Mock Draft Rebuild Series: San Francisco 49ers
Year after year, the San Francisco 49ers continue to put out one of the best teams in the NFL. An offense that is led by Christian McCaffery (Thanks Carolina), Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brock Purdy contends to be one of if not the best offenses in the league. On the defensive side? Oh yeah, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Charvarius Ward, and Talanoa Hufanga. Stars at almost every position, so one has to ask: What could they possibly add to get them over the hump and actually win the Super Bowl? Cornerback could use depth outside of Ward, and the Offensive Line is getting up there in age, but there is little that they need at this point.
As always, we will be using the PFF (Pro Football Focus) Mock Draft Simulator to assist us in this draft, as well as any PFF rankings that come with the upcoming class of rookies. Lets begin:
Round 1, Pick 31
Taking the best available player this late in the first round is a huge luxury, because the 49ers don’t have any “glaring” needs. Being able to add studs to the roster and not have them thrown into the fire from the jump is what allows them to be good year in and year out, regardless of who leaves in Free agency.
Pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama
McKinstry was a guy that I mocked earlier in the 1st round a few weeks ago. That is not to say that his draft stock has fallen, but others have risen above him based on the needs of the teams that pick earlier. He very well may hear his name called sooner than this, and no one would be surprised. Kool-Aid graded near the 90th percentile in both man coverage and zone coverage last season, and he wasn’t even the best defender on that Alabama team (Terrion Arnold and Dallas Turner). Kool-Aid McKinstry attacks each play mentally before physically, which allows him to be better than players that are better athletes than him. Should the 49ers be able to steal Kool-Aid in the first round, their defense would be even scarier than it is now.
Round 2, Pick 63
As all teams know, players get old and will eventually retire. Right now, the 49ers have an aging player at Right Guard with Jon Feliciano, and Center with Jake Brendel. While they do have depth behind those two players, the youth movement would allow them to bring in the future now, and not have to worry about replacing an aging player in the next year or two.
Pick: Zach Frazier, Center, West Virginia
Frazier is also a guy that I had mocked to earlier teams in the 2nd round, and fell not because of his stock, but because of other risers around him. Frazier grades near the 90th percentile in both run blocking and pass blocking, and would be an instant starter on about half of the teams in the NFL. The 49ers very may well be one of those teams, but he does not need to be a starter in his first year for them. Frazier would allow for the 49ers to move on from the aging aspects of their offense, keep their core together, and fill in with young, talented studs on the Offensive Line. Frazier would make for an excellent early Day 2 pick in this draft.
Round 3, Pick 94
It seems every draft, the 49ers add a Defensive Lineman who becomes a very good player for them at some point. Either in their first year, or near the end of their rookie contract that allows them to cash in elsewhere, the 49ers scouting department is second to none in this category. I expect them to go Defensive Line at some point during Day 2.
Pick: Ruke Orhorhoro, Defensive Line, Clemson
More of an interior defender, Orhorhoro grades near the 90th percentile in run defense grades, per PFF. He can also get after the Quarterback if needed, totaling 8 sacks in the last 2 seasons for Clemson. He will need to polish his Pass rush skills to be successful at the NFL level. Who better to learn from than Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, and Javon Hargrave? Orhorhoro will need to be drafted into the right situation to grow the way he needs to grow, and the 49ers are just the right spot for this defensive lineman.
Round 4
The 49ers have 3 fourth round picks in this draft, giving them a lot of potential to draft depth pieces, and maybe even hit on a starter or two if the right player falls.
Pick 124
Pick: Christian Mahogany, Guard, Boston College
Similar to Frazier, Mahogany was a guy that I had mocked earlier in multiple mock drafts, and would be a valuable option for a lot of NFL Franchises. Mahogany is solely a Right Guard, a place where the 49ers have another aging player in Jon Feliciano. They do have Spencer Burford behind, but he was demoted for Feliciano. For a team that loves to run the ball as much as the 49ers do, Mahogany would fit right in as run blocking is where he excels. His Pass protection needs some work, but put him between a solid Right Tackle and Center, and Mahogany can become a starting caliber Right Guard at the NFL level.
Pick 132
Pick: Theo Johnson, Tight End, Penn State
Much more of a run blocking Tight End than a pass catching one, Theo Johnson stands at 6’6, 264 lbs. He has the size to contend with Defensive Ends out on the edge, and he has showcased decent pass catching ability. With George Kittle, Theo Johnson would not need to be the lead guy, which would allow him to focus on what he does best: blocking. Bring Theo Johnson in on the goal line in run heavy formations, and now you have a guy that makes the offense in short yardage situations even deadlier.
Pick 135
Pick: Isaiah Adams, Tackle, Illinois
Isaiah Adams played Left Guard in 2022, and Right Tackle in 2023, showing his versatility as an Offensive Lineman. While Adams struggles in his pass protection, ranking near the 50th percentile in pass blocking grades per PFF, he ranks near 90th percentile in run blocking grades. Adams can move around the line to where NFL teams have a need, which gives him an edge in these later rounds. He will need to improve his pass blocking in order to maintain a longer NFL career, but he can be a solid depth piece in the early portions of his NFL stint.
Round 5, Pick 176
At this point, the 49ers are just playing with house money. A plethora of draft picks for one of the already most stacked teams in the NFL, it is easy to pencil them in for the NFCCG next season already. For their last 3-4 picks, it is all about depth, and taking guys that they believe in, and who will buy into their system.
Pick: Cody Schrader, Running Back, Missouri
Schrader has the versatility to make a lot of noise in the NFL, and he has probably been mocked to about half of the NFL teams so far. What the 49ers could use him as, is a change of pace back to be a 1-2 punch with Christian McCaffery. Standing at only 5’9, Schrader is near the smallest NFL backs from this past season. Even so, he racked up over 1600 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in the SEC. Schrader is going to succeed in the NFL, regardless of where he is drafted. If it is to the 49ers, the league needs to watch out.
Round 6
Two more picks in the 6th round for San Francisco. Anyone who wants to know how to run a NFL franchise, look at this team, and how John Lynch has done a masterful job.
Pick 211
Pick: McKinnley Jackson, Defensive Line, Texas A&M
McKinnley Jackson is a guy that has potential to go as high as the 4th round if things play right, but also as low as being undrafted. Primarily an A gap defender last year for the Aggies, Jackson has also played substantial time as a B gap defender in his collegiate career. Jackson isn’t going to wow anyone with his athleticism, his size, or his speed, but he is very capable as an interior run defender, and has shown the ability to get after the Quarterback in certain situations. Putting Jackson into a rotation such as the 49ers would allow him to excel in situational football, and help him grow as a defender.
Pick 215
Pick: AJ Barner, Tight End, Michigan
Similar to Theo Johnson, Barner is a run defending Tight End, and won’t threaten much in the passing game. That being said, the 49ers love run heavy formations, and adding another end line blocker like Barner would allow them to dip deeper into that bag in certain games. Christian McCaffery is the lifeblood of this 49ers team. Giving him good blockers is a good recipe for success.
Round 7, Pick 251
Their final pick of the 2024 NFL draft comes near the back end of the 7th round. Finding developmental talent and guys that can be solid special teams players is what most NFL teams look for at this point, and the 49ers are no different.
Pick: Jaylin Simpson, Safety, Auburn
Simpson has a Cornerback’s background, which aids him in his already stellar coverage grade (87.4 per PFF, near 99th percentile). Simpson played Safety for the first time last season for Auburn, having played Cornerback the previous 4 seasons. He has the capability to play slot Corner in the NFL, but he will have to get smoother in his transitions at the second level. Simpson joining a loaded secondary is key, and the 49ers certainly have that. Simpson is also a guy that can easily be an Undrafted player, so it would not shock me if he does not hear his name called.
The 49ers are in a much better spot than most in the NFL, they just need to get over the hump and break their Super Bowl victory drought (Longer than the Dallas Cowboys). Should the 49ers have a draft similar to this one, they would be primed to come out of the NFC once again, and should the match up with someone not named Patrick Mahomes, they would be the favorites to win the Lombardi trophy come next February.
This is the final NFC team for the Mock Draft Rebuild Series. Next up we move to the AFC South. First up, the Houston Texans.
