49oz2SuperBowl Early Mock Draft

Key FA Assumptions
Resign: Dashon Goldson
Let Walk: Delanie Walker, Isaac Sopoaga, Randy Moss, Ted Ginn
Cut: Parys Haralson
Compensatory Pick: 3rd Rd (Very Optimistic But what Many "Sources" Projected", I'll ignore the 2 or 3 late round comps expected)
Trade: Alex Smith for 2014, 3rd round pick


1) John Jenkins- NT, Georgia

We let Sopoaga walk in FA and upgrade at the NT position. Jenkins will be a true NT (immovable object), which is truly what we need with the talent we have at linebacker roaming behind him.



2) Chase Thomas- OLB, Stanford

While he won't be any every down starter initially, this guy is a total Harbaugh player and will contribute in a rotational role and on ST right off the bat. Just a great football player and the type of player you want on your team.



3) Jordan Reed- TE, Florida

Reed is a rich man's Delanie Walker (who we let walk in FA). An instant upgrade and weapon for Kaepernick.



3) Khaled Holmes- C, USC

We finally add the longterm solution at center. Holmes is a proven commodity and was the best OL on the USC team this year.



3) Tyrann Mathieu- CB, LSU (Formerly)

This pick will serve multiple needs. It will provide us with a better 5th cb than Brock, provide a longterm nickel cb, and provide an electric punt returner/special teams ace. We overlook character for a chance at a difference maker and Day 1 contributor.



4) Johnathan Franklin- RB, UCLA

With Brandon Jacobs gone, Kendall Hunter coming of ACL surgery, and Frank Gore on the decline we get an all purpose back to add to the stable of runningbacks. Between Hunter, LMJ, and Franklin we will have a great young trio of runningbacks to rotate.



5) Marcus Davis- WR, Virgina Tech

This is a true Baalke pick and the player I believe we were most interested in all those times we scouted VT. Incredibly raw, but incredibly gifted. He will need to sit atleast a year and develop, but in the right system and with the right coaching he can provide the tall, fast, deepthreat we've needed.



5) Traded for a 4th in 2014

6) Dustin Hopkins- K, Florida St.

Best kicker in this draft and we desperately need a long term replacement for Akers.



6) Craig Roh- DE, Michigan

Longterm project to play defensive end. High motor, great work ethic, will need to put on 10-15 pounds but has the size and frame to do so.



7) Traded for a 6th in 2014

7) Terron Armstead- OT

Developmental prospect to be a longterm backup OT (with Alex Boone now at OG, we need a new backup swing tackle). Likely a practice squad member in 2013.





Now we have 5 players guaranteed to make a contribution (Jenkins, Thomas, Reed, Mathieu, Hopkins), but a few great developmental prospects (Holmes, Davis, Franklin) waiting in the wings. To top it all off, the next year we will have an extra 3rd, 4th, and 6th round pick

Feedback is always welcome!

awesome mock

Other than your very first pick, great mock!

nice

Originally posted by iowa49er_75:
Other than your very first pick, great mock!

I like the very first pick, not sure what people have against Jenkins, he'll make a solid NT in the pro's, very big body, can take on two blockers, collapses the pocket, good motor, as long you use him like a 2 down NT, you'll get consistent, good effort out of him.

Nice mock

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by iowa49er_75:
Other than your very first pick, great mock!

I like the very first pick, not sure what people have against Jenkins, he'll make a solid NT in the pro's, very big body, can take on two blockers, collapses the pocket, good motor, as long you use him like a 2 down NT, you'll get consistent, good effort out of him.

People want to blame him for the bowl game that he didnt even play in.

I would be ok with a kicker as early as the 4th. The Niners would have won two more games this season with a better kicker.

Good mock...would rather see a S over RB but other than that it seems to match needs and the player boards I've read.

I would be really happy with this mock, but i wouldnt draft OLB that high. People forget that we still have Haralson, which is extremely underrated for what he adds to the team. I would draft one later as a developmental pick, and take DE or safety in the second. I ould also take Lattimore over your RB to sit and develope for a year if he as there, which i think he will be.

But i would be happy with this draft. good job.

I guess I will be the lone dissenter here. I am not crazy about this draft:

1) Jenkins.. good player but I would much prefer a 3-4 DE as opposed to a DT. Someone like Floyd would be my choice
2) Chase Thomas.. good player but I think a 2nd rd grade is too high. Limited upside
3) Reed - again a good player but I would not take a TE this high. WR is a MUCH bigger need
4) Holmes - just think he is a bit overrated having watched USC a lot.
5) Mathieu - not worth the trouble. Big time risk. Would pass

I think the Niners first 4 picks should be:
3-4 DE
WR
CB
OLB

Just would not take a TE and a C with 2 of my first 4 picks.

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
I guess I will be the lone dissenter here. I am not crazy about this draft:

1) Jenkins.. good player but I would much prefer a 3-4 DE as opposed to a DT. Someone like Floyd would be my choice-So you want to draft a backup at DE, who is better suited to be a 4-3 DT opposed to a starting NT? Okay.
2) Chase Thomas.. good player but I think a 2nd rd grade is too high. Limited upside. Yet that's precisely the range he's expected to be in, his intelligence, versatility and athleticism are a terrific combination, he'd be perfect as a backup OLB/ILB.
3) Reed - again a good player but I would not take a TE this high. WR is a MUCH bigger need If Walker walks, considering how much this team uses a #2 TE and that the #2 TE is basically a starter, what greater need do you imagine they have?
4) Holmes - just think he is a bit overrated having watched USC a lot. What better pick at center then?
5) Mathieu - not worth the trouble. Big time risk. Would pass That reasoning sucks, no offense. People said the same thing about guys like Dennard.

I think the Niners first 4 picks should be:
3-4 DE-Even if there isn't much talent at that position in this draft?
WR-I don't disagree with this, but you have good depth throughout the draft, you can get guys like Swope or Patton in the 3rd round.
CB-Once more, a lot of depth, good prospects will be available in Round 2-4.
OLB-Hence the pick of Chase Thomas who can also play inside linebacker as well.

Just would not take a TE and a C with 2 of my first 4 picks.-That's fine, others disagree, IMO #2 TE is a need, Walker is utterly unreliable, if he leaves, then it becomes a big need. Center all depends on how Kilgore develops but I would like to see them draft a center at some point in the draft.

. You're not going to replace Justin Smith with a DE from this draft, other than perhaps Hunt, the majority of these prospects are better off as 4-3 DT's. You take what you can get from a draft and I'd rather get a starting NT and then look at a DE in Rounds 4 or 5 to provide depth, then next year look at stud DE to replace Justin. TE is a need, Walker's hands aren't reliable and there's plenty of good TE's throughout that could do well in this offense. WR's are a need but I'm more impressed with some of the later round guys than more raw prospects like Patterson. I don't think C is that big of a need, but it would be helpful to add someone there. Safety and cornerback are two other positions I'd like to look at and there's a variety of talent throughout the draft to address both those positions.


The 49ers have a lot of picks, few real needs, they should be able to address depth at a variety of positions, as well as hopefully add a starter at NT, a #2 TE..essentially a starter in this offense and hopefully depth at OLB.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
I guess I will be the lone dissenter here. I am not crazy about this draft:

1) Jenkins.. good player but I would much prefer a 3-4 DE as opposed to a DT. Someone like Floyd would be my choice-So you want to draft a backup at DE, who is better suited to be a 4-3 DT opposed to a starting NT? Okay.
2) Chase Thomas.. good player but I think a 2nd rd grade is too high. Limited upside. Yet that's precisely the range he's expected to be in, his intelligence, versatility and athleticism are a terrific combination, he'd be perfect as a backup OLB/ILB.
3) Reed - again a good player but I would not take a TE this high. WR is a MUCH bigger need If Walker walks, considering how much this team uses a #2 TE and that the #2 TE is basically a starter, what greater need do you imagine they have?
4) Holmes - just think he is a bit overrated having watched USC a lot. What better pick at center then?
5) Mathieu - not worth the trouble. Big time risk. Would pass That reasoning sucks, no offense. People said the same thing about guys like Dennard.

I think the Niners first 4 picks should be:
3-4 DE-Even if there isn't much talent at that position in this draft?
WR-I don't disagree with this, but you have good depth throughout the draft, you can get guys like Swope or Patton in the 3rd round.
CB-Once more, a lot of depth, good prospects will be available in Round 2-4.
OLB-Hence the pick of Chase Thomas who can also play inside linebacker as well.

Just would not take a TE and a C with 2 of my first 4 picks.-That's fine, others disagree, IMO #2 TE is a need, Walker is utterly unreliable, if he leaves, then it becomes a big need. Center all depends on how Kilgore develops but I would like to see them draft a center at some point in the draft.

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I think a 3-4 DE is far more important and I think Floyd is a bettter player than Jenkins. You dont agree - thats fine. You saw what happened when Justin Smith went down. Our defense suffered a LOT. So yes... I would prefer a 3-4 DE even if that person rotates in.

As for Thomas, I said I liked him... but not in the 2nd. If he is there in the 3rd I would consider him. I would prefer a CB or WR in the 2nd or trade up for someone like Jesse Williams if its possible. He is a better NT than Jenkins in my opinion.

Mathieu - not even sure he is that good. Again, would not touch. Personal issues, drug problems, and character issues are enough for me to let someone else have him.

So.. I am not crazy about this. I have seen other mocks in here that I like much more.

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
I think a 3-4 DE is far more important and I think Floyd is a bettter player than Jenkins. You dont agree - thats fine. You saw what happened when Justin Smith went down. Our defense suffered a LOT. So yes... I would prefer a 3-4 DE even if that person rotates in.-Yes, if you can find ANOTHER Justin Smith, but there's not one here, other than perhaps Hunt. Floyd is better suited to the inside, lacks quickness on the outside and is a s**t pass-rusher. The 49ers need a guy eventually to replace Justin Smith, that guy is not here, not this year. Also, forget that if Soap walks, the 49ers don't have a starter at the NT, the most IMPORTANT position in a 3-4 defense. Soap is not great shakes, he's played poorly at times this year, but without him you'd be going from bad to worse. If it comes down to drafting a backup DE with the ceiling of Ray McDonald or a starter at NT, the latter becomes the most important by far.

As for Thomas, I said I liked him... but not in the 2nd. If he is there in the 3rd I would consider him. I would prefer a CB or WR in the 2nd or trade up for someone like Jesse Williams if its possible. He is a better NT than Jenkins in my opinion.-Jesse Williams likely will be gone before the 49ers first pick even. There's no reason to take a CB or WR in the 2nd when you have plenty of similar prospects in the 3rd round to boot. In the 2nd would be a good time to take a guy like Thomas or a safety such as Rambo.

Mathieu - not even sure he is that good. Again, would not touch. Personal issues, drug problems, and character issues are enough for me to let someone else have him.-Talent is talent and Mathieu's talent is undeniable, he's a true playmaker, would be a good slot corner and could also play special teams, he's a bargain at that point in the draft.

So.. I am not crazy about this. I have seen other mocks in here that I like much more.

Also, have you actually watched Floyd play or are you just parroting the Webzone flavor of the month? He struggles to get around tackles, he essentially gives up when double-teamed, he can be highly inconsistent, his next pass-rushing move he develops will be his first, very weak bull-rushing, doesn't play as strong as he looks, he's got a lot of potential, but his general inability to get around the corner means he will end up inside, trying to play him outside will only result in frustration for him and the team that drafts him.


He's got potential but he's extremely raw, that is why I'm a much bigger proponent of a more developed player like Steinkuhler, he plays with a strong motor, does well against the run, is s**t as a pass rusher but he won't cost you a 1st round pick to sit on the bench and sub in a few plays per game.


The 49ers already went with one project pick in the 1st round this year and it ended up costing them TRUE 3-4 DE's like Derek Wolfe and Kendall Reyes that were fulltime starters as rookies, either could have been groomed as a replacement for Justin Smith but they chose to go with the 150 pound project WR instead.
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