With the 2018 NFL Draft in the books, it is time for the "experts," who spent months evaluating players and creating mocks, to hand out their grades for each team's new rookie class.
Below are some of the grades from the bigger names in the industry and portions of what each had to say about the 49ers' group of selections. Unlike last year, San Francisco failed to receive a single grade of "A" among the experts.
Mel Kiper, ESPN: B-
Mel Kiper's 2018 NFL draft grades: Best picks, steals, more
Various quotes from Kiper's lengthy explanation are provided below.
"I thought the 49ers might pounce on defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick at No. 9. When they took Mike McGlinchey, though, we knew something was up because a starting offensive tackle wasn't a true need. That spot opened up later in the night as GM John Lynch dealt right tackle Trenton Brown (plus pick 143) to the Patriots for the 95th pick."
"With the uncertainty around Reuben Foster's future, I thought San Francisco might go after a linebacker early, but it waited until pick 70 to grab Fred Warner, a versatile playmaker who started 42 games at BYU."
"There were a couple of reaches here, but we have to factor in the Garoppolo deal, too. So the 49ers are in a much better spot than they were when Lynch took over."
Andy Benoit, The MMQB: B
2018 NFL Draft Grades: Analysis of All 32 Teams
Various quotes from Benoit's lengthy explanation are provided below.
"The Mike McGlinchey selection made more sense after Trent Brown was traded. McGlinchey will play right tackle for probably the next two years while Joe Staley, who is still going strong, plays out his recently extended contract on the left side. Some may have been surprised by the selection of Dante Pettis, but entering this draft, San Francisco's biggest need was simply 'skill position.'"
"Warner, because of his value in coverage (where many of a linebacker's responsibilities lie these days), could be seen as a possible upgrade over ex-Seahawk Malcolm Smith. But Smith was signed just last year; cutting him in 2019 would bring more than $4 million of dead money against the cap. The five picks after Warner all aim at fortifying the depth of this quietly ascending defense."
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: B
2018 NFL Draft: Final quick-snap grades for all 32 teams
"McGlinchey brings power in the run game, and if he can learn to be a better pass protector, the 49ers will have a great find. He's a solid player, but linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safeties Derwin James and Minkah Fitzpatrick would have been better values. Armed with two second-round picks, they moved up to get Pettis, a competitive receiver/returner that was adequate value. Warner is a solid linebacker worthy of a third-round pick; he'll shore things up at whatever spot the team requires at the second level (Will, Mike, or Sam). Moore, a late-riser, is an athletic player with starter potential. The 49ers stuck with Street despite his knee injury, and he could prove to be a great value in a couple years. Reed joins Pettis in the return game, but meets the team's need for a slot corner. James should have been a fifth-round pick, as his hands and elusiveness are top-notch and his toughness belies his slight frame."
Pro Football Focus: Above Average
All 32 NFL team's 2018 NFL Draft grades
Day1: "McGlinchey was a dominant run-blocker and while he was a good pass-blocker – surrendering 16 total pressures over his final season – there were some ugly plays on his tape as well where he can be beaten decisively and quickly in the play. His game still needs some refinement, but he was one of the best offensive linemen available in this draft and should provide a solid upgrade to the line."
Day 2: "Pettis is sharp in and out of his cuts with a good overall feel as a route runner and he has excellent hands, as he dropped only seven of his 169 catchable targets in his career ... Warner has graded very well at PFF for multiple seasons playing the overhang or walk-out linebacker spot in that defensive scheme that doesn't really exist in the NFL. He has the movement skills and coverage ability that fits perfectly in today's NFL, but he is going to need to get more acclimatized to playing inside in tighter quarters with bigger bodies in close proximity. Moore flies to the football and moves well, showing the ability to hang with receivers 1-on-1 as a safety in college, but he may project outside to cornerback at the next level and could end up playing alongside Richard Sherman on the outside."
Day 3: "D.J. Reed was an undersized corner with outstanding PFF grades, and wasn't beaten for a catch longer than 30 yards in 2017 and he may play free safety for the 49ers given his height. They also selected Kentavius Street, despite him tearing his knee in the pre-draft process. Street is a powerhouse who will likely split time between edge and interior of the line once he's healthy."
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: B-
NFL Draft grades: Broncos, Cardinals come up aces; Bills, Seahawks flop
"McGlinchey, Pettis and Warner were good ways to open John Lynch's second draft. But there was no splash to build on the initial defensive rebuild last year that came in the form of Solomon Thomas, Reuben Foster and Ahkello Witherspoon. San Francisco still has a playoff-caliber team, more so for Jimmy Garoppolo and what's around him on offense."
Luke Easterling, USA Today/Draft Wire: B+
2018 NFL draft: Instant grades for every team
"Mike McGlinchey wasn't a top-10 talent, but it's hard to blame the 49ers for taking the most polished, experienced tackle in this draft to protect their investment in Jimmy Garoppolo. The value, athleticism and potential they got in the following rounds is what has me excited, from a big-play machine in Dante Pettis to high-upside, underrated defenders in Fred Warner and Tarvarius Moore. Day 3 brought more of the same, with tons of potential and quality depth on both sides of the ball. Their last pick (Richie James) might have me the most excited."
Nate Davis, USA Today: C+
NFL draft grades 2018: Which teams had best, worst classes?
"Taking Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 would have felt like a huge reach last week, but it became apparent closer to the draft that the Niners couldn't wait to get him. Still, too high a price for a right tackle whose value might have been inflated in a weak draft at the position? Second rounder Dante Pettis adds immediate juice to the special teams, but at 6-1 and 186 pounds may be too slight to hold up at receiver. Third-round LB Fred Warner is additional insurance as the Niners prepare for the extended or permanent absence of 2017 first rounder Reuben Foster."
Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com: C
"John Lynch made three mistakes in the 2018 NFL Draft ... The first was picking Mike McGlinchey. The strength of the 49ers last year, prior to Jimmy Garoppolo starting, was the tackle play, so someone at that position wasn't needed ... The second was trading up for Dante Pettis. A receiver was needed, and Pettis is a solid prospect, but there was no run on receivers, so San Francisco would've been able to obtain a quality wideout had they remained at their pick. The third, meanwhile, was spending a fourth-round choice on Kentavius Street, a player who tore his ACL in pre-draft workouts. He won't be able to contribute this year.
"I don't want to be completely negative about the 49ers because they added some solid players. I do like McGlinchey and Pettis, and they found some nice bargains in linebacker Fred Warner and cornerback D.J. Reed. However, the mistakes Lynch was guilty of have to push this grade down. The 49ers could've done much better than this."
