John DePetro - The MMQB
The way this year’s draft board is falling, the San Francisco 49ers are going to have a great shot at drafting an impact player at a position of need. It’s been well documented that this draft class is incredibly deep at offensive line with starting caliber offensive linemen predicted to go late in the 1st round and even late on day 2. The 49ers could be in an ideal spot for drafting a future starting tackle at 31 or going for best player available at 31 and waiting until the 2nd or 3rd rounds to reinvest in offensive line.
Cornerback is another spot that the 49ers have a direct need for. This class has 7 or 8 top-end corners that could have an immediate impact their rookie season. The 49ers may use this deep offensive line class to their advantage and draft a top defensive back in the 1st round who could start right away, while waiting to draft an offensive lineman in the mid-rounds and choosing to develop a new line over time.
During both the 2022 and 2023 NFL Combine, the 49ers met with 4 prospects that they eventually ended up drafting. Going back even further this seems to be a pattern. During the Shanahan and Lynch era, the 49ers combine meetings and their top 30 visits usually leave us with some bread crumbs on who the 49ers are considering early in the draft, with Mike McGlinchey being one of the lone surprises. Last year the 49ers met with future draft picks Ji’Ayir Brown, Jalen Graham, Brayden Willis and Dee Winters. In 2022 they met with 5 future draft picks between the combine meetings and the top 30 visits. The month between the combine and the draft, NFL prospects draft stocks are rising and falling, draft boards are being completed, and team’s draft strategies are being solidified. It’s also the perfect time to search for hidden clues to who your team might draft, find each prospect’s scheme fits, and predict the landing spots.
To find out the general probability of which prospects might be available at pick 31, I did a total of 30 mock drafts from 3 prestigious draft simulator sites and simulated to pick 31. I drafted each selection keeping in mind who the 49ers met with at the combine, overall team needs, future possible departures, and the current roster construction. I also tracked the availability of each prospect at 31, knowing that picking this far down in first round will be more about who falls to you, rather than who your dream prospect is.
The goal of this exercise was to find the tier the 49ers will be drafting in, while unearthing each player’s talent. This obviously also involved balancing the team’s needs and hopefully discovering some natural fits. Which I believe we accomplished. Here are 6 NFL prospects that the 49ers are targeting at 31 given into account who they have met with at the combine, there is an immediate roster need, and the likelihood the player could be available when the 49ers are selecting at pick 31:
Robert Gray- USA TODAY sports
Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
Offensive Tackle
This BYU prospect is 6’5” and weighed in at 326 pounds. Suamataia is the cousin and training-mate of All-Pro Penei Sewell and the grandson of a former Golden Gloves boxer. Suamataia showcased his talent at the Senior Bowl being one of the standouts during the week’s practices and was recently ranked 8th on Bruce Feldman’s pre-combine Freaks list. Kingley has great lateral quickness and acceleration and could excel as a pulling tackle in the outside zone. Although, he needs to perfect hand placement and improve against speed rushers. Suamataia started at both tackle positions over the past two seasons at BYU giving him much desired flexibly as well as showing his dominance only allowing 2 sacks while playing over 1,200 snaps. This would be a great fit for the 49ers as a candidate to unseat McKivitz, and he could eventually move to left tackle when Trent Willams retires.
Draft Probability: 7%
Mike Caudill- AP PHOTO
Graham Barton, Duke
Offensive Tackle/Center
Graham Barton is a finisher. His identity is being a dominant run blocker who snaps his hips and ends opponents with his twitchy hands. Barton has started the past 3 seasons at left tackle for the Blue Devils but got significant playing time at center as a freshman. With shorter arms, Barton could move back into the interior of the offensive line as a pro, as some scouts see him starting at guard his rookie year and then getting promoted to a franchise center as his career progresses. Graham is tenacious and scrappy with an exciting initial burst off the line, and he excels in space. He anchors opponents with a wide base and exceptional hand placement. At times he can be physically overzealous resulting in a break in fundamentals, but he has a constant motor which wears down opponents. Barton does need to be more consistent in pass protection. He could play all 5 positions in the NFL which is perfect for San Francisco’s desire for versatility on the offensive line. I could see Chris Foerster pounding the table for Barton in the war room, putting an emphasis on Barton’s position flexibility. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah recently had the 49ers selecting Barton in his February 20th mock draft, and it’s beginning to feel like he is one of the more natural fits for pick 31.
Draft Probability: 20%
Brandon Sumrall- Getty Images
Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
Cornerback
McKinstry was a 5-star recruit and named Alabama Mr. Football coming out of Pinson Valley High School. Unfortunately, at the combine there was a Jones fracture discovered in his right foot during medical evaluations, but surprisingly his foot was healed enough to run a 4.47 at his pro day and reports are that he will be ready for the beginning of the season with a one-month recovery after surgery. Even though he should be ready, his draft stock has taken an unfortunate hit. McKinstry has a ton of versatility, being able to play outside, in the slot and being a dynamic punt returner. He is a field general who can cut off receivers on crossing patterns and stay in phase on vertical routes. Kool-aid was a 3-year starter at Alabama and is an exceptional bump and run corner. In zone coverage, he reads the quarterback and reacts with phenomenal awareness. This could be exactly what the 49ers need to complete their cornerback room with two starting spots locked in with Ward and Lenoir. The Jones fracture is a concern but not enough to be passed up late in the first round. He may fall into the 49ers lap at 31.
Draft Probability: 7%
Tony Walsh- UGAAA
Amarius Mims, Georgia
Offensive Tackle
Amarius Mims is the ultimate “the sky’s the limit” prospect in this class, showcasing his high upside in an injury riddled 2023 season. If he had more than 8 career starts, he’d probably be a consensus top 10 pick. Mims is a giant human, measuring 6’8” and weighing 340 pounds but his weight does not burden him as he is unfathomably nimble and can move like a tight end. Amarius is an extremely athletic specimen showing off his agility in explosive move blocks and getting to the second-level of the defense easily. His tape shows elite power, speed and a ridiculous frame that has boosted his pre-draft hype, but it’d be smart to simmer expectations because of his health and lack of experience. With that being said, if he’s there at 31 the 49ers should absolutely consider taking him as his ceiling is just as high as anyone else in this draft. If you believe in your development at offensive line, Mims would be a no-brainer for the 49ers. They might even take a look at trading up for him in the mid-twenties if the price isn’t too rich. His NFL traits and projection alone are worth it.
Draft Probability: 13%
Jeffrey Becker- USA TODAY sports
Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Cornerback
Don’t hate me for putting another injured player on this list, but Cooper DeJean had maybe the most impressive season of any defensive prospect in the draft before he broke his fibula. He was an All-American, won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and was the Return Specialist of the Year. As well as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation’s top defender) and the Jim Thrope Award (nation’s top DB) in 2023. The former high school quarterback was a dominating presence in the Hawkeyes the past two seasons totaling 7 interceptions, 3 of those he returned for touchdowns, and an electric 70-yard punt return late in the 4th quarter propelling Iowa past Michigan State in a previously tied game. One of the questions about DeJean is where he would play in the NFL, as he could start at nickel corner or maybe the more natural fit could be safety with his knack for the ball and playmaking ability. With rumored 4.3 speed, Cooper DeJean has the long speed and corrective athletic ability to stay with NFL wideouts, but also contains the mass density and muscular frame to play the run. He has an extremely high route- IQ matched with being a prolific ball-hawk. Despite being a stellar athlete and the college production to match, there’s a chance that he’s there late in the first round due to his injury but he is absolutely a prospect John Lynch is keeping his eyes on. He has recently said he will be working out for teams before the draft and has started to run at full speed.
Draft Probability: 10%
Mark J. Rebilas- USA TODAY sports
Jordan Morgan, Arizona
Offensive Tackle
The theme of offensive line continues as we focus on Jordan Morgan out of Arizona. Morgan has elite lateral quickness from the left tackle spot, putting an end to quicker speed rushers coming off the edge. He has 37 career starts at left tackle, but some scouts see him starting at guard in the NFL. Running a 1.7 10-yard dash and a 5.04 40-yard dash at 311 pounds, Morgan’s combine performance matches the speed and fluidity he shows during pulling blocks and getting to the defense’s linebackers and safeties. In pass protection, PFF graded him as an 87.3 while he only allowed 2 sacks this past season. Mel Kiper has him as the 25th overall prospect in his latest mock draft, but I don’t see the 49ers trading up for him. Jordan is more of a guard in the NFL because of his short arms and I don’t believe the 49ers would give up draft capital for a player who is changing positions and might not start day one because of it. The most probable scenario for drafting Morgan would be him falling to 31 and the 49ers deciding between him and Suamataia, with Mims and Barton most likely being picked in the 20s.
Draft probability: 7%
When the San Francisco 49ers are on the clock at pick 31, my prediction is that one of these six players will be the name announced by Roger Goodell. The dream scenario is that both Amarius Mims and Cooper DeJean are available at 31, and the 49ers would have the luxury of drafting one of those two high-ceiling prospects. On April 25th we will see how John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan decide to navigate the draft.
Here are a few additional potential targets for the 49ers at 31. All of these players will most likely be gone when the 49ers are on the clock, but they still should be on our radar.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon - Guard/Center Draft Probability: 13%
Nate Wiggins, Clemson - Cornerback Draft Probability: 7%
Taliese Fuaga, Oregon St. - Offensive Tackle Draft Probability: 7%
Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma - Offensive Tackle Draft Probability: 3%
Chop Robinson, Penn St. - Defensive End Draft Probability: 3%
Comments