Sports are on hiatus, but not the NFL Draft. Expect the 49ers to catch a prime talent
Most of the sports world is at a standstill as the coronavirus runs rampant around the world.
Major League Baseball was supposed to celebrate Opening Day a week ago. The NBA suspended its season, as did the NHL and soccer leagues around the world. Golf and tennis majors have been postponed or canceled, including Wimbledon for the first time in 75 years.
However, sports fans can count on one annual April event: the NFL Draft, which will proceed as scheduled. However, it won’t be the usual fan-friendly event where first-round selections greet Commissioner Roger Goodell with hugs and handshakes.
“Everyone recognizes that public health conditions are highly uncertain and there is no assurance that we can select a different date and be confident that conditions will be significantly more favorable than they are today,” Goodell said in a memo to the league’s 32 teams last week. “I also believe that the draft can serve a very positive purpose for our clubs, our fans, and the country at large.”
When the NFL Draft kicks off April 23, the 49ers are slated to be on the clock twice in the first of the event’s seven rounds. San Francisco has the 13th pick it acquired by trading defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts.
The 49ers, coming off their seventh Super Bowl appearance, also have the 31st pick, the slot which falls to the team that just misses out on hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
They could trade either of the picks to get picks in later rounds, as the 49ers currently don’t have any selections in rounds 2 through 4. But the world of mock drafts deals with things as they are today. So who can San Francisco bring in to contribute to its bid to return to the league’s championship game? Here’s a sampling of what national analysts are saying about what the 49ers could do with the 13th pick:
ESPN
Updated March 30 (McShay) and March 24 (Kiper)
ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay often seem to have fun debating their differences. In their latest mocks, they agree that the 49ers will take an Alabama wide receiver.
Where they don’t click is on exactly which player that will be.
Kiper has Henry Ruggs III as the pick. According to his draft profile on NFL.com, Ruggs “has quick, sure hands to handle off-target throws, but learning to release, separate and catch against physical NFL cornerbacks could require an adjustment period. He won’t rack up the targets, but has explosive speed and talent to imprint on games with regularity.”
“Coach Kyle Shanahan likes speedy guys who can tack on yards after the catch, and that’s what Ruggs does. Suddenly, that arsenal doesn’t look too bad with the likes of Deebo Samuel and George Kittle also running routes for Jimmy Garoppolo,” Kiper wrote.
McShay puts San Francisco on Jerry Jeudy. His draft profile states “Jeudy can play inside or outside but offers a unique ability to both widen or lengthen the field from the slot. His transition from deep threat to volume target in 2019 should help sell teams on his ability to become a Pro Bowl-caliber WR1.”
“Adding Jeudy, who caught 77 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 TDs last season, to a group with Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne makes this a really exciting (and young) trio of wideouts for Jimmy Garoppolo,” McShay wrote.
(Note: An ESPN+ subscription is required to see Kiper and McShay’s full analysis.)
NFL.com
Updated April 1
The league’s official website provides mock drafts from six analysts. The latest to check in is Peter Schrager, who also has the 49ers taking a receiver: CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma.
“Lamb has the potential to play any of the three receiver positions as a pro and should benefit greatly from the NFL’s continued movement toward college-style passing attacks,” his draft profile says.
“The 49ers’ brain trust have been so disciplined in acquiring talent at the wide receiver position over the past two seasons,” Schrager wrote. “They resisted swapping a top pick for Odell Beckham last offseason. They didn’t trade for or sign Antonio Brown when there was interest from the player a year ago. All that patience could pay off if Lamb falls to the 49ers at 13. Samuel and Lamb together? Watch out, NFC.”
CBS Sports
Updated April 1
Like NFL.com, CBS Sports provides mocks from six analysts. The latest to check in is Chris Trapasso, who also has the 49ers taking a receiver, but with a twist. Trapasso has San Francisco trading down with the Philadelphia Eagles and taking Baylor’s Denzel Mims with the 21st pick.
According to his profile, Mims is “a touchdown threat anytime he’s near the red zone. ... If the route work and intensity catch up with his natural athletic ability, he could become a dangerous ‘Z’ receiver in a vertical offense, but the floor might be lower than some teams are comfortable with.”
“Even after moving back, the 49ers were able to land one of the more explosive receivers in this class in Mims,” Trapasso wrote.
USA Today
Updated March 30
Draft analyst Nate Davis also likes Lamb for the 49ers.
“Lamb would be a far more dynamic option than departed WR Emmanuel Sanders and, alongside super soph Deebo Samuel, would provide coach Kyle Shanahan a young and formidable 1-2 punch for years,” he wrote.
Bleacher Report
Updated April 2
Joe Tansey’s mock doesn’t go into full detail with most of the picks, instead profiling three prospects to watch after his list. Tansey has Lamb going to the 49ers.
Walter Football
Updated April 2
Draft analyst Walter Cherepinsky makes frequent updates to his running mock. In his latest post, he has the 49ers taking Lamb.
“CeeDee Lamb is a terrific route runner with great hands. He’s been amazing this year and is now the No. 2 receiver on my board,” Cherepinsky wrote.
The Ringer
Updated March 25
Danny Kelly is the first analyst who has the 49ers looking to bolster their defense. He has South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw as the selection, pointing to his pocket-disrupting power as his “main selling point.”
Kinlaw “can be a disruptive force along the interior with that explosive first step and freaky physical gifts, but utilizing his heavy hands and plus length as a read-and-react 3-4 end might allow for improved technique, control and consistency,” according to his draft profile.
Kelly calls Kinlaw a “versatile defensive lineman with excellent length, strength, and get-off; consistently creates havoc in the backfield no matter where he lines up.”
San Diego Union-Tribune
Updated April 1
Eddie Brown changed things up a bit with his latest mock in honor of April Fools’ Day. The analyst, instead of giving his predictions, features what he believes “should” happen. Brown adds that all his mocks leading up to draft day will go back to what he thinks “will” happen.
For this mock, Brown has the 49ers selecting Jedrick Wills, an offensive lineman from Alabama. According to his draft profile, “Wills falls below the height/length norm for tackles, but his quick, well-timed punches and varied approach prevent defenders from finding rush rhythms and using length against him. ... His game is tailor-made for the NFL.”
“Top three wide receivers are off the board. Wills can begin his career at guard, helping to solidify a weak interior and take over for Joe Staley when he retires,” Brown wrote.