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Draft grades roundup: 49ers get mixed reviews for second-round selection of OL Aaron Banks
Apr 30, 2021 at 7:13 PM
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Did the San Francisco 49ers land a potential long-term starter on the offensive line in second-round selection
Aaron Banks of Notre Dame? Or did they reach on a player who might not be the best choice for their system?
Early reactions to the pick from online analysts are all over the board on this one, with some praising the pick and others thinking
the Bay Area native Banks isn't the right fit for his hometown team.
Let's take a look at the reaction to this pick from those who have been posting instant analysis online. Click on a name or site to see that analyst's full grades.
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Bleacher Report/Brent Sobleski: D. "Some draft picks relative to their team fit just make you go 'hmmm,'" wrote Sobleski. "Banks is not the type of lineman often projected for the San Francisco 49ers' zone stretch. Typically, a heavy outside-zone system requires athletic interior blockers who display outstanding lateral movement. Banks isn't that. Kyle Shanahan and Co. typically deserve the benefit of the doubt. Here's hoping that this doesn't become a repeat of the Josh Garnett situation."
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CBS Sports/Chris Trapasso: C-plus. "Big, bruising guard with a wide body," wrote Trapasso. "Anchoring is naturally outstanding. Athleticism is average at best for the position. He'll handle power players well. Smaller types will give him problems. Weird fit in San Francisco."
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Draft Kings/Chet Gresham: B. "Banks is a physical presence at 6'5" 338 pounds, but he is still raw compared to some other linemen in the draft," wrote Gresham. "He'll need to refine his technique, but if he does, he's going to be imposing."
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Draft Wire/Luke Easterling: D. "The 49ers made a wise move to help out their new quarterback in Trey Lance, but Banks was a Day 3 prospect who would have been a much better value in the fourth round," wrote Easterling. "Seeing him go ahead of players like Ohio State's Wyatt Davis is puzzling, at best. The 49ers had a big need at corner, as well."
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Sporting News/Vinnie Iyer: B. "San Francisco made a pick tailored to its style of interior line play: extremely powerful with the capacity to get downhill in the running game with enough athleticism for the zone-blocking scheme," wrote Iyer. "Banks can start right away at right guard in front of Trey Lance."
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WalterFootball.com/Walter Cherepinsky: B-minus. "I've said this multiple times, but I'm always a fan of teams adding to the offensive line to protect a young quarterback," wrote Cherepinsky. "Trey Lance is raw, so he'll need all the protection he can get once he takes over for Jimmy Garoppolo. I had Banks slated as a third-round prospect, but I don't hate this value in the middle of the second frame."
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Eric Edholm/Yahoo Sports: C-minus. "Banks landed on the back end of the top 100 picks, as his lack of quickness was always going to limit his appeal to certain teams," wrote Edholm. "But Banks also can mash in the run game and was used at both guard spots in college. He's also pinch hit at left tackle on occasion. A nice player who adds physicality, but we viewed him more as a third-round prospect."
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