49ers Mock Offseason 1.0: What They Should Do
Following the NFL Draft Combine, the draft now comes into focus on who will be available when. It’s sobering for the 49ers as players they targeted moved up with great test numbers.
I’m assuming the 49ers go ahead with reported plans to restructure Arik Armstead, Fred Warner, and Charvarius Ward. I wouldn’t do that with Armstead, but it seems likely. I would add Christian McCaffrey, or at least consider him as an option if they need more cap space.
WHAT I'D DO
So who are you, Rando? I only have history on my side. At Niners Nation leading up to the Mike McGlinchey draft, I was the guy pounding the table for Derwin James against nearly the entire board. My crushes last year were Jalen Pitre and Breece Hall.
FREE AGENCY
1. Kaleb McGary (ATL) RT at $14M per, four years. The realistic draft choices at tackle are good not great: OT Jaelyn Duncan and Blake Freeland. Six OTs go in the first, and the Niners can only crack the Top 50 by trading 2024 picks. They might consider moving up, but the first round is out of reach.
The 49ers running game is decidedly left-handed, adding McGary makes the running game ambidextrous and less predictable. McGary is the No. 2 rated OT run blocker in the league behind Trent Williams. He’s less effective in pass pro but still solid. Chances: Near zero. The Niner cap blueprint looks to save at RT.
2. Cameron Sutton (PIT) DB at $7.6M per, three years. The Niners want to keep Emmanuel Moseley but that could cost them over $16M per. Sutton was rated slightly higher by PFF, costs half, and hasn’t missed a game in four years. Would I rather have Moseley and Colton McKivitz or Sutton and McGary? The latter. Easily. Chances: The second choice to Moseley, but they want E-Man back and it’s rumored.
3. Marcus Mariota (ATL) QB at $2.5M, one year. The test is simple, if this QB is in the NFC Championship could he have won it? That’s the bar. Bosa is no fan of Mayfield, think. Chances: Low.
4. Eddy Pineiro (CAR) K at 1.2M per, three years. Hit 94 percent of his field goals with a long of 54. Not a big touchback guy though. Could also draft Jake Moody from Michigan, 59 yarder v. TCU, 83% this year, 92% last year.
Internal re-signings: Tashaun Gipson ($2M) Jordan Willis ($1.3M), T.Y. McGill ($0.3M).
Other Possibilities: Edges such as Arden Key and Robert Quinn if they’re willing to sign relatively cheap one-year deals. With room, I’d look at Dante Fowler in Dallas, 4.6 speed, solid sacks, hits, and assists.
DRAFT
Trade up: I call Ran Carthon at Tennessee and offer a package of No. 102, 2024 2nd and 4th for No. 41. I take my draft crush Mazi Smith (Michigan) DT. The Niners have to go through Philly and Kansas City, they have to negate their All-Pro centers. The Niners replace D.J. Jones with an impact nose tackle. Smith led the Combine in bench reps at 34, he’s run the shuttle a tenth faster than everyone at Indy. He’s No. 1 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list. Michigan owned the middle, 3rd in the country vs. the run. Smith was a key reason why. And he’s lost 14 pounds. Chances: Zero.
Turned down on dealing up for Mazi I keep it simple and don’t trade out. Players can still rise and fall from pro days, this is somewhat optimistic in who will be available when.
99. Olu Oluwatimi (Michigan) C 6-3/306. The Niners redshirt linemen to build them up to NFL starter strength. Oluwatimi is already at elite strength. Smart, a run driver, no sacks allowed, and a four-year starter at center.
100. Byron Young (Tennessee) Edge 6-2/250. The speed edge they need, if he lasts. 4.43 40, 7.19 3-Cone. Needs lower body power and technique. Clay for Kris Kocurek to mold.
102. Ji’Ayir Brown (Penn State) Safety 5-11/203. Competitive greatness wins playoff games. Brown was the Rose Bowl Defensive MVP with a pick, 1.5 sacks and eight tackles. 10 picks in two years. Penn State’s leading tackler. Not that fast in the 40 at 4.65 but quick in the 10 at 1.56. A playmaker and a leader.
157. Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan) TE 6-5/251 The 2nd best blocking TE in the draft, a defacto OL for Michigan. No YAC ability, can work the seam and that’s it.
166. Cameron Young (Mississippi State) DT 6-3/304. Puts his 34.5 arms to work with heavy hands and a punch. Not a pass rusher but holds his ground against the run with a powerful core. He needs leverage technique.
173. Mohamoud Diabate (Utah) LB 6-4/222. Ex-Florida. Accelerates, shoots the gap, flows to the ball and hits. Sounds familiar. Agile with good coverage skills.
216. Jose Ramirez (Eastern Michigan) Edge 6-2/242. One of my sleepers. A situational pass rusher only. He had 12 sacks, 19 TFL and two forced fumbles. Led Indy at 3-Cone in 6.95, good 10 speed at 1.63.
224. Brayden Willis (Oklahoma) H-Back/TE/FB 6-4/239. A mismatch weapon for Kyle Shanahan that can line up anywhere. 4.75 with a big catch radius, high motor, decent blocker but needs to add power. It's a risk that he's still on the board this late.
UDFA:
Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA) QB 6-1/191 Productive and athletic, needs work on his mechanics.
Desjuan Johnson (Toledo) DT 6-2/270 Productive and athletic, 16 TFL, 5.5 sacks.
Watch List:
C: Luke Wypler (Ohio State), Alex Forsyth (Oregon).
OT: Jaylen Duncan (MD), Blake Freeland (BYU).
RB: Keaton Mitchell (East Carolina) 4.35 HR hitter.
TE: Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State) – Dallas Goedert comp.
WR: Bryce Ford-Wheaton (West Virginia) – Speed, hands, separation, routes.
DT: Dante Stills (West Virginia) Has the speed, needs the power.
Edge: Derick Hall (Auburn), Nick Hampton (App State)
LB: Cam Jones (Indiana) The Johnny Holland blueprint special.
DB/S: Riley Moss (Iowa) 11 interceptions and 26 pass breakups career.
Next article: What I think the Niners will do.
