49ers Combine Preview: Offense
Player workouts are underway at the NFL Draft Combine as the 49ers come into this draft with a weak hand: no 1st, 2nd, or 4th round picks. Three picks at the end of the 3rd and three more in the 5th are the heart of this draft.
The picks are so low, a trade up may only get into the 70s, unless they add 2024 picks, which seems unlikely.
Here's a preview by position of potential 49ers targets:
Center
The Niners have a choice to make at center. Jake Brendel is a free agent, Nick Zakelj and Jason Poe redshirted and will compete to start. However, this draft has three highly regarded center projected to last to the Niners first pick at 99. They all could be an upgrade over the in-house options.
1. Olu Oluwatimi (Michigan) 6-2/308, 6th year senior. Drives guys, gets to the 2nd level, NFL-ready power. Smart angles, has pop in his hands. No sacks against. Four years at center. Average athlete.
2. Luke Wypler (Ohio State) 6-3/300. Good speed, gets to 2nd level quickly. Solid in run and pass. Mauler not a driver in running game, he needs to improve his hands.
3. Alex Forsyth (Oregon) 6-4/312. 5th year senior. Projected from late 3rd to 5th. Allowed one hit, no hurries and no sacks. Explosive, good burst, great feet, leads to 2nd level. Plays high in pass pro.
Offensive Tackle
The need at right tackle is acute, the options in free agency are too expensive and the draft has six NFL-ready starters at tackle who all go in the first round. The Niners will be searching for a diamond in the rough.
1. Jaelyn Duncan (Maryland) 6-6/299. Projected to be picked from 70 to 100. Has the wide frame and long arms needed for tackle. Powerful punch, run game mauler. Mean streak, blocks well in space. Needs development in pass pro, plays high and needs better footwork.
2. Zion Nelson (Miami) 6-5/315. More developed in pass pro than run game. Complete skillset, smart, high character, time at LT and RT. Quick burst off the line. Lacks NFL power.
3. Blake Freeland (BYU) 6-8/312. Tall but 34-inch arms. Great combo blocker and driver, first snap Senior Bowl took out his man and the linebacker at 2nd level on a 20-yard gain. Slow kick out, lacks agility.
4. Wanya Morris (Oklahoma) 6-6/317. Long arms, started at RT, gave up two sacks. Great feet, moves well, good bend and agility. Inconsistent, technique lapses, lacks NFL power.
5. Carter Warren (Pitt) 6-5/323. Long arms, upper body strength, smart angles, moves well to 2nd level. Good quickness, wide base in pass pro. Needs technique on hands and anticipation.
The magic number is 35, arms and bench reps need to be at 35 and preferably higher.
Quarterback
With two young quarterbacks, adding a veteran free agent to the QB room makes sense. If that happens, don’t look for the Niners to draft a QB as the fourth quarterback would go to the practice squad, and a drafted QB could get poached.
UDFA
1. Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA) 6-1/191 –The consensus BPA at UDFA QB, up to the Niners.
2. Adrian Martinez (Kansas St) 6-3/219 – Makes all the throws, accurate, strong arm, but holds the ball.
3. Tanner Morgan (Maryland) 6-2/200 - 66% completion %, good arm and ball placement, weak at reads.
The number to look for is 1.55 -- that was Brock Purdy’s 10-yard split last year. Quickness and mobility are needed.
Running Back
The Niners are four-deep and would seem to have the position covered, but we are talking Kyle Shanahan, so drafting a back is possible if exasperating. This is a deep and talented class.
3rd
1. Tyjae Spears (Tulane) 5-9/204. 1,600 yards, 21 TDs, elite receiver, home run hitter with 4.40 speed.
5th
2. Keaton Mitchell (East Carolina) 5-9/184. 7.4 yards per carry, no fumbles, elite receiver, 4.35 speed.
3. Chris Rodriguez (Kentucky) 5-11/224. Decisive, good contact balance and feet, aggressive, but 4.55.
Fullback
Kyle Juszczyk may be replaced in 2024, his low dead cap hit next year makes it a possibility. The Niners could take a page from Baltimore and give Jason Poe reps at FB. He spent some time there in college. 7th rounder Hunter Luepke of North Dakota St 6-1/236, is a good blocker, 4.65 40, decent receiver.
Tight End
George Kittle is 30 early next season, Tyler Kroft and Ross Dwelley are both free agents and may be let go. Evaluators believe seven tight ends are impact receiving threats, to get one, the Niners would have to use one of their three 3rd round picks. They don’t have a 4th and the top seven TEs are long gone by their next pick at 157.
3rd:
1. Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State) 6-5/255, comped to Philly’s Dallas Goedert. Sells routes, good speed for separation, excellent hands. 9-12 contested catch. Nine forced missed tackles in five games (ankle injury). Inconsistent blocker.
2. Payne Durham (Purdue) 6-5/258. 56 catches for 560 yards and 7 TDs. Good length, big catch radius, strong hands. Good blocker at 2nd level, physicality. Not a fluid athlete. Good Senior Bowl.
5th:
Blockers that can work the seam but have a limited route tree and no YAC ability: Schoonmaker (Michigan), Whyle (Cincinnati), Allen (Clemson).
6th-7th:
6. Brayden Willis (Oklahoma) 6-4/239 TE/H-Back/FB. A nice mismatch weapon. He can be a power slot receiver or a TE or in the backfield. 4.75 speed, great hands, tracks the ball well, good motor, will catch middle, big catch radius. Blocking and power needs work.
Wide Receiver
The Niners have one of the best WR rooms in the league, every skillset. Drafting a WR would be a luxury but may be considered for competition or if they fall in love with a guy who they believe is BPA.
5th-6th
1. Charlie Jones (Purdue) 6-0/188. 4.55. Possession WR, great hands, tracks well, fights for YAC.
2. Elijah Higgins (Stanford) 6-3/228. 4.44. Long arms, great hands, competes, Freaks List No. 32, YAC.
3. Bryce Ford-Wheaton (West Va) 6-3/222. 4.50. Strong hands, separates, smart routes. Freaks List #68. Needs to be coached up on blocking and consistent effort.
Tomorrow, we'll take a look at the defense.
