Friday was another busy day for the San Francisco 49ers. They added two new rookies to their roster and were involved in, yet again, two more trades. Below is a recap of what went down for the 49ers during Day 2 of the draft.
The Haul
Round 3, Pick 2: Colorado CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon played at Colorado in 2014 after spending the previous year at Sacramento City Community College. He appeared in 10 games and started one before becoming a part-time starter the following season. Through his final two years with Colorado, Witherspoon had a total of 59 tackles, 25 passes defended, and three interceptions. The 6-foot-3 and 198-pound Witherspoon was one of three members of Colorado's secondary who earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors and was tied with teammate Tedric Thompson for first place in the nation with 23 passes defended in 2016 – one of which was an interception. He also made 23 tackles and had an interception last season.
Round 3, Pick 40: Iowa QB C.J. Beathard
Beathard is the grandson of former NFL general manager Bobby Beathard. He was a redshirt freshman in 2013 and didn't see significant playing time until the next year when he appeared in nine games with one start. He was the Hawkeyes' starter in 2015 as a junior and ended up as the team's MVP after completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,809 pass yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. During his senior year, he completed 56.5 percent of his passes for 1,929 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
What They Said
Witherspoon on where he sees himself in three years
"I think just a dominant player, both in the run game and the pass game. That's one of my weaknesses is in tackling. I don't shy away from it, I think it's just the experience, understanding how to get the guy down, and understanding when and where to shoot and take my opportunities and make plays. I think just becoming a more well-rounded player is what I aspire to be and I think that with experience that will come."
Beathard on if he can start in the NFL this season
"Yeah, I mean I'm confident in my abilities. Like I said, I think I am a very good quarterback and I'm confident in myself. You know, I understand, I can't wait to get there and get the offense and the playbook down and get with the guys and prove that I have what it takes. I know I have what it takes to be a starting quarterback in this league and for the 49ers."
"A unique set of skills in that he's just under 6-3, close to 6-3 and about 200 pounds, just under that and we feel like he's got a lot of room for growth. Yet, his movement skills and his profile will allow him to really be an excellent scheme fit for us. He's a really smart kid. That was quite apparent when he came on his visit here. And, we grew really comfortable. Had a great conversation, I think it was last week, with his [University of Colorado] head coach Mike MacIntyre who I got to know when I was living in Denver, the head coach at Colorado. And, coach MacIntyre is a former DB coach in the NFL and I think has a keen eye for defensive backs and he really helped me kind of understand what this kid is all about."
"I just saw him battle through adversity. You look at the numbers that weren't the same as the previous year, but numbers is something I very rarely look at. I think you guys would probably be a lot more on the numbers than actually I would be. I just turn on the tape and watch it. Just because there's an incompletion, just because you don't get the touchdown doesn't always mean that it was the quarterback's fault. You've got to watch to make sure people are getting open, how the rhythm of their offense is with protections and the receivers, are guys separating for him and what are they asking him to do and how good does he do that. You go through an entire game and does he do his job. And I think he does his job very well and I think he gives his team a very good chance to win."
Trade One
Saints get:
49ers 2017 3rd round pick (67)
49ers get:
Saints 2017 7th round pick (229)
Saints 2018 2nd round pick
Trade Two
49ers get:
Vikings 2017 3rd round pick (104)
Vikings get:
49ers 2017 4th round pick (109)
49ers 2017 7th round pick (219)
Adding to 2018
The 49ers have now acquired two extra selections in 2018 and currently hold 10 picks next year – including five in the first three rounds (1, 2, 2, 3, 3).
Biggest Surprise
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay listed the selection Beathard by the 49ers as one of the biggest surprises during Day 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft.
"Entering the season, I gave Beathard a mid-third-round grade," McShay explained. "I loved his leadership and toughness. He was a tough evaluation this season, as his pass-protection fell apart and he lost key WRs to injuries. We ended up giving a fringe fourth/fifth-round grade and ranked him No. 156 overall. While I'm surprised the 49ers traded back into the third round to select Beathard with higher-ranked options like Joshua Dobbs and Nathan Peterman still on the board, I do understand why they'd be intrigued by his 2015 tape."
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Media appears to be a fan of John Lynch's work, yet again.
"The new 49ers general manager keeps winning," Rosenthal wrote. "He picked up the Saints' 2018 second-round pick (and a seventh-round pick) in exchange for his third-rounder. While the Saints sell out for this season, Lynch is thinking long term like a veteran."
What Is Next?
Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 29 at 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET)
NFL teams will have five minutes to make their picks during rounds four through six and four minutes during round seven and for any compensatory pick.
The Picks
The 49ers currently have six selections remaining in the 2017 NFL Draft following their four in the first three rounds.
| Round | Pick | Overall | Selection/Notes |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford |
| 1 | 31 | 31 | Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama |
| 3 | 2 | 66 | Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado |
| 3 | 40 | 104 | C.J. Beathard, QB, Iowa |
| 4 | 37 | 143 | Compensatory Pick |
| 5 | 2 | 146 | |
| 5 | 17 | 161 | From Washington |
| 6 | 14 | 198 | From Baltimore |
| 6 | 18 | 202 | From Denver |
| 7 | 11 | 229 | From Cleveland |
Poll
- How would you grade Day 2 of the 49ers' draft?
- B50%
- C25%
- A23%
- D2%
- F0%
- 248 votes
