Barring something unexpected, Myles Garrett can begin researching the ins and outs of Cleveland. The Texas A&M standout looks destined to head to the Browns, who are not planning to unload the No. 1 pick for a quarterback.
The No. 2 choice, though, doesn’t appear nearly as certain. A number of talents could hear their names called when the 49ers or another team turns in the draft’s second player card.
San Francisco will be open to trading the No. 2 overall selection, which the Browns did last year in acquiring draft picks to send Carson Wentz to Philadelphia. The 49ers have needs at many positions after going 2-14 last season and having parted ways with their coach following the past three campaigns. They have been monitoring the quarterbacks in this class. They worked out Mitch Trubisky, and John Lynch attended Patrick Mahomes‘ pro day. The 49ers also visited with Garrett and Reuben Foster.
The team has short- and long-term questions at quarterback. The 49ers signed the 2016 Bears’ Nos. 2 and 3 quarterbacks in Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley, and Hoyer would probably be the starter as of now. But the team has also been connected to Kirk Cousins, and with a Redskins extension for the signal-caller not gaining any steam, might San Francisco be content to start Hoyer in this rebuilding season and either take the second-best player in the draft or add picks from another team? With ex-Redskins OC Kyle Shanahan now at the controls, the 49ers would seemingly be a top destination for Cousins in 2018. A third Washington franchise tag in ’18 is untenable, so no extension by July 15 could trigger a unique modern bidding war next year.
Players like Foster, edge man Solomon Thomas and interior defender Jonathan Allen have also been connected to the 49ers, who have used first-round picks fortifying their defensive interior — in Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner — the past two years. They are also switching to a 4-3 scheme after many years in base 3-4 looks. Their defense plummeted to No. 32 in the league last season, with just two players registering more than three sacks. Defensive backs Jamal Adams (LSU) and Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State) have been generating top-five buzz after the Combine, and the 49ers are thin in the secondary as well. Beyond quarterback, mock drafts are leaning to a potential impact defender going to San Francisco.
But would the 49ers, whose offense ranked 31st in 2016, be better unloading this coveted selection and gathering potential starters with the returns of a trade?
The Panthers are interested in acquiring the 49ers’ pick, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report notes, with the purpose of said swap being Thomas or Leonard Fournette. Other teams could also be pondering that move as well. It would almost certainly cost the Panthers their second-round pick (No. 40) and possibly their third-rounder as well, with certain value models requiring Carolina to surrender more assets to complete that deal. But Fournette probably isn’t going to go to the 49ers if they keep the pick.
Wentz was not believed to be a No. 2 overall-level talent until the Eagles pulled the trigger on their seminal trade. A quarterback-needy team could still be looking at a trade centered around taking Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer or even Mahomes — the quartet’s enduring scrutiny notwithstanding — and shake up the draft like the Titans, Browns, Rams and Eagles did last year. But these quarterbacks have not received the praise Jared Goff (and eventually Wentz) did, further complicating this draft.
So, where would the 49ers go with their selection? Should they take a quarterback and bypass a potential Cousins pursuit? Should they go with one of the impact front-seven Alabama stalwarts in Allen or Foster? Or after bolstering their defensive interior the past two years, is an edge threat like Thomas in the cards? Would another team make a deal to land one of the quarterbacks or Fournette? Take PFR’s latest poll to weigh in on this unique draft.
Foster is the clear cut, at least talent wise, I could see the niners going Thomas if they don’t like his character though.
This is a hard choice for the Niners. Buckner is highly likely to be a multi time pro bowler already, and armstead still has potential, Thomas isn’t a huge need and doesn’t really fit in the new scheme. Lattimore had one good season and is injury prone. Hooker can’t tackle, Allen same with Thomas and has shoulder problems. Adams I’m not sure about but safety isn’t s huge need either. Foster being injuried and his character is a little concerning. I would try to get more ammo in this draft and hope foster falls to 8 while getting pick #40 from the panthers
Malik Hooker can definitely tackle. You must not watch a lot of OSU games.
The 49ers needs playmakers on both sides of the ball. There isn’t an offensive player that’s worth taking this high in the draft, so trading back is definitely an option. They drafted well at the top last year landing Buckner – a difference maker with 73 tackles and 6.0 sacks in his rookie season. The 49ers are shifting from a 3-4 to a 4-3 under this season, and they will be looking for at least one edge rusher in this draft. Brooks and Lynch are both UFAs in 2018, and Brooks will be 33 this season.
I believe they address the weaker area of their defense – the Secondary. I have them selecting Adams – a hard hitting, no hesitation player. Eric Reid’s status going into next season may still be a question mark, making Adams that much more attractive as he can play both safety positions.
However, if they are uncomfortable going into the season with Brooks/Lynch at the Leo position look for Solomon Thomas at this spot. The biggest knock on Thomas would be his lack of production against Top-25 teams.
I feel Foster is the best talent in this draft even over Garrett Foster could be the next Pat Willis or Ray Lewis. Really talent wise no one compares just off field which if i was a GM id totally ignore the on field outweighs the off field
The 49ers, Skins & Pats all have QB issues.
The 49ers & Cousins want each other.
The Skins want a long term starting QB and have zero chance of extending Cousins.
The Pats want insurance against Brady’s injury/age risk but can’t afford extending Jimmy G if he is only a back up and do not want to get nothing for Garrapolo next yr if Brady continues to defy his age.
The solution is a three way trade — Cousins to SF, Hoyer (who knows the Pats playbook & is signed to a reasonable 2yr contract at back up rates) to the Pats and Garappolo to Wash with draft picks or other players to balance out the talent levels. Of course Cousins and Jimmy G would have to agree to extentions. For Cousins the 49ers 1st rd pick should be in play.
Fournette as the #2 overall pick seems like a stretch. He disappeared in big games & had injury issues. He’s got talent, but I don’t think he is worth what Carolina would have to give up to get him.
Fournette is pretty overrated. He reminds me of Ron Dayne or Brandon Jacobs. Is that #2 overall worthy? Is that top-15 worthy? Someone will take him but….
If you just look at games vs Top-25 teams, he only averaged 83 yards and .31 TDs. Compare that to Cook, Kamara, McCaffrey, Mixon, and Foreman… I’ve listed how I’d rank them:
1 – Cook – 133yd 1.25 TD 4.49 40yd
2 – Mixon 76yd .67 TD 4.50 40yd or 4.43 unofficial
3 – Fournette 83yd .31 TD 4.51 40yd
4 – McCaffrey 93yd .20 TD 4.48 40yd – WR Skillset ++
5 – Foreman 92yd .50 TD 4.45 40yd
6 – Kamara – 20yd .25 TD 4.56 40yd
The clear answer is to trade the pick, but other teams can do the same analysis and they will want to lowball the Niners on a trade. This looks like a draft where the value is in the middle and lower part of the first round, not the top.
Wouldn’t the only trade that makes sense involve Cousins + an Extension & I think they still need to add a pick.