49ers Draft Capsule: Edge
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Seeking a return to dominance from their defensive front four, the Niners signed free agent defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. To optimize Hargrave and the pass rush, a speed edge is needed in this draft. The skillset is clear, quick get off from the line and at least 4.5 speed off the edge.
Tier 1: 1st Round-Early 2nd
Top 5 Will Anderson (Alabama) 6-3/253
Top 10 Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech) 6-5/274
Top 20 Myles Murphy (Clemson) 6-5/268
Top 20 Nolan Smith (Georgia) 6-2/238
Top 20 Lukas Van Ness (Iowa) 6-5/272
Late 1st-Early 2nd B.J. Ojulari (LSU) 6-2/248
Late 1st-Early 2nd Will McDonald (Iowa St) 6-3/239
Early 2nd Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas St) 6-3/255
Tier 2: 2nd-3rd Round
Early-to-Mid 2nd Isaiah Foskey (Notre Dame) 6-5/264
Early-to-Mid 3rd Tuli Tuipulotu (USC) 6-3/266
Early-to-Mid 3rd Derick Hall (Auburn) 6-3/254
Early-to-Mid 3rd Keion White (Georgia Tech) 6-5/281
If the Niners trade a player to move up they could be in position to draft a Tier 2 edge. Foskey has prototypical size and length, 4.58/1.66 speed, and the get off Niners defensive line coach Kris Kocurek values. Foskey’s impressive production includes 23 sacks in the last two seasons, with 12 sacks and 33 pressures this year at a 14.5% win rate.
Hall is one of the fastest edges in the class at 4.55/1.59 and is explosive off the line. He had eight sacks and 47 pressures this year with a win rate over 17%. He’d be my pick out of this group.
Tier 3: The 49er Picks in the 3rd
Top 100 Isaiah McGuire (Missouri) 6-4/268 – The question with McGuire is if he’s already on the roster in Drake Jackson, same body type and skillset. 4.76/1.72 is not enough speed for the role. This pick is for a speed edge. Only.
Top 100 Byron Young (Tennessee) 6-2/250 – Young has tremendous speed at 4.43/1.62. However, he’s a stand-up edge that hasn’t played with his hand in the dirt. 25 years old while transitioning to a different playing style and lacking technique may lead the Niners to pass on him despite the speed.
Top 100 Zach Harrison (Ohio St) 6-5/269 – Harrison did not run a 40 at Indy or his pro day. Based on his times at 3-cone and shuttle, other edges in that speed range tested in the 4.7s at 40. Harrison has great size and length but lacks pass rush moves and struggled with consistency at Columbus.
Top 100 YaYa Diaby (Louisville) 6-3/263 – Diaby was one of the first players the Niners hosted for a Top 30 visit. 4.51/1.56 speed, a 37-inch vertical, quick get off from the line, and high production at 10 sacks and 36 pressures on a 16% win rate. Diaby is 24, a high motor player with large hands, good balance, and functional strength but he needs to add more bend and creativity in his pass rush moves.
Top 100 Andre Carter (Army) 6-6/256 – Carter set an Army record with 15 sacks in 2021. This year he had four sacks in 11 games at a win rate of 21.4%. He had among the top marks at the Combine in 3-Cone and Shuttle but ran the 40 in 4.93.
Top 100 K.J. Henry (Clemson) 6-4/250 – An excellent run defender that plays with power and violence, but he lacks the athleticism to be an elite pass rusher. 4.63/1.65 speed, five sacks with 53 pressures.
Tier 4: 4th-6th Round Targets
4th Nick Hampton (Appalachian St) 6-2/239 – In the NFL he projects as a situational pass rusher with 4.58/1.65 speed. A wide-9 stand up edge with explosion off the line. He converts speed to power and closes well, but lacks an array of moves.
5th Jose Ramirez (Eastern Michigan) 6-2/252 – Highly productive with 10 sacks and 50 pressures at a 21.5% win rate, Ramirez led the Combine with a 6.95 3-Cone. His speed is limited at 4.73/1.63, he’d be a double down choice for depth, not the speed edge pick.
6th Lonnie Phelps (Kansas) 6-2/247 – Good speed at 4.55/1.62, Phelps had eight sacks and 34 pressures. Quick get off that converts speed to power, he had a win rate of 30.5% in 2021 and 18.9% in 2022. He plays with violence and power (31 bench reps), among the best in the class in tackles for no gain or a loss with 36. He falls to the 6th due to size at a height of 6-2 with sub-33 arms.
6th Robert Beal Jr. (Georgia) 6-4/247 – Toolsy with one of the best across the board athletic profiles at the Combine, but it doesn’t translate to the field. He’s a 4.48 ball of clay lacking technique and leverage.
6th D.J. Johnson (Oregon) 6-4/260 – Similar athletic profile to Beal, a great athlete with limited games played and production. 4.49/1.59 speed with big hands and length, but a mystery box due to the lack of snaps. A special teams ace.
Prediction
If they trade up, Derick Hall is the most attractive target, then Foskey. If they stay at 99, YaYa Diaby makes the most sense given his athletic profile and production -get off, speed and violence. Byron Young’s 4.43 40 time needs to be paired with 25 years old and raw technique.
In the later rounds there’s great value to be had with high upside athletes. I like Phelps and Beal. It’s possible the Niners double down at edge, but I expect it’s one pick and they may add a late signing in free agency.
