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An early look at targets for the 49ers in the 2023 NFL Draft
While the 2022 NFL Draft was just two months ago and the 49ers are contending for another playoff appearance, it is never too early to look at the next batch of prospects that could potentially elevate the roster during the current championship window.
Earlier last week,
PFF's Mike Renner highlighted one draft prospect that every NFL team should be watching for the 2023 NFL Draft, and provided an interesting selection for the 49ers: sixth-year USC offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees.
Renner acknowledged San Francisco's lack of a first-round selection in 2023, which is why he went deeper in the class to find a potential talent for San Francisco, although Vorhees could be a Day 1 starter after a breakout season in 2021.
"With no first-round pick to speak of, the 49ers will have to upgrade the interior of their offensive line in other ways. The good news is that's one position where Day 1 starters are commonplace outside the first round. Vorhees should hit the ground NFL-ready as a sixth-year player and fifth-year starter. He had a breakout 2021, where he earned a 90.0 overall grade."
The 49ers selected an offensive lineman early in the draft just a season ago with guard
Aaron Banks, who is expected to start next to
Trent Williams following the departure of veteran Laken Tomlinson in free agency.
Additionally, the 49ers have also drafted
Jaylon Moore,
Colton McKivitz,
Spencer Burford, and
Nick Zakelj in the later rounds of the past three drafts, adding to their current offensive line depth.
While San Francisco may opt to address the best-player-available once again given their draft position, they could look to, once again, draft an offensive lineman if one of their younger players does not develop as they had hoped during the 2022 season.
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49ers top draft picks impressing early at camp
It's always exciting to watch rookies enter their first NFL training camp. Just a few months ago, they were hearing their names called as they walked across the draft stage. Now, the draft hype has died down and they are entering unfamiliar territory as they attempt to take the gigantic leap from the collegiate level to the NFL.
So far, the 49ers should be encouraged by how their top draft picks have entered camp and handled their new competitive environment with maturity and a desire to not only earn a roster spot, but to become a contributing factor in the upcoming season.
Here is a quick look at how the top rookie performers have done in camp.
Drake Jackson, DE (2nd Rd, 61st overall)
Drake Jackson has shown up to camp
Kurt Warner offers honest early training camp assessment of 49ers QB Trey Lance
This is Trey Lance's first training camp as a starting NFL quarterback. He spent last season as a backup to Jimmy Garoppolo, starting just two games during his rookie campaign. The San Francisco 49ers continue to seek a trade for Garoppolo, leaving Lance as the undisputed QB1 in Santa Clara.
NFL quarterback turned NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner recently visited practice and got his first good look at the 22-year-old quarterback. He offered an assessment during The Rich Eisen show.
"Great kid," Warner told Eisen. "I never had met him before. I'd heard some great things. It was great just talking to him both off camera and on camera. Talking to everybody throughout the organization, [they are] really excited to have him as their leader. Not a knock on
Kyle Shanahan: 49ers were 'locked in' on Trey Lance and Mac Jones leading to 2021 draft
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joined the I Am Athlete podcast and was asked about the process leading to the team selecting quarterback Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall draft pick last year. There was a lot of speculation surrounding who the 49ers were looking to draft after trading up from the No. 12 spot. Many felt Shanahan had targeted quarterback Mac Jones, while many fans scoffed at the idea.
Jones was a target—along with Lance.
"We did the trade so early that it made me feel good about it because I knew before we did it how I felt about the quarterbacks," Shanahan said,
How does 49ers WR Deebo Samuel's contract rank against other NFL WRs?
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Jul 31
San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel finally agreed to an extension with the organization, getting a three-year, $71.55 million deal worth up to $73.5 million with $58.1 million guaranteed.
The new deal now keeps Samuel with the 49ers through 2025, as he still has another year remaining on his rookie deal.
How does Samuel's deal rank against other receivers who earned extensions this offseason, especially the other fourth-year receivers who received deals as well?
Fellow fourth-year receivers A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, and Terry McLaurin all signed extensions
