By this time last year, San Francisco 49ers fans were laser-focused on the 2019 NFL Draft and the prospects who might land with the Kyle Shanahan-led squad. This year, after an impressive turnaround, fans are thinking championship.
Still, the draft projections continue, and Mel Kiper of ESPN has released his first mock draft of the year.
The 49ers won't have the same type of first-round pick as last year, obviously. Kiper has them selecting at No. 31 because the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco's Super Bowl LIV opponent, rank higher in ESPN's Football Power Index. Should the 49ers beat the Chiefs on February 2, Kansas City would be selecting at No. 31, and San Francisco 49ers would be last in the draft order.
Kiper notes that his mock draft is based on each team's needs right now and how he sees positions that could be upgraded. Obviously, things will change as the draft draws near.
So what direction does the analyst envision the 49ers going? He has them selecting safety Grant Delpit of LSU.
Kiper notes that San Francisco has to hit a home run with its first-round pick because, as it stands right now, it doesn't select again until the fifth round thanks to trades for pass rusher Dee Ford and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
Kiper writes the following about the selection:
"Delpit was getting top-10 buzz early in the season, but he didn't have a great year, fighting through an ankle injury and missing too many tackles. This feels like a good pairing, with San Francisco potentially losing Jimmie Ward in free agency. Delpit has a ton of talent, but I want to see how he tests at the combine in a few weeks."
Delpit finished his collegiate career with 199 tackles, 17.5 for a loss, seven sacks, eight interceptions, 24 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His best season came during his 2018 sophomore year when he racked up 74 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, five sacks, five interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Kiper understandably has LSU quarterback Joe Burrow going No. 1 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals.
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