stanford: At 6-7 252 pounds, Parkinson towers over his competition. While not an incredible athlete, he is a smooth and fluid one with the hips and high-point skills to win more than his fair share of 50/50 balls. Super secure hands (only three drops in college), enough speed to stretch seams given his size, and intriguing red zone potential could make him an interesting option on play-action passes and near the goalline, but it's hard to say if he has the burst, quickness, or nuance to his game to ever become a more complete receiver. Also, he'll likely never become a plus blocker. [4th - 5th Round]

*Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland State: Less than a 50/50 chance he gets drafted by anyone given he's almost certainly more of an H-back / full back than he is a tight end in the pros, but is an early candidate for this year's Daniel Helm priority free agent who makes the practice squad. Tested okay (4.75 forty, 36" vert, and impressive 7.00 three-cone), which may ease some concerns about if his limited athleticism will translate to the pros. Smooth as a receiver and was a second-team All-American (FCS level, 2018). Universally lauded for his effort as a blocker. Kind of shit on all the FBS competition he faced, including 5 catches for 152 yards and two scores against Oregon. Despite lack of explosive ability, size, or dynamic playmaking, he's a try-hard guy who could make the practice squad and get developed. [7th Round / UDFA]