Easter Mock

This is my 3rd and final mock draft - I'm predicting a trade back into the 2nd round given there could be some QB needy teams in the early second round and Bridgewater or Carr may still be there at 30. I also don't think there will be an obvious choice for the 49ers at 30 since Cooks and Beckham Jr will be gone unless we trade up. Trading back out of the first was a better value in my opinion given the players that could be taken then.

Trade 1(30) and 4(125) for 2(40) and 3(72). Minnesota needs a QB and one of the top 4 is still around at 30. Jacksonville is another potential target at 39 if they don't draft a QB with their first pick. We win this trade badly on draft charts, but there is some benefit to the 5th year option for teams especially to put off resigning QB's.

Trade 2(56) and 3(91) for 2(42).

Trade LaMichael James for 5th or 6th round pick.

Trade 7(220) and 7(222) for a 2015 6th.

7 players make the 53 man roster, two are placed on the IR, and none are stolen off our practice squad.

2(40). Donte Moncrief-WR-Ole Miss, 6-2, 228, 4.40
Height, weight, speed guy who can stretch the field and eventually develop into a #1 WR. His hands aren't great and his production was average (partly because of his QB) which could drop him here, but he has a lot of upside.

2(42). Stephon Tuitt-DE-Notre Dame, 6-5 304
Monster 3-4 DE who can stop the run and rush the passer. He was dealing with injuries this season which impacted his play, but he's a very good athlete for his size with long arms and solid strength.

2(61). Philipp Gaines-CB-Rice, 6-0, 193, 4.38
Small school prospect with great athleticism and reasonable length. He is one of the few corners in the draft who can play both the slot and outside corner positions because of his size, agility, and fluid hips. Played weak competition but performed very well in 2013 allowing only 13 catches on 40 targets while intercepting 4 passes and breaking up 9 more according to his Rice bio (http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/phillip_gaines_442064.html)

3(72). Deone Buchanon-SS-Washington State, 6-1 211, 4.49
Big, athletic, productive safety who was a four year starter and is still young (21). He needs to work on his coverage skills and take better angles, but he was a first-team All-American and 3 time team captain. He plays and hits hard and would have time to develop behind Bethea. Safety isn't an immediate need, but I would look forward to Buchanon playing with Reid in the future.

3(77). Marcus Smith-OLB-Lousiville, 6'3 251, 4.68
Marcus Smith is still a little raw, but he is an athletic linebacker who can rush the passer. If we lose Aldon Smith, we will need to add a pass rusher and Marcus Smith is a guy who will probably be a pass rushing specialist in his first season or two before developing into an every down linebacker. Had 14.5 sacks for Louisville last season and has good length (34" arms). If Aldon Smith figures things out, we could still use Marcus Smith as a rotational pass rusher and have him compete with Lemonier to replace Brooks.

3(100). Dri Archer-RB/WR-Kent State, 5'8 173, 4.26
Faster, quicker replacement for LaMichael James who the 49ers are shopping. He played mostly RB in college, but could help out immediately as a returner and develop into a slot receiver and offensive weapon similar to Tavon Austin. We have Crabtree, Boldin, Patton, Moncrief, and Osgood/Baldwin so the team would have time to develop Archer as a receiver but he could be a home run threat in some packages.

5(158). Lamin Barrow-ILB-LSU, 6-1 237, 4.64
Solid all-around ILB - he can cover and play the run, but he doesn't make a ton of plays behind the line and isn't a big hitter which could cause him to fall here. I really like his length (33 3/8" arms) and speed and scouting reports also point out that he has very fluid hips for a LB which bodes well for his coverage ability at the next level. He needs time to improve his instincts in coverage and he could gain a little weight and get stronger so he can take on blockers more easily. Another hardworking team captain which is a big plus given some of the recent news surrounding the team.

5th-6th (James trade). Aaron Colvin-CB-Oklahoma, 5'11 177
Tough corner with experience playing safety. Is recovering well from his ACL injury and could play in 2014 although the 49ers would probably stash him on the IR to get the extra year on his rookie contract unless he comes back really strong. If we let go of Bethea in a couple years, we will still need depth at safety so drafting a versatile player like Colvin might be a good idea.

7(219). Spencer Long-G-Nebraska, 6-5 320
IR candidate for the year to compete with Jonathan Martin for Iupati's spot in 2015 if we don't resign him. He put up 28 reps on the bench at his pro day and has decent length for a guard (33 1/8" arms), but he is not a good athlete and is coming off of knee surgery so I hope Martin can beat him out next year.

I really like the player set you chose, and I'll happily take an extra 6th next year.

The player I have the most reservations toward is Tuitt. I'm just not enamored with him. But I do believe he brings value.

Like it!

This is a very nice mock with realistic trades as far as I can see...which is difficult. I don't see DL as being a need...or least much less than CB...so I might switch Tuitt out for a DB, but that always depends on how the draft unfolds. You have filled most needs on ST, Offense and Defense...and I like Colvin and Long for the future.

The WR depth is so great this year that anything can happen. Teams may wait on WRs and push them down. Same with CBs so perhaps one of the top guys falls into the second round.

But I could definately live with this draft!

All goes this way, and it would be a happy day.

I like it too besides the moncrief so high. Lots of receivers + what a waste of James we never even unleashed the kid.

It's not likely one of the top QB's slides to #30. If a top QB drops teams will be trying to trade up to get him well ahead of our pick. If one did slide to our pick we would have multiple buyers and a bidding war. We would make out much better than a 3rd for dropping 10 slots without having to kick in our 4th round pick as well.That kind of trade would be possible if all the QB's were gone but even then Baalke tends to get the better of the deal when trading up or back and would probably demand a 3rd without kicking in our 4th rounder.

Like the players selected in your mock. Would be nice if the draft panned out that way.

I wouldn't trade two 7ths for one 6th next year. I would for two 6ths to 2 different teams. If not there are other pup list guys we could draft like Whitley or Millard.

I wouldn't trade LMJ for a 5th or a 6th. What happens if Latimore or Hunter are injured in preseason? We start the year with only 2 healthy running backs and none who can carry the load alone. What if they both get hurt? We would have no depth. If you want to trade him better to wait until after the last preseason game and we know we have 4 healthy backs and see what teams are in need. Maybe they draft a RB who isn't what they hoped for or had too many injuries in preseason and we could do better than a 5th or a 6th rd pick.

wish we could take laquon treadwell from ole miss instead of donte moncrief not a fan of moncrief.

Everything's good. Except moncrief there.

Noticing several new Mocks have Moncreif as our first pick. Do not like. Draft too deep in WR to take him there, IMO. Rest of mock good though.

Originally posted by 9erguy:

Noticing several new Mocks have Moncreif as our first pick. Do not like. Draft too deep in WR to take him there, IMO. Rest of mock good though.

I think if we're looking at a big, fast WR, our options are:
1. Trade up into the top 10 for Mike Evans
2. Trade into the early second for Moncrief or the mid-2nd for Bryant (Bryant is a little taller, but Moncrief is stronger and more physical and explosive)
3. Draft Latimer or Matthews at 56 or 61 (but Moncrief is a better athlete than either of them)
4. Draft Kelvin Benjamin in the mid-2nd or Brandon Coleman later on (Moncrief is much more explosive and faster - these guys are red zone threats rather than burners but they have decent build-up speed).

Moncrief is a little raw, but we don't need a starter right away and I think he has as much upside as any receiver other than Evans and possibly Watkins. I don't think we can get him much later than that anymore even though I had him at 56 in previous mocks.

Originally posted by MC9BEAT:

I wouldn't trade LMJ for a 5th or a 6th. What happens if Latimore or Hunter are injured in preseason? We start the year with only 2 healthy running backs and none who can carry the load alone. What if they both get hurt? We would have no depth. If you want to trade him better to wait until after the last preseason game and we know we have 4 healthy backs and see what teams are in need. Maybe they draft a RB who isn't what they hoped for or had too many injuries in preseason and we could do better than a 5th or a 6th rd pick.

I honestly think Archer would be able to play as a change of pace back if Latimore or Hunter was injured. He was productive his last 2 seasons of college used primarily as a RB. I don't think he's big enough to be a workhouse at RB and we wouldn't be drafting him for that, but he could be a change of pace back in a pinch if one of those guys gets hurt. I'm not sure exactly what the 49ers think James is worth, but I felt Archer makes James somewhat redundant so I would try to salvage some value through a trade. A 6th round pick probably wouldn't be enough compensation for him but a 5th round might.

Originally posted by eastcoast49ersfan:

Originally posted by MC9BEAT:
I wouldn't trade LMJ for a 5th or a 6th. What happens if Latimore or Hunter are injured in preseason? We start the year with only 2 healthy running backs and none who can carry the load alone. What if they both get hurt? We would have no depth. If you want to trade him better to wait until after the last preseason game and we know we have 4 healthy backs and see what teams are in need. Maybe they draft a RB who isn't what they hoped for or had too many injuries in preseason and we could do better than a 5th or a 6th rd pick.

I honestly think Archer would be able to play as a change of pace back if Latimore or Hunter was injured. He was productive his last 2 seasons of college used primarily as a RB. I don't think he's big enough to be a workhouse at RB and we wouldn't be drafting him for that, but he could be a change of pace back in a pinch if one of those guys gets hurt. I'm not sure exactly what the 49ers think James is worth, but I felt Archer makes James somewhat redundant so I would try to salvage some value through a trade. A 6th round pick probably wouldn't be enough compensation for him but a 5th round might.

I don't know, maybe. I know LMJ can carry it 10-15 times a game if we need him to. I don't know if Archer is built for that. Plus pass blocking blitzing LB's. I like Archer as a return man but I don't know about the rest.

Originally posted by eastcoast49ersfan:

4. Draft Kelvin Benjamin in the mid-2nd or Brandon Coleman later on (Moncrief is much more explosive and faster - these guys are red zone threats rather than burners but they have decent build-up speed).

Why would anyone want Coleman? If you want a tall redzone threat late, why not target Cody Hoffman? We have Coleman on our team already, his name is Jon Baldwin. And I'm not the only one that thinks so.....
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737368/brandon-coleman

Kelvin Benjamin is slower, less dependable version of Baldwin.

His name doesn't belong on this forum