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You have to applaud anyone who puts in the effort to build out a seven-round mock draft. After the first dozen or so selections, there will be more missed projections and hits. However, these massive efforts are a good indicator of the perceived needs of each team.
NFL.com's Chad Reuter is the latest analyst to
deliver a seven-round mock draft. While it does contain trades, it doesn't feature the San Francisco 49ers shipping off wide receiver
Deebo Samuel to get back into the first round. The 49ers lack a first-round pick this year and next, thanks to last year's trade to draft quarterback
Trey Lance. For now, San Francisco's first selection comes in the second round, at pick No. 61 overall.
With that selection, Reuter has the team bolstering the defensive backfield with Maryland safety
Nick Cross. Former 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt remains a free agent while Jimmie Ward is entering the final year of his contract.
Cross registered 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two passes defensed, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles through 12 game appearances as a junior in 2021, per
Sports Reference. He recorded 134 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, 10 passes defensed, five interceptions, and three forced fumbles through his three collegiate seasons.
The 49ers' following selection comes in round three at No. 93 overall. Reuter has the team sticking with defense, adding Western Kentucky pass rusher
DeAngelo Malone. The team could see him as a nice bookend to complement two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher
Nick Bosa.
Malone registered 94 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, four passes defensed, and four forced fumbles through 14 game appearances as a senior in 2021, per
Sports Reference. He has recorded 349 tackles, 59 tackles for a loss, 32.5 sacks, an interception, and seven passes defensed through five seasons with the Hilltoppers.
San Francisco owns the final selection of the third round—a compensatory pick. Reuter projects three straight defensive picks by general manager John Lynch and company. He has the team adding Pittsburgh cornerback
Damarri Mathis.
Mathis registered 43 tackles, two interceptions, a touchdown, and five passes defensed through 12 game appearances in 2021, per
Sports Reference. He recorded 86 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 18 passes defensed, five interceptions, and a touchdown through his collegiate career.
Those are the first three 49ers selections from Reuter's seven-round mock draft. San Francisco owns six more picks, though, including the final selection of the 2022 NFL Draft. Those six projected selections are below.
- Round 4, Pick 134: OG Logan Bruss, Wisconsin
- Round 5, Pick 172: RB Zander Horvath, Purdue
- Round 6, Pick 187: Edge Cameron Goode, California
- Round 6, Pick 220: WR Calvin Turner Jr., Hawaii
- Round 6, Pick 221: OG Zach Thomas, San Diego State
- Round 7, Pick 262: TE Nick Muse, South Carolina
On Tuesday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he remains "pretty optimistic" that quarterback Brock Purdy would be available for Week 1 of the 2023 season. The 23-year-old underwent surgery on March 10 to repair the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear in his right elbow.
Purdy is hopeful to be on the field with his teammates against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10.
"Feeling good and taking it one day at a time," Purdy told reporters after Tuesday's practice, the second of organized team activities (OTAs). The quarterback obviously did not participate. However, the 49ers remain hopeful that Purdy can start some limited throwing
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead joined NFL Network's Good Morning Football on Thursday to discuss the state of the team at the start of organized team activities (OTAs). Armstead is part of a defensive line that includes NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and added former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
The question that had to be asked: Does San Francisco own the best defensive line in football?
"Well, on paper, I guess you could say that, but 'on paper' doesn't win any game," Armstead responded. "But we're excited about getting together and starting that journey of
Brock Purdy came out of nowhere, taking the entire NFL by surprise while helping the San Francisco 49ers rattle off eight consecutive wins on the way to the NFC Championship Game. The rookie was phenomenal in his first NFL season, stepping into action in Week 13 after the team lost quarterbacks Trey Lance (in Week 2) and Jimmy Garoppolo to injuries.
Purdy suffered his own injury in that NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. But before that, the young quarterback proved to everyone that he could play in the NFL.
"I think you can look at his first game that he played, just stepping right in and really looking unfazed and really comfortable out there," defensive lineman Arik Armstead
The San Francisco 49ers started organized team activities (OTAs) this week. They held their first practice on Monday. Tuesday was the first session open to the media, and reporters got glimpses of quarterbacks Trey Lance and Sam Darnold throwing, along with the rest of the team's work.
Lance and Darnold are competing for that QB2 spot behind a sidelined Brock Purdy. One could even be the starting quarterback when San Francisco's regular season kicks off on September 10, assuming Purdy isn't yet available.
Below are some videos from Tuesday's practice that various sources
