The San Francisco 49ers got some needed offensive line help at pick 23 in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday night, selecting Kansas lineman Dominick Puni with the 86th overall pick.
The 49ers traded up from pick 94 to select Puni, shipping a fourth-round pick (132nd overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange.
Here's a look at what to know about Puni (6-5, 320, 24 years old) as he begins his NFL career.
Where he fits
Puni has the potential to play anywhere on the offensive line but is projected primarily as a guard. Analyst Matt Miller of ESPN.com thinks Puni could start immediately at right guard for the 49ers.
"The No. 76 overall player on my board, Puni is a plug-and-play starter at guard who had experience at tackle in college," wrote Miller. "The 49ers' right side of the offensive line has been an issue with no notable long-term answers at any position from center to right tackle. Puni should get every chance to be the team's Week 1 starting right guard but could even get looks at right tackle if the team likes his transition there."
As Miller mentioned, Puni could give the 49ers a boost on the right side of the line in the short term while also getting the chance to position himself as a starter in the long term. The 49ers return starters Jon Feliciano at right guard and Colton McKivitz at right tackle, but neither is signed past the 2024 season. The 49ers also added free agent veteran Brandon Parker as a candidate at right tackle and have guard Spencer Burford returning for his third year. Left guard Aaron Banks is in the final year of his rookie contract as well.
For now, expect Puni to get his first NFL opportunities at guard.
"I actually took a visit to the 49ers about two weeks ago," Puni told reporters Friday evening. "It was my last visit. They saw me more as an interior, so guard, center, being able to help outside. Tackle if needed in a pitch."
Puni can also serve as a backup to center Jake Brendel if need be.
"I feel real comfortable snapping the ball," Puni said Friday. "And I did it against the best competition in college, so I'm very comfortable with it."
A long road
Puni was lightly recruited coming out of Francis Howell Central High School in St. Charles, Missouri, which led him to start his career in 2018 at the University of Central Missouri, a Division II school. Puni started for Central Missouri in 2019, then saw his 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 and missed much of his 2021 season due to injury. Eventually, he found a spot at Kansas, where he started 25 games and emerged as an NFL prospect.
"The path has been crazy," Puni said Friday. "I mean, I started at Central Missouri, Division Two. Not a lot of people know about it. So just kind of a shout out to small school guys all over. But transferring to Kansas really helped, just allowing people to be able to see me on a higher stage -- power five, and then taking it to the NFL."
Puni is looking forward to getting his chance to contribute to the 49ers however he is needed.
"I just think my ambition is really I want to help the team in any way," Puni said. "I want to be able to play. My thing is versatility. So, you know, center, guard, tackle, wherever they can put me, wherever I can play, where I can help the team. That's really my ambition."
Accolades
Puni wound up with an impressive resume after two seasons at Kansas. He was named First Team All-Big 12 in 2023 and was a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award. Puni did not allow a sack throughout the 2023 season.
Pro Football Focus gave Puni a grade of 80.6 as a starter at left tackle in 2023. His grade placed him 11th nationally at his position.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Puni clocked in at 5.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 1.86-second 10-yard split. Puni also posted a 30-inch vertical jump, an 8-foot/11-inch broad jump, a 7.47-second 3-cone drill, and a 4.4-second 20-yard shuttle.
A look at Puni in action against another NFL prospect
Puni caught some attention early in the 2023 season with a fine showing against the University of Illinois and defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, who was selected early in the second round Friday night. Take a look at the highlights below:
"Puni entered the year with ample NFL excitement and talent as a tackle/guard prospect, but he's continued to impress all season," wrote Ryan Galko of CBS Sports. "His play against a versatile, highly talented Illinois defensive front seven will be a key tape NFL scouts and decision makers go back to watch when deciding how early to draft Puni. It's to find versatile, balanced and strong offensive linemen like Puni, and he's proving to be among the best in the country this season so far."
Not the first NFL Puni
Puni's brother Derrick, who also attended Central Missouri, had a chance at making the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Derrick, an offensive tackle, caught on with the Dallas Cowboys for a brief time but was unable to stick on the roster during the season.