Now that we know the San Francisco 49ers are in the playoffs, The Faithful are assured of at least two more games. We will tune in wearing our game gear at least into the second week of January.
The other football being played at that time, though, is the College Football Playoff, and given how important the NFL draft is to building this team, it is good to prepare early.
Here is a partial list of players to watch in the upcoming games. I looked at positions that would be needs for the Niners, so you won't see any running backs or quarterbacks here. I am also doing this by matchup rather than an overall list, and I am organizing them by projected round where appropriate. (Projected rounds come from Matt Miller's comments on ESPN.com.)
Game 1: Miami vs. Ohio State
December 31, 7:30, ESPN
Both teams have prospects that will be taken in the top 10, so I am not including them here. While I always fantasize about the 49ers drafting certain players, I also live in the real world.
Ohio State
OSU is the team most loaded with prospects eligible for this year's draft, and the 49ers could do well even if they went all-OSU for a few rounds.
Round 1:
Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald
McDonald is the kind of defensive tackle that the 49ers should look to draft. Although he had only three sacks this year, the potential is there.
Round 2:
Offensive tackle Austin Siereveld
Siereveld has not allowed a sack all season, and Ohio State played against some top competition. He is someone to pay close attention to in the playoffs, as he will be going up against two premier pass rushers for Miami, Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor.
Edge Kenyatta Jackson
Jackson really developed this year, generating 6.5 sacks. If he fell to the 3rd, this would be a bargain.
Cornerback Davison Igbinosun
Corner should not be a top priority, but Ohio State has been a factory for excellent corners, and Niners defensive back Renardo Green has struggled at times.
Round 3:
Edge Caden Curry
Buckeye edge rusher Arvell Reese will be a top 5 pick, but it is Curry who leads the team with 11 sacks. In the 3rd round, this would be amazing.
Miami
Round 2:
Edge Akheem Mesidor
Playing opposite top-10 pick Rueben Bain, Mesidor put up 8.5 sacks, and he was a force against Texas A&M in the first playoff game, with 1.5 sacks and the same number of tackles for loss.
Cornerback Keionte Scott
Scott was all over the field for Miami, with two forced fumbles, an interception, and five sacks. Ohio State has the best pair of receivers in the country, so Scott will be able to show how worthy he is of an early Day 2 pick.
Game 2: Oregon vs. Texas Tech
January 1, 12:00, ESPN
Texas Tech
Texas Tech quietly moved up the rankings all year. The offense is potent, averaging over 40 points per game, and the defense is explosive, recording nearly four sacks per game. It is a stingy unit, giving up just over 10 points per game. Although their competition was not strong, in the three games against ranked opponents, they allowed only three touchdowns.
Round 1:
Edge David Bailey
Mel Kiper Jr. has Bailey as his #1 outside linebacker, which translates to edge rusher. Bailey was a force this year with 13.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. That is the kind of player General Manager John Lynch wants to put across from defensive end Nick Bosa. Defensive end Mykel Williams would slide inside on passing downs.
Round 2:
Edge Romello Height
Height is just outside draft guru Mel Kiper Jr's top 10 for Edge rushers, but he generated nine sacks. San Francisco needs pressure badly.
Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez
Rodriguez forced seven fumbles and intercepted four passes. That is impact.
Oregon
Oregon will be the toughest test for the Red Raiders, and the Ducks have several players who would look great in scarlet and gold.
Round 2:
Offensive tackle Isaiah World
World is an athletic tackle who would immediately upgrade the right side of the line. Getting him in the second round would be a steal.
Offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon
Left guard is a big need for the Niners, and Pregnon, who transferred in from Wyoming, would be a big help.
Round 3:
Center Iapani Laloulu
Center is also a position of need, and if John Lynch waits until the 3rd round to take one. Laloulu would be a good pick.
Game 3: Alabama vs. Indiana
January 1, 4:00, ESPN
While Indiana is the top seed, Alabama also boasts quite a few draftable prospects.
Indiana
Round 2:
Offensive tackle Carter Smith
Wide receiver Omar Cooper
Tackle and receiver are major needs for the Niners. Colton McKivitz is a liability at right tackle, and superstar Trent Williams will be 38 before next season begins. Draft Guru has Smith as the #9 OT and Cooper as just outside his top 10, so both should be available in the 2nd round, and even the 3rd if we are lucky.
Round 4:
Defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker
At 6'0, 298 pounds, Tucker is roughly the same size as his former teammate and 49ers rookie, CJ West, but Tucker had 5.5 sacks this year, and San Francisco needs some push in the middle.
Alabama
As an Alabama grad, I have seen these players extensively.
Round 1:
Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor
Proctor is a polarizing figure who will drop because of inconsistency. Though he is huge, he is also extremely athletic. How many 6'7", 366-pound linemen line up in a trips formation as the targeted wide receiver? Proctor did and nearly scored. But he would be a risk.
Wide receiver Germie Bernard
Bernard would be one of my favorite players the Niners could take. He has solid speed and is a strong, tough receiver. If they lose Jauan Jennings, Bernard would be a good replacement. Alabama also has packages to run him out of the backfield, so head coach Kyle Shanahan can bring back some of the plays he created for Deebo Samuel. Bernard is lower on some lists, so it is possible he would fall to the 2nd.
Round 2:
Edge LT Overton
Overton is a classic defensive end. He is a good all-purpose defensive end but not a sack master.
Safety Bray Hubbard
While the current 49ers starting safeties, Ji'Ayir Brown and Malik Mustafa, are solid, both are erratic. Brown has two interceptions, and Mustafa one, and both have dropped easy balls. They only have one forced fumble between them.
Hubbard is not only an excellent tackler but also a turnover machine with three forced fumbles and four interceptions this year. He is always around the ball.
The 49ers are 21st in the league in turnover production with just sixteen, so improving in that department should be a priority.
Round 3:
Center Parker Brailsford
Brailsford is ranked in the top 5 in most evaluators' center rankings and is an experienced, athletic offensive line anchor. Center needs to be a priority for the Niners.
Round 4:
Linebacker Deontae Lawson
Linebacker Justin Jefferson
This year, Lawson plays on the outside and Jefferson plays in the middle. Lawson is a senior coached by Nick Saban and is a reliable force, a sideline-to-sideline linebacker. He has also played in the middle, so he has some versatility. Jefferson is an outstanding athlete who can blitz effectively. Either would upgrade the 49ers' linebacker depth and push to start as the #3 linebacker in base packages.
Bonus #1:
For some reason, Miller does not have edge rusher/linebacker Yhonzae Pierre on his list. Though only a redshirt sophomore, he is draft-eligible. He was not expected to start this year, but with injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, he started early and took advantage, recording 6.5 sacks on the toughest schedule in the FBS and three forced fumbles. If Pierre does come out, he would be a fantastic 3rd-round pick.
Bonus #2, Round 5:
Tight end Josh Cuevas
I am generally not looking at players slated to be taken in later rounds, but I have seen a lot of Cuevas this year, and he is the kind of player who can really hurt a defense if they pay too much attention to the outside receivers. He doesn't get much media attention, but he has been the difference in some of the Tide's wins.
Game 4: Ole Miss vs. Georgia
January 1, 8:00, ESPN
Georgia
Although UGA is ranked #3, many are predicting that they will take home the trophy. For me, Kirby Smart is the best coach in the country, and Georgia has won two titles in the past four years. They know how to win. The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl last year with four Georgia products manning their defense (and four starters on offense from Alabama). Drafting champions can be a good philosophy. Though the Bulldogs are not as loaded as they have been in the past, they still have a lot of talent on that roster.
Round 1:
Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling
Freeling gave up only two sacks this season and, though an underclassman, has started for three years at a top program against the best competition in the country.
Round 2:
Defensive tackle Christen Miller
Miller is a solid, versatile man in the middle and can play multiple spots along the Niner defensive line. Though he is not a big sack generator, he would provide good push and help those on the outside get home.
Round 4:
Offensive guard Micah Morris
This is a major area of need for the 49ers. If John Lynch waits to take offensive linemen, which is his MO, getting someone from a program that required battling the best players in the country would be a good idea. There would be a shorter transition period to adjusting to the talent in the NFL.
Bonus, Round 6:
Offensive tackle Earnest Greene III
It seems like Greene has been playing on this offensive line forever. He is a veteran who could become a good swing tackle in the NFL, maybe even a quality starter if you're lucky. This is the kind of player to jump at in a late round.
Ole Miss
The Rebels are not stocked with a lot of draft-worthy prospects this year, but there are a few.
Round 3:
Linebacker (?) Suntarine Perkins
I put a question mark before Perkins' name because it isn't clear where he would line up. He weighs only 210 pounds, which is awfully light for a linebacker, and in 2024, he had 10.5 sacks. So does that make him an edge rusher? A blitzing 'backer?
Ultimately, he is a playmaker, and the team would have to determine whether he fits the 49ers' scheme.
Tight end Dae'Quan Wright
John Lynch has been looking for a tight end to complement star George Kittle for years, and if the Niners want to draft one this early (which I would not), Wright might be someone to consider.
It may seem early to some, but one can never be looking too far ahead, and we know the 49ers' scouts have been taking notes and writing reports for months.
Now, they just need to listen to me.