As the NFL draft goes virtual, who could the 49ers connect with in the first round?
The NFL draft is just two weeks away, but this year’s event will be much different than what football teams, prospects and fans are used to.
The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has forced the league to go away from its annual fan-friendly gathering. But, as other sporting events have been postponed or canceled, the NFL on Monday said the draft will proceed as scheduled – in a virtual format.
“Clubs have been advised to prepare to conduct the 2020 Draft entirely outside of their facilities and in a fully virtual format, with club personnel in separate locations and able to communicate with one another and Draft headquarters by phone or internet,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a league-wide memo. “... This will confirm that Clubs will conduct their Draft operations remotely, with club personnel separately located in their homes.”
In a bid to help battle the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, the league will raise money for charities with a “Draft-A-Thon” scheduled to run as live coverage of the draft is aired on ABC, NFL Network, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
As the league takes measures to keep people safe and uses the draft to provide funds to help fight the pandemic, NFL teams will look at the best options to boost their rosters.
The 49ers have the 13th and 31st picks of the opening round of the draft, which kicks off April 23. Assuming they don’t deal away either choice for more picks (they aren’t slated to draft in rounds 2 through 4), most national analysts have changed their outlook from last week. Here’s the latest look at what they think the 49ers could do with those selections:
ESPN
Updated April 9
In their latest post, draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay went away from doing mocks based on the draft order, instead going head-to-head in what they called their “2020 all-prospect superteams.” Kiper had the odd-number selections, so in this scenario he’d have both 49ers picks.
At 13, Kiper selected Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson as a way to combat McShay’s earlier wide receiver selections.
According to Henderson’s draft profile on NFL.com, he’s a “silky smooth boundary cornerback with mirror-and-match footwork and the agility and athleticism to stay connected to routes ... and has CB1 ability as a first-rounder.”
“I’ll counter your taking the top two wide receivers by drafting the top two cornerbacks in this class,” Kiper wrote to McShay. “With (Ohio State’s Jeff) Okudah and Henderson, I’m getting two long defensive backs who are going to lock down your guys in man-to-man coverage. And they’re going to pick off a few passes.”
Kiper took Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet at No. 31, but the 49ers likely wouldn’t use a first-rounder on that position with 2019 first-team All-Pro George Kittle in the starting lineup.
(Note: An ESPN+ subscription is required to see Kiper and McShay’s full analysis.)
NFL.com
Updated April 7
The league’s official website provides mock drafts from eight analysts. The most recent post comes from Daniel Jeremiah, who has the 49ers selecting Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III.
According to his draft profile, 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.”
“Let’s take a minute and just imagine Ruggs in the hands of a creative play-caller like Kyle Shanahan,” Jeremiah wrote.
Jeremiah has the 49ers choosing TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock at 31.
CBS Sports
Updated April 9
Like NFL.com, CBS Sports provides mocks from multiple analysts. The latest to check in is Pete Prisco, who also has the 49ers taking an Alabama receiver: 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.”
“The 49ers need help outside and Jeudy is the most-polished of the receiving group. He would be a nice addition to Kyle Shanahan’s offense,” Prisco wrote.
With the 31st overall pick, Prisco puts San Francisco on Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell.
USA Today
Updated April 6
Draft analyst Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz also has the 49ers grabbing Jeudy with the 13th pick.
“Kyle Shanahan’s pre-San Francisco offenses typically featured a No. 1 wideout who was fed heavily,” he wrote. “Grabbing Jeudy, a polished yet explosive pass catcher, would give the 49ers the go-to outside threat that has long been missing.”
Middlehurst-Schwartz has San Francisco using the 31st pick on Jeff Gladney, a cornerback out of TCU.
Bleacher Report
Updated April 8
Zach Buckley’s mock doesn’t go into full detail with most of the picks, instead profiling three prospects to watch after his list. The analyst also has Jeudy going to the 49ers.
Buckley does expand on the man he has the 49ers taking with the 31st pick: Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa. His draft profile states he’s “a skilled rusher whose diversity of attack, skilled hands and unique bull-rushing instincts could help him deliver his college sack production in the pros. He can play end in a 4-3 or 3-4 and could leap from good to great with additional work on technique and explosiveness.”
“If teams want to invest early picks on unpolished physical specimens, someone should gladly take Epenesa as the superior football player and somehow discounted prospect,” Buckley wrote.
Walter Football
Updated April 7
Draft analyst Walter Cherepinsky makes frequent updates to his mock. In his latest post, he doesn’t change his mind from last week and keeps the 49ers on Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
“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.
“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.
Cherepinsky has the 49ers taking Michigan center Cesar Ruiz with the opening round’s penultimate pick.
The Ringer
Updated April 8
As he did in his previous mock, draft analyst Danny Kelly has the 49ers looking at a defensive lineman with the 13th pick.
This time Kelly is putting San Francisco on Auburn’s Derrick Brown, pointing to his pocket-smashing power as his “main selling point.” Brown’s draft profile praises his “rare combination of size and disruptive traits” and states his “upright rush style means he might be more of a pressure rusher than a sack-man, but he should keep improving as a rusher with more dedication to the craft.”
Kelly calls Brown an “extraordinarily strong interior lineman who dominates against the run and can create havoc in the pocket.”
Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson is Kelly’s choice as the 31st overall pick.
San Diego Union-Tribune
Updated April 8
Draft analyst Eddie Brown chalks up another selection for Jeudy at 13.
“Jeudy and coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme are a perfect match,” Brown wrote.
At 31, Brown has the 49ers taking Trevon Diggs, a cornerback from Alabama.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 12:23 PM.