49ers Draft DT Jer'Zhan Newton in Latest Mock Draft

The 49ers always prioritize their defensive line over everything else, even when their defensive line is strong.

Round 1 of the upcoming NFL Draft is eight days away and the leading analysts in the industry still have no clue what position the 49ers will address in Round 1.

First, they said offensive tackle. Then they said wide receiver. Now it's defensive tackle, according to The Athletic's Dane Brugler, who projects the 49ers to take Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton in Round 1 of his latest mock draft.

"Regardless of their perceived top needs, the 49ers are always looking for upgrades on the defensive line," Brugler writes. "Newton doesn’t have ideal size for what San Francisco wants (similar to how he fits in most schemes), but his disruptive nature and relentless play personality are qualities that help him overcome average measurements."

Brugler's logic checks out. The 49ers always prioritize their defensive line over everything else, even when their defensive line is strong. They just spent all of free agency revamping it. They let five players go and brought in four new ones at the position. And yet they absolutely could spend their first pick on another defensive tackle.

Maliek Collins could be a one-year stop gap considering he has no guaranteed money left on his contract next year. So the 49ers could draft Newton now to replace Collins then. And in the meantime, Newton could back up Collins, because the 49ers like to play at least eight defensive linemen in every game.

The 49ers like to stick to their roster-building blueprint even though it still hasn't produced a Lombardi Trophy. I don't see them changing now.