Mock drafts will never please everyone, especially when they solely focus on the first 32 selections without offering perspective on what might come beyond the first round. Regarding the San Francisco 49ers, analyst Daniel Jeremiah's latest mock draft was no different. He projected former Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson to join the Bay Area team.
Why the skepticism from fans? The 49ers' free agency focus has been on revamping their defensive front. After allowing Arik Armstead, Chase Young, and others to depart for other organizations, the team addressed last season's inconsistent play by adding defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos, trading for defensive tackle Maliek Collins, and signing Jordan Elliott.
During a Thursday conversation with Bay Area radio station KNBR, Jeremiah praised the Floyd signing, declaring it an upgrade over Young and the players that rotated on the edge of the defensive line opposite Nick Bosa.
The free-agency moves suggest that San Francisco is gearing up to address the offensive line in next month's draft, a move that the fanbase would applaud. That's why the Robinson projection has garnered some criticism.
During the conversation on the "Murph & Markus" show, Jeremiah shared why general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan might still use the No. 31 overall pick to bolster the pass rush.
"Look, when I look at the Niners, it's a philosophical thing," Jeremiah explained. "It's them, it's the Eagles, the Jets are another team. They all run that same front. They all want to attack with their front, and they all want to roll guys through. And [defensive line coach] Kris Kocurek has done such a wonderful job of that, having different waves of rushers.
"You look at it and say, 'Okay, gosh, you've got Bosa, you just paid Floyd, you've still got Drake Jackson there, you bring in Yetur Gross-Matos,' it doesn't matter. You can never have enough of those guys. And if you have talent that slides down the board and lands in your lap, they will continue to address that."
Jeremiah doesn't dismiss the possibility of the 49ers addressing the offensive line with their first draft pick, adding, "I think the offensive line, the defensive line, they're always fair game for that."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Jeremiah below.
