After the NFL Combine, the San Francisco 49ers now have all the info they need to reload and make another run in this full, seven-round mock draft.
The San Francisco 49ers had their season ended in tragic fashion as they went in to Philadelphia with two healthy quarterbacks and ended the day with none. The team had perhaps the most talented roster in the NFC — with the exception of the quarterback position — and they now face the tall task of reloading to make another run in a wide open conference.
To do so they will have to address some of the weaknesses on the offensive line, which were exposed by the ferocious Eagles’ pass rush. Many potential issues on defense are a product of free agency and the natural turnover that comes with the modern game.
San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft: Retooling the Roster for Another Super Bowl Run
What makes this particular rebuild (or reload) is that the 49ers, as of this mock draft, won’t be coming to the podium until the No. 99 overall pick. San Fran went all in on Trey Lance and Christian McCaffrey in recent years, costing much of its early-round draft capital. However, John Lynch has a solid track record of finding talent on days two and three.
With that in mind, let’s dive into a full, seven-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers.
99. Sydney Brown, S, Illinois
With the safety cupboard a little bare thanks to some pending departures in free agency, the 49ers know that they will have to use an early pick to address the position and solidify the rotation. They use the No. 99 overall pick in this mock draft on safety Sydney Brown out of Illinois.
Brown is considered by many mock draft experts as a late second-round pick so grabbing him at 99 is a potentially great value. Brown is a bit shorter than you like in a safety at 5-foot-9 but he has some bulk to him as he weighs in at 211 pounds. His forty time is in the top 20% at his position at 4.47 seconds and he looks the part as a hard-hitting safety with great ball skills.
The former Fighting Illini defender is an experienced player, having spent five years at Illinois. This shows up on his tape through his ability to read defenses and understand complex coverages. He is a reliable tackler that’s not afraid of contact, and despite his size, is always willing to mix things up near the line of scrimmage.
The only concerns about him are related to his technique, as his footwork can be sloppy at times, but that can be coached out of him. He is a very talented and athletic player and if he can play bigger than his listed height, then he would be a great addition to this 49ers defense.
100. Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama
One of the most maligned players on the 49ers was right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who was the unfortunate victim of several highlight reels for pass rushers playing against San Francisco. Right tackle has been a need for the team as McGlinchey has not lived up to expectations there, so the 49ers use the No. 100 overall pick to address that position by grabbing Tyler Steen out of Alabama.
Steen is shorter than McGlinchey but has a bit more heft to him as he is currently listed about 15 pounds heavier and that additional weight should allow him to hold up better in pass protection. The Florida native started his career at Vanderbilt and played three seasons there at right and left tackle before transferring to Alabama as a senior and continue to play left tackle.
Obviously, the transition from right to left tackle is not as simple as it sounds, but Steen does have a season of experience on the right side and can slot in there from day one if he lives up to his measurables. He has consistently shown the ability to anchor against powerful pass rushers while also showcasing enough athleticism to make blocks at the second level.
Some scouts are concerned that he may rely too heavily on his physical gifts and his shorter arms and wingspan may make him susceptible to longer-limbed pass rushers. There’s nothing the 49ers can do about his potential physical limitations, but they can coach up his technique and allow him to use his size and strength to negate those limitations.
101. Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern
In recent years the 49ers have become known for featuring one of the most fearsome defensive lines in the NFL. The combination of Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa has been absolutely devastating for opposing offenses, but you can never have enough defensive linemen and pass rushers.
This mock draft, perhaps, needs to be updated after his impressive performance at the NFL Combine, but we take advantage of the opportunity and grab Adetomiwa Adebawore out of Northwestern with the No. 101 overall pick. AD became one of the stars of the Combine after running a ridiculous 4.49 40-yard dash, despite measuring in at 6-foot-1 and 282 pounds.
Adebawore has the skill set that teams look for in an explosive pass rusher and he has the type of athleticism that coaches dream of. He has a respectable 11 sacks over his last two seasons and can come in and become an immediate situational pass rusher opposite Nick Bosa. Though he doesn’t have ideal length that you look for in a pass rusher, he has incredible strength and was on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for his 30 bench reps and other mind-boggling times in other Combine events.
It’s unlikely that he will last until the third round after the way that he tested, but if he is available at this point, then Adebawore could become the next great defensive player in San Francisco. His presence would also take some of the pressure off Bosa, who is of course, coming off a Defensive Player of the Year Award but has also dealt with injuries over his career.
157. Alex Forsyth, OC, Oregon
The San Francisco 49ers have some major question marks on the interior offensive line. Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford have played well, but are they long term answers at the position? Even if they are, offensive line depth is always a must and using the No. 157 overall pick on Alex Forsyth out of Oregon helps in a number of ways.
Forsyth played center primarily for Oregon, but he has experience playing both right guard and left guard in the past. Most interior offensive linemen can play all three positions, though there are some unique skills required for playing center. Grabbing Forsyth at this point in the mock draft allows the 49ers to address a potential need at guard and also gives them an insurance policy at center.
Forsyth has solid size at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds and has shown an ability to consistently make blocks at the second level. He has enough quickness and athleticism to attack linebackers in space and is not a plodder like some of the other linemen in this class.
The former Duck won’t be a day one starter, but he won’t have to be, given the talent in front of him. He has the measurables and talent to be a regular starter for San Francisco eventually.
166. Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland
We wouldn’t describe cornerback as an immediate need for the 49ers considering the talent they have in Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, but you can never have enough talented defensive backs on your roster. With the No. 166 overall pick, the Niners grab one of the fastest players in this year’s class in Jakorian Bennett out of Maryland.
Bennett is a bit undersized at 5-foot-10 and 188 pounds but he has incredible speed, having ran a 4.3 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. This speed has gotten him a mention on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, as has his vertical and broad jump, being in the 95th or better percentile at his position.
The former Terrapin won’t overwhelm you with physicality, but he is a willing tackler and his elite speed allows him to make plays from sideline-to-sideline. He may rely a bit too much on his speed, but the Niners development staff will make changing that a priority. That same speed can allow him to contribute straight away on special teams and he can make an impact from day one.
173. Jaxon Player, DT, Baylor
Similar to cornerback, defensive tackle is not the most pressing need for the 49ers, but Arik Armstead has dealt with some injuries and Javon Kinlaw has not lived up to expectations, so an influx of talent is needed there. Jaxon Player out of Baylor is an intriguing prospect who may be raw around the edges but has plenty of talent and ability.
With the No. 173 overall pick in this mock draft, the 49ers grab the stout defensive tackle and hope that he provides some great depth at the very least. Player was a three-star prospect coming out of high school and spent four years at Tulsa before transferring to Baylor as a fifth-year senior. He was a rotational player for the Bears but showed a great motor, high effort, and solid burst and quickness when needed.
Player measures in at 6-foot and 300 pounds and ran an impressive 4.8 second 40-yard dash. Scouts are split on his draft stock as some have him as a day three pick while others have him going undrafted. What makes Player intriguing is that he provides some interior pass rush and he uses his quickness and athleticism with great effect. He will need some coaching and development of his pass rush repertoire but the physical talent is there and provides a great foundation for him to become an impact player.
216. Noah Ruggles, K, Ohio State
Longtime kicker Robbie Gould announced that he would not be returning to the 49ers next year, so a position that San Francisco has not worried about for years is now a position of need. It’s not typical for a team to draft a kicker but we make an exception here and grab the player many believe is the best in the mock draft at his position: Noah Ruggles out of Ohio State.
Ruggles was one of the best kickers in the country last year as he went 74-75 on extra points and 17-20 on field goals over 13 games. Overall in his career, he went 196-197 on extra points and improved greatly from a 70% success rate in three years at North Carolina to just over 90% in two years at Ohio State.
Most fans will remember his miss in the College Football Playoff against Georgia, but he was 5-5 from extra point in that game and hit a clutch 48-yarder earlier in that fourth quarter to extend Ohio State’s lead. He has played in big games and in high pressure situations and should be able to maintain that standard of excellence in San Francisco.
224. Tashawn Manning, OG, Kentucky
Similar to the reasoning behind drafting Alex Forsyth, the 49ers need to continue to improve their depth and talent on the interior offensive line and the late rounds are a great place to do that. They do so in this mock draft by using the No. 224 overall pick on interior lineman, Tashawn Manning, out of Kentucky.
Manning started his college career at Auburn and played four seasons with the Tigers before transferring to Kentucky as a fifth-year senior. He played both right and left guard over the course of his career, though the majority of his snaps in his last season were on the right side.
Scouts rave about his nasty demeanor and his violent approach to blocking in the run game, which will help him fit in right away in San Francisco. He is solidly built at 6-foot-3 and 327 pounds and has long arms and a massive wingspan to create separation from defensive linemen. There are some concerns about his ability in space, but given some time in the Shanahan development system, he should be able to contribute fairly soon.
249. Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
George Kittle is the headliner at tight end, but the 49ers may be in the market for a backup with Ross Dwelly likely leaving in free agency. In steps Davis Allen out of Clemson who has prototypical height and size at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds. The 49ers grab him here with the No. 249 overall pick in this mock draft.
Allen has developed into a very good blocker over his Clemson career and has shown a natural pass-catching ability during his time there as well. He won’t blow you away with his measurables or his statistics, but he is the type of big body tight end that can make an immediate impact in this offense.
The former Clemson Tiger has solid speed for his size at 4.84 and has the type of fluidity and body control you look for in a tight end. He has great athleticism in other ways as his 38.5-inch vertical jump was second in his position group at the combine and his broad jump of ten feet, five inches was good enough for fourth. This combination of athletic traits and football intelligence make him an intriguing prospect that could develop into something special.
255. Elijah Higgins, WR, Stanford
The 49ers love big body receivers and we wrap up this mock draft with the selection of Elijah Higgins out of Stanford with the No. 255 overall pick. Higgins measures in at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds and is one of the bigger receivers in this draft class with a weight in the 99th percentile at the position.
The Texas native ran an impressive 4.5 40-yard dash, which doesn’t sound like much but is incredible considering his height and weight. He is another player that is a member of Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for being one of the fastest players in the Stanford program despite his size.
The Shanahan offense asks a lot from its wide receivers, especially in the run game, and we can imagine a player with this size and frame can do a lot of damage if he has the right attitude. Higgins also gives this offense a jump ball threat in the red zone and his run after the catch ability should make him an instant fit.
He may be buried down the depth chart quite a bit thanks to the talented players in this group, but his unique combination of size and speed will help him become a difference maker on this team.