Looking At 49ers Draft After Early Free Agency

The free agent moves add clarity to the draft.

The key moves in free agency are complete, and now the 49ers' focus turns to the draft. With about $6 million remaining in cap space, the team is expected to shop for depth while hoping a productive veteran edge is willing to ring chase for a cheaper one-year deal. The free agent moves add clarity to the draft.

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Signing Sam Darnold is a hedge against Trey Lance’s play and Brock Purdy’s health, but he’s also Super Bowl ante as the Niners anticipate a change in the league rules to allow three quarterbacks to suit up on game day. The team will need a fourth QB, but one who won’t be poached from the practice squad, making this pick a 7th rounder or undrafted free agent. Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA), Clayton Tune (Houston), and Malik Robinson (Louisville) are potential targets.

Running Back: Already four deep, picking a running back would seem to be a luxury, but this is a talented draft class. A fast home run threat would be a nice piece to add after the 3r round. East Carolina’s Keaton Mitchell has 4.37 speed with great contact balance, but he would require a move into the mid-to-late 4th. Oklahoma’s Eric Gray and Chase Brown of Illinois are additional options.

Wide Receiver: The 49ers met with Ronnie Bell at Michigan’s pro day. 5-11/191 with a big catch radius and vertical, good hands, and YAC ability. He’s projected for late 5th-early 6th. Both Stanford receivers could get a look, along with speedster Bryce Ford-Wheaton of West Virginia.

Tight End: Austin Hooper is available in free agency, a past 49ers target. However, he turns 29 in October, and this is the best tight end draft class in years. The Niners met with most of the tight ends at Indy and I think they could and should double down for a receiver and a blocker.

Fan favorites such as Iowa’s Sam LaPorta and Georgia’s Darnell Washington are long gone before the Niners first pick at No. 99. However, receiving threats Tucker Kraft of South Dakota State, Payne Durham of Purdue, and Zach Kuntz of Old Dominion, who tested well at Indy, are options. The No. 2 blocker in the class, Luke Schoonmaker of Michigan, should be available in the late third.

Interior Offensive Line: Center is set, but Daniel Brunskill was lost to free agency and his versatility needs to be replaced. That could be in free agency, but the draft has solid options in the later rounds including Oregon’s Alex Forsyth.

Offensive Tackle: Right tackle is the center of fan angst as the Faithful don’t have it in Colton McKivitz. “Trade up, we don’t need 11 picks!” Problem is two late 3rd-round picks from this draft and a 2024 2nd won’t get to the early 30s where the last Day 1 starting tackles go off the board. A smaller move up in the 3rd for Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan or BYU’s Blake Freeland is a possibility.

If the Niners stay put, and Duncan and Freeland are gone, they are better off passing on tackles in the third and drafting one later. Some fans will insist on taking a right tackle in the third regardless given the need, but unless Duncan or Freeland are there, it’s not BPA.

The solution at right tackle is in the Niners history – a mid-season trade at the deadline. Christian McCaffrey, Charles Omenihu, Emmanuel Sanders, the Niners have had success with this move and need to do it again. They have the full complement of picks in 2024 and at least five comp picks that will give them the assets and flexibility to get a deal done.

DEFENSE

Edge: Impact players are still available in free agency but are likely outside the Niners price range. Fortunately, this draft class is deep and fast, the Niners could double up here. Tennessee’s Byron Young ran 4.43 at Indy but he may drop to the late third due to age, he just turned 25. YaYa Diaby of Louisville has traits Kris Kocurek likes, fast burst off the line (a 1.56 10), strong punch, good balance and counters, high motor. He’s projected for mid-4th, maybe in a trade back from the 3rd.

The Niners met with Ikenna Enachukwu of Rice at the combine, he has a nice blend of size and speed. Everyone’s favorite sleeper Jose Ramirez of Eastern Michigan had 12 sacks. Draft mock simulators have him going in the 7th but current projections have him at late 5th-early 6th, he led Indy at 3-cone.

Defensive Tackle: After signing Javon Hargrave, and keeping T.Y. McGill and Kevin Givens, the Niners are set here. Big things are also expected from injury redshirt Kalia Davis.

Linebacker: After losing Azeez Al-Shaair, the Niners could draft a replacement late. Utah’s Mohamoud Diabate and Indiana’s Cam Jones fit the 49ers blueprint, both are projected for the mid-6th round.

Defensive Back: We’ve learned from free agency that new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks values versatility in the secondary, athletes who can play both safety and corner. Defensive back no longer appears to be a need, but Wilks may have an eye for a developmental player late in the draft.

Safety: Two safeties have been signed. That said, Tashaun Gipson is likely in his final year. The Niners need a young free safety to form a long-term duo with Talanoa Hufanga, and quite possibly start. Wilks likes to blitz more frequently than DeMeco Ryans. Penn State’s Ji’Ayir Brown had 4.5 sacks this year, plus 1.5 in the Rose Bowl. He also had nine interceptions and led the team in tackles. He’s the best fit for Wilks defense, but Hall of Fame safety John Lynch has only drafted one safety in the first three rounds, Tavarius Moore in the 3rd in 2018.

Kicker: Jake Moody made his case at Michigan’s Pro Day, going 12-for-13 with a long of 63 yards. Still no word of progress on the 49ers talks with Robbie Gould. Eddy Pineiro remains unsigned in free agency, he made 94 percent of his kicks last year and Wilks can provide insight, having coached him last year at Carolina.

Next time: Mock 1.0.