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]