ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has just released his latest mock draft, and it has the San Francisco 49ers addressing their offensive line needs. With the initial wave of free agency signings complete, analysts can better predict what teams might do in next month's rookie selection event.
Last month, ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine, Kiper projected the 49ers selecting former Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson. San Francisco has recently bolstered its defensive end spot opposite Nick Bosa by signing Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos.
In his latest mock draft, Kiper has the Niners selecting former Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten with the No. 31 overall pick.
"The 49ers have been able to make several moves in free agency to make tweaks to their roster, acquiring veterans on short-term deals to build out their depth," Kiper wrote. "One position they haven't added? Offensive tackle, where soon-to-be-36-year-old Trent Williams is holding down the blindside and 2020 fifth-rounder Colton McKivitz just started every game on the right side. Williams ranked first in the league in pass block win rate among tackles (95.8%). McKivitz? He was 50th out of the 69 who played in at least 10 games. That's not good enough. I'd like to see San Francisco bring in some competition."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6' 5" and 308-pound Rosengarten posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.92 seconds, a vertical jump of 30 inches, a broad jump of nine feet, 5 inches, and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.6 seconds.
According to Pro Football Focus, Rosengarten allowed 32 pressures and no sacks through 1,235 pass-blocking snaps over the past two seasons with the Huskies, predominantly playing right tackle.
"I thought Rosengarten might return to college for another year; he could have been a top-10 pick with more seasoning," Kiper continued. "He might be a steal here, though, as the right tackle is aggressive as a run-blocker and solid in pass protection (though he had his worst game of the season in the national championship loss). I really liked his tape when I went back through after the season ended."