Multiple factors go into judging a draft. The simple quality of the players is paramount. However, key categories are also needed: what other players were still available at the time, and value (would he have been available later?). Below are my assessments of the players the Niners took and my grades. I will also occasionally note my emotional response to them (which did not go into my grading).
Round 1—Mykel Williams, defensive end/edge rusher, Georgia
I was disappointed when the pick was about to be made because the players I wanted—one of the top three offensive tackles—had already been taken. However, I was also relieved when they announced it because the Niners did not take three players whom I did not want them to take (Will Johnson, Josh Simmons, and especially Shemar Stewart).
The other position I wanted was defensive tackle, but of the two worthy of the 11th pick, Mason Graham (as expected) was long gone, and Walter Nolan apparently has some maturity red flags.
But I thought it was a good pick because Williams addresses a need and was one of the best players available, though he did have an injury last year. Now, though he had that injury, it was a long-lasting ankle sprain, and sprained ankles are not recurring injuries (the way hamstrings often are), and what he did show was his toughness. He is very young, only 20, but he was a team captain at Georgia and was known for his leadership and maturity. The Niners had brought in Williams for one of the 30 visits, and they therefore knew his attitude well.
So the main category to judge was availability. Jalon Walker was still there and was one of the few, very few this year, players with a true 1st-round grade.
The final note to make is that Williams went to Georgia, and I am not sure there is a better coach than Kirby Smart at training defensive linemen. The NFL is generally littered with Kirby Smart players, many of whom are stars. (Several Smart proteges have had character flaws. Williams is not one of those.)
My grade for this pick: B+
Round 2—Alfred Collins, defensive tackle, Texas
There is not much to say about this one.
Need: check. Defensive tackle is at the top of the list.
Ability: check. Collins was on everyone's list as an excellent DT.
Availability: check. No defensive tackles were still available who were considered better than Collins to any significant degree.
Red flags: None. Zero. Not within a mile.
Pedigree/Training: check. Texas has had a lot of success under Steve Sarkisian, so Collins is used to expecting to win. Knowing how to win can be huge in close games. And because Texas is now in the SEC, Collins has played against some of the best talent in the country. He played against Alabama (and 12th overall pick, guard Tyler Booker) and Georgia (three interior linemen drafted in the first three rounds), among others.
My grade: A. I love this pick.
Round 3 (first selection)—Nick Martin, linebacker, Oklahoma State
Martin had a knee injury last year and missed several games. He injured his MCL, though it did not require surgery. He is apparently healthy again, but his knees are a concern. How well the player will perform is a big question mark until they finally perform again.
There were other, more highly-rated linebackers still on the board at the time.
On the plus side, Martin was very productive in 2023, and his athletic ability is high. Matt Miller, a respected ESPN evaluator, called him a "classic 49ers linebacker," and Mel Kiper had him on his list of favorite sleeper picks before the draft.
My grade: B
Round 3 (second selection)—Upton Stout, cornerback, Western Kentucky
Stout was one of the prospects who zoomed up draft boards during the pre-draft process. Two knocks against him were that he played at a small college and is only 5'8". Many discounted him and projected him as a late-round selection, until the Senior Bowl. He simply wowed people there. Numerous reports—too many to link—listed Stout as one of the most noteworthy players that week. He impressed in coverage, in tackling, in ball skills, in toughness, in ... well, everything. Stout was also on Kiper's sleeper list, calling the corner "tough to get off the field because he prepares well and has an impressive skill set."
My grade: A. I love this pick.
Round 4 (first selection)—CJ West, DT, Indiana
No injury issues, no character red flags, and West was another player on Kiper's sleeper list. He is excellent against the run, and defending the run was one of the 49ers' biggest weaknesses last year. He also has pass-rush upside. I thought San Francisco needed to take two defensive tackles this year. West was on my list for a mid-round selection, and this is about where many projected him to go.
My grade: A. I love this pick.
Round 4 (second selection)—Jordan Watkins, wide receiver, Ole Miss
Ole Miss is a program that has been on the rise for a few years. Lane Kiffin is a great offensive mind, and his offenses put up big numbers. Watkins improved every year under Kiffin, and this past season, led the SEC in touchdown receptions. The 49ers lost Deebo Samuel this past offseason, Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from knee surgery and will miss several games, and Jauan Jennings is a free agent after this coming season.
My grade: B. We knew Lynch would draft a receiver at some point. Watkins looks to be someone who might be able to contribute this year, and if the 49ers are lucky, will develop. However, one of our two biggest needs is the offensive line. Lynch was still ignoring it.
Round 5 (first selection)—Jordan James, running back, Oregon
With the loss of Jordan Mason, it was clear Lynch would draft an RB at some point. At least he waited until the 5th round. His record of drafting running backs has been that the earlier in the draft he takes one, the worse the running back has been. And the 5th round has been one of Lynch's most successful rounds.
The biggest problem here is that Lynch had drafted no offensive linemen, which was one of the two biggest needs—both for the present and the near future (defensive line being the other glaring problem). Good running backs are available in undrafted free agency. Lynch found Mason there. Lynch needed to start addressing the offensive line here.
My grade: C. This pick displayed poor draft strategy.
Round 5 (second selection)—Marques Sigle, safety, Kansas State
Sigle ran a 4.37 40, and he is a good athlete. Ji'Ayir Brown has been inconsistent, and Malik Mustapha had some work done on his knee and will miss a number of games. Safety was therefore somewhat of a need. His position and speed also point to helping on special teams, and that unit has been a weakness for the 49ers for several years.
However, considering the relative value of positions, it would have been better to take a chance on an offensive lineman who might start and therefore help keep our quarterback upright than on a safety who might start in the defensive backfield.
My grade: B-. The relative potential value is not high enough.
Round 7 (first selection)—Kurtis Rourke, quarterback, Indiana
In free agency, the 49ers signed Mac Jones, a player Shanahan loved when the quarterback came out of Alabama. He will be the future backup and has more upside than Sam Darnold did when he joined the team in 2023. Kurtis Rourke played through a knee injury this past year and has been injured at other times in his career. He will likely begin the year on the PUP list.
My grade: F. There are very few times when picks are a complete waste. At best, he will make the team as a QB3. He offers no value on special teams. We have needs at other positions.
Round 7 (second selection)—Connor Colby, guard, Iowa
Lynch finally took an offensive lineman. The evaluators say he is very good in a zone blocking scheme. He was All-Big 10 this past season. He is a very good run blocker, but at this point, he is a liability in pass protection. He sounds like a backup at best right now, but someone who will stick on the team at least on the practice squad. And there were more highly rated linemen still available.
My grade: B-. This is the 7th round. It is the time of the draft when you take a player who might develop into a good player or at least a good depth piece. That looks to be the case here.
Round 7 (third selection)—Junior Bergen, WR, Montana
Bergen is a return specialist with eight career punt return touchdowns. Yes, it was at the FCS level, but that doesn't matter. It's difficult scoring return touchdowns at any level, and the 49ers' return game has been poor for years. Having someone comfortable back there would be an improvement over what we have had to watch for a long time.
My grade: A. Considering this was one of the last picks in the draft, getting a player who might touch the ball three or four times a game is huge. And if the defense improves as much as we hope, it might be even more.
Overall
This was a draft of two halves. The first two days were spent rebuilding the defense, and Lynch looks to have done an excellent job of that. However, every pick spent on the defense meant he was passing on an opportunity to upgrade the offensive line and protect the most important player on the team.
While there was logic to most of Lynch's picks, his dismissal of the importance of the offensive line became clearer and clearer. With as much attention paid to the defense, he should have spent at least three picks on the offensive line later to maximize the chance of getting at least one player who could start this year.
Last year, we saw that the team has to have depth at running back. We also know that the talented Jordan Mason was an undrafted free agent. Patrick Taylor, who averaged 4.7 yards per carry, was an undrafted free agent. We all hope Jordan James will turn out to be a good player, but we also know he will be a backup unless those ahead of him get hurt. The 49ers have one of the best players in the NFL (at any position) as the starter, while they have weak starters on the offensive line.
My grade overall: B. The draft began at the A level and devolved into several ill-advised picks. Lynch finished on a high note with his last pick, though.