Niners Defense and Bowman Have Something to Prove
The 49ers' new defense is going to get a major test right out of the starting gate.On Sunday, San Francisco will play host to the Carolina Panthers, a team that likes to run the football. Running backs Jonathan Stewart, rookie Christian McCaffrey and Fozzy Whittaker — a backup who ran for more than 100 yards against the 49ers last season — will be a challenge to stop, as will Cam Newton, one of the NFL's best running quarterbacks.In 2016, the 49ers had the worst run defense in the NFL, giving up an average of 165.9 yards per game and 4.8 yards per attempt.But this season's Niners defense is much different than last year's. New coordinator Robert Saleh has established a 4-3 scheme that will be similar to the one in Seattle, and first-round picks Reuben Foster at linebacker and Solomon Thomas on the defensive line will be two prime additions to a unit that will include veteran Pro Bowler NaVorro Bowman at middle linebacker, free-agent pickup Earl Mitchell at nose tackle and previous first-round picks DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead on the defensive line.The 49ers will have six first-round picks on defense from 2013 or later, so the franchise definitely has paid...
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7-round mock draft from The Athletic sees 49ers fortifying defense early
By David Bonilla
Apr 17
Analyst Dane Brugler recently revealed his seven-round mock draft for The Athletic, forecasting all 257 selections in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, set to kick off next week.
"Piecing together a mock like this is time consuming, but I enjoy the exercise, because it allows me to focus on each team's needs, organizational trends and prospect-team pairings that make sense based on '30' visits, league buzz and overall interest," Brugler wrote.
Most expect the 49ers to address the trenches early in the draft, and Brugler has the team doing that. It's just not on the offensive side of the football. In fact, Brugler doesn't have San Francisco
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We looked back at the seven drafts GM John Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan have led to see what information we could pull from those drafts. There were plenty of hits, plenty of misses, and a few surprises along the way. The draft picks are
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Schrager mock draft has 49ers adding 'universally liked and respected' receiver
By David Bonilla
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With only nine days remaining until the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager revealed his first mock draft of the year. While most might expect the San Francisco 49ers to target an offensive lineman, Schrager has the team bolstering its wide receiver corps with an SEC talent.
Schrager has the 49ers using the No. 31 overall pick to select former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, whose 2023 campaign with the Bulldogs was limited by back and ankle injuries.
"McConkey in the first round? Yes," Schrager wrote. "Above guys like Troy Franklin and Keon Coleman? Perhaps. I've spoken to a