The first day of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books, and plenty of talent remains to be had. Rounds two and three kick off this evening, and the San Francisco 49ers' first selections come at the end of the third round, barring any trades.
With 31 prospects officially off draft boards, The Athletic's Dane Brugler moved forward, projecting what might happen in the next two rounds. The draft analyst has the 49ers addressing the defense with their first selections, Nos. 99 and 101, before finding a tight end to complement All-Pro George Kittle at No. 102.
Round 3, Pick 99: Marte Mapu, LB/S, Sacramento State
Marte Mapu played in thirteen games as a senior with the Hornets, totaling a career-high 76 tackles to go with his 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, and one forced fumble, per the school's athletics site. He earned 2022 first-team All-Big Sky honors and became the second Sacramento State player all-time to be named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.
The defender suffered a chest injury during a pre-draft workout but expects to be full-go for an NFL training camp. He did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine.
"Mapu has mismatch-creating ability with the run defending of a linebacker but the movement skills of a safety who can make plays in coverage," wrote Brugler.
A California native (he attended high school in Hawthorne), Mapu accrued 165 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 22 passes defensed, and seven interceptions through the 41 games played during his collegiate career.
Round 3, Pick 101: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland
Jakorian Bennett registered 39 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, 11 passes defensed, and two interceptions through 12 game appearances as a senior in 2022, per Sports Reference. He recorded 69 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 24 passes defensed, and five interceptions through his three collegiate seasons.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 5' 10 5/8" and 188-pound Bennett had a 40-time of 4.3 seconds, a vertical jump of 40.5 inches, a broad jump of 133 inches, and 13 reps in the bench press. His other measurables include an arm length of 31 7/8 inches and hands measuring 9 1/8 inches.
Round 3, Pick 102: Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
Luke Schoonmaker registered 35 receptions for 418 yards and three touchdowns through 12 game appearances as a senior in 2022, per Sports Reference, missing two games due to injury. He caught 54 passes for 637 yards with seven touchdowns through his collegiate career.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6' 5 1/4" and 251-pound Schoonmaker had a 40-time of 4.63 seconds, a vertical jump of 33.5 inches, a broad jump of 127 inches, and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.27 seconds. His other measurables include an arm length of 32 7/8 inches and hands measuring 9 inches.
"I think I surprised a few of them at least," Schoonmaker recently told The Draft Network regarding his Combine numbers. "I'm sure there were some scouts that were expecting a lot out of me. Either way, my goal was to reach the expectations I set for myself. I wanted to be one of the top-performing tight ends in the class."