Who might the 49ers grab with the 13th pick in the NFL draft? Looks like a 2-man race
The NFL draft is less than week away. While the format will be a change from the norm, what remains the same will be 32 former collegiate student athletes hearing their names called on the event’s first day as they become professional football players.
For the 49ers, it’s looking like a two-man race for the first of their two opening-round picks.
San Francisco is widely expected to grab a wide receiver at No. 13 overall, a selection acquired in a trade which sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts.
National analysts are predicting that choice will be either Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy or Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb.
Jeudy, who finished his junior season with 77 receptions for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns, “can play inside or outside but offers a unique ability to both widen or lengthen the field from the slot,” according to his draft profile on NFL.com. “His transition from deep threat to volume target in 2019 should help sell teams on his ability to become a Pro Bowl-caliber WR1.”
Lamb, who also was a junior this past season, caught 15 fewer passes than Jeudy, but was sixth in the nation with 1,327 yards and fifth in receiving touchdowns with 14.
“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 states.
Analysts expect the 49ers to take a receiver to complement Deebo Samuel after Emmanuel Sanders left to join the New Orleans Saints via free agency.
The 49ers also have the 31st pick in the NFL draft, which kicks off Thursday. Should they keep both selections and not try to trade down for more choices – San Francisco has no picks in rounds 2 through 4 this year – here’s what draft analysts think the team could do with those spots:
ESPN
Updated April 14
Longtime draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. hadn’t chimed in with a mock in more than three weeks before Tuesday’s post. He still has the 49ers taking a wide receiver, but has changed his mind who that pass catcher will be.
In his latest mock draft, Kiper has San Francisco taking Lamb, shifting the selection from Jeudy.
“I love this pick for the 49ers, who lost Emmanuel Sanders in free agency,” Kiper wrote. “Lamb is a big-play threat and a technician as a route runner, and he’d be a great complement to the versatility of Deebo Samuel.”
Kiper has the 49ers using the 31st pick to select Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.
(Note: An ESPN+ subscription is required to see Kiper’s full analysis.)
NFL.com
Updated April 15
The league’s official website provides mock drafts from nine analysts, but more than half of them haven’t filed updates this month. The most recent post comes from Peter Schrager, 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.”
“Ruggs over Jerry Jeudy? In Kyle Shanahan’s offense, I can see it,” Schrager wrote. “That 4.27 speed could be the perfect complement to what Deebo Samuel brings to the table. Ruggs isn’t just a burner, either: He runs routes, has excellent hands and can do the little things.”
Schrager has the 49ers choosing TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock at 31.
CBS Sports
Updated April 15
Like NFL.com, CBS Sports provides mocks from multiple analysts. R.J. White’s post Thursday is the most recent from the staff, but since he has the 49ers trading the pick, we’ll go with Chris Trapasso, who updated his mock on Wednesday.
Trapasso also has San Francisco drafting Lamb.
“Kyle Shanahan probably loves YAC (yards after the catch) ability more than any other coach in the league, and Lamb is the best YAC wideout in this class by a wide margin,” Trapasso has previously written about Lamb going to the 49ers.
Trapasso has the 49ers taking Michigan center Cesar Ruiz with the opening round’s penultimate pick.
USA Today
Updated April 14
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz didn’t change either of his 49ers selections from last week. In his most recent mock, he still has San Francisco taking Jeudy.
“It doesn’t seem coincidental that San Francisco situated itself in this slot after giving up DeForest Buckner to the Colts. Perfectly aligned to find the go-to receiver they’ve long lacked, the 49ers might have a nice fit waiting in Jeudy, whose route-running acumen will come in handy early in his transition to the pros,” Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote Tuesday.
Middlehurst-Schwartz is keeping San Francisco on Jeff Gladney, a cornerback out of TCU, with the 31st pick.
Sports Illustrated
Updated April 15
Draft analyst Mark Morales-Smith has high praise for Lamb, whom he believes the 49ers will take with the 13th pick.
“In most drafts, Lamb would be the first wideout off the board. However, this draft may rival some of the best receiver classes of all-time,” wrote Morales-Smith, who has Jeudy going one pick earlier to the Las Vegas Raiders. “His versatility allows him to play any of the receiver positions and be a major playmaker on all three levels. He has everything it takes to be a star WR1 in this league and could be precisely what the 49ers are looking for to put them over the top.”
Morales-Smith has San Francisco using the 31st pick on Oklahoma defensive lineman Neville Gallimore.
Walter Football
Updated April 15
Draft analyst Walter Cherepinsky makes frequent updates to his mock. In his most recent post, he changes his pick from Lamb to Jeudy.
“Jerry Jeudy isn’t the elite freak that Julio Jones was, but he’s also considered better than Calvin Ridley,” Cherepinsky wrote, referencing the Atlanta Falcons’ top two receivers. “(Jeudy is) somewhere in between, so he’s expected to be chosen in the 8-13 range. I’m sure the 49ers will love his great character and high football IQ.”
Cherepinsky still has the 49ers taking Ruiz at 31.
The Ringer
Updated April 13
Despite updating his mock from last week, analyst Danny Kelly doesn’t change his picks for San Francisco.
At 13, he likes Auburn defensive tackle 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 15
Draft analyst Eddie Brown is sticking with his 13th pick from last week. He still has Jeudy going to the 49ers.
“Jeudy and coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme are a perfect match,” Brown wrote. “He’s a route technician who has elite speed (a rare combination).”
Brown changed his 31st pick and now has the 49ers taking Igbinoghene.
Bleacher Report
Updated April 15
Zach Buckley’s mock doesn’t go into full detail with the picks, instead profiling three prospects to watch after his list. The analyst also has Jeudy going to the 49ers.
Buckley tabs Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland as San Francisco’s selection at 31.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 12:52 PM.