The San Francisco 49ers have several positions to bolster via the upcoming draft. While most of the starting lineup seems set, the team lost some key depth via free agency.
NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter published his latest four-round mock draft and has the 49ers addressing some of those needs. Unfortunately, San Francisco doesn't make a pick until late in the third round, where they own three of the final four selections in that round.
Reuter has the Niners adding BYU offensive tackle Blake Freeland at pick No. 99.
San Francisco watched starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey depart for the Denver Broncos. The team brought back Colton McKivitz, who has started five games since the Niners made him a fifth-round draft pick out of West Virginia in 2020.
Freeland allowed only seven pressures in 462 pass-blocking snaps (860 total snaps) in 2022, per Pro Football Focus, earning a career-high 91.0 overall grade from the analytics site and a career-high run-blocking grade of 87.9. He has allowed only 12 pressures in 1,736 total snaps over the past two seasons.
Reuter has the 49ers adding Cal safety Daniel Scott with pick No. 101.
Defensive back Jimmie Ward, a safety who primarily lined up as the nickel cornerback in 2022, departed for the Houston Texans. Safety Tashaun Gipson returned to the 49ers on a one-year deal, and the team added free-agent safety Myles Hartsfield.
Scott recorded a career-high 85 tackles to go along with his 2.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, four passes defensed, and two forced fumbles with the Golden Bears in 2022, per Sports Reference. He has hauled in six interceptions over the past two seasons.
Reuter has San Francisco selecting Ohio State edge rusher Zach Harrison with pick No. 102.
The team lost edge rushers Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu, and Jordan Willis in free agency while adding former Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell.
Harrison racked up 11 sacks over his collegiate career, per Sports Reference. Three-and-a-half came in 2022. The defensive lineman added a career-high 34 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, an interception, four passes defensed, and three forced fumbles as a senior with the Buckeyes.
San Francisco does not own a fourth-round pick.
