Restocking the DL (early draft crushes)

In my mind, the biggest draft priority for the 49ers is to restock the DL, especially DE where the cupboard is awfully bare. Luckily, this year's draft has some compelling players in the Round 3-5 range. Here are the prospects who have caught my eye so far...

DE YaYa Diaby Louisville 6'3" 263
Diaby came into the combine projected to be a later Day 3 pick and then he set the event on fire. He blazed a 4.51 40 and had the second fastest 10 yard split - 1.56 which is elite. When you match his solid production (9 sacks last year) with his long arms, a sinewy build and explosive traits, Diaby has the potential to develop into a 10 sack a year DE in the NFL. I think he's now firmly positioned himself in the Round 4-5 range and I wouldn't hesitate to grab him with one of the Niners late 3rd Round picks.

DE Jose Ramirez Eastern Michigan 6'2" 242
Ramirez is this year James Houston, an undersized small school prospect who comes screaming off the edge. His 4.73 40 didn't blow anyone away given his size, but he had the best 3-cone and short shuttle times of the entire DE class, highlighting his change of direction and burst. He won't be an every-down DE because of his size, but he projects as a strong pass rush specialist that the Niners can grab in the round 5-6 range.

DE Ochaun Mathis Nebraska 6'5" 250
Mathis is an imposing DE with >35" arms and massive hands. He came to Nebraska as a highly-touted recruit but his production was so-so. However, he looks and moves like the prototypical DE having posted outstanding 40, 10 yard split and short shuttle times. The bet with Mathis is that he can finally put it all together at the next level.

DE Colby Wooden Auburn 6'4" 273
Wooden is on this list because by all accounts he's an outstanding individual; no one will outwork him. He had a good but not elite combine, posting strong times in the 40, 10 yard split and short shuttle. He strikes me as a very safe rotational guy who will play in the league for 10 seasons.

DT Zacch Pickens South Carolina 6'4" 291
Pickens is long (>34" inch arms) and explosive. His performance at the Senior Bowl really caught my attention and his combine numbers affirmed the reports of dominance. Given all the question marks around Javon Kinlaw, Pickens may be the South Carolina DT that actually gives the Niners a consistent interior presence, though he may have worked himself into the early 3rd / late 2nd round conversation over the last month.

DT Moro Ojomo Texas 6'3" 292
Ojomo tore up the combine finishing in the top 6 in 10-yard split, vertical, broad and bench (despite 34.5 inch arms) categories. He's an incredibly stout run defender who has some upside as an interior pass rusher too.

Agree with you that restocking the DL should be one of the Niners highest priorities this year. Did a post about the NT prospects (https://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/nfl-draft/196565-nt-draft-prospects-for-2023/) already. I would add a couple of names to my crush list:

DE/Edge
Byron Young Tennessee
Isaiah McGuire Missouri
Thomas Incoom Central Michigan

One Gap DT's
Karl Brooks Bowling Green
Dante Stills West Virginia
Kobie Turner Wake Forest

Diaby Bosa and Jackson would be a good 3 man rotation. Keeanu Benton is a good DT to consider.

I have serious concerns about investing more in the DL.
1. We have an excellent DL coach. Let him coach up mediocre players as opposed to a lot of elite.
2. Philly had a fantastic DL, and it meant nothing against KC. I am starting to think that focusing more on the back 7 might be a more viable defensive strategy. Mediocre run-stuffer DL to stop the running game, and the LB, CB, and Safety doing a great job covering the pass. Mediocre CB aren't that good, but run-stuffing DL are quite common and effective.
3. We just invested a 2nd round pick in the DL. Other areas have a greater need.

Originally posted by fryet:
I have serious concerns about investing more in the DL.
1. We have an excellent DL coach. Let him coach up mediocre players as opposed to a lot of elite.
2. Philly had a fantastic DL, and it meant nothing against KC. I am starting to think that focusing more on the back 7 might be a more viable defensive strategy. Mediocre run-stuffer DL to stop the running game, and the LB, CB, and Safety doing a great job covering the pass. Mediocre CB aren't that good, but run-stuffing DL are quite common and effective.
3. We just invested a 2nd round pick in the DL. Other areas have a greater need.

i disagree with #2. The way the NFL is built defensive backs are at a severe disadvantage. There arent any shutdown corners anymore. A strong DL gives the QB less time to find a guy. If you give a QB too much time all 32 QBs in the league will pick you apart. If you don't give them time you stand a great chance at winning the game. As far as KC goes, Mahomes is just a unicorn.

I was thinking Keondre Coburn as a possibility in round 5. He has the DJ Jones vibe where he has the bulk but just needs to get stronger. A good rotation piece early in his career.

Originally posted by fryet:
I have serious concerns about investing more in the DL.
1. We have an excellent DL coach. Let him coach up mediocre players as opposed to a lot of elite.
2. Philly had a fantastic DL, and it meant nothing against KC. I am starting to think that focusing more on the back 7 might be a more viable defensive strategy. Mediocre run-stuffer DL to stop the running game, and the LB, CB, and Safety doing a great job covering the pass. Mediocre CB aren't that good, but run-stuffing DL are quite common and effective.
3. We just invested a 2nd round pick in the DL. Other areas have a greater need.

This is crazy talk to me.

1. He is great but he's not a magician. Can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t. Give him some talent to work with and we'll get some dominant DL play

2. Meant nothing against KC because they were weak vs the run and their pass rush was falling on their ass on that turf. That's like pointing to our dominant 2019 DL not getting it done vs KC and saying we don't need that again. Not to mention our back 7 was considerably better than what the Eagles had. Some of them are free agents so we have to either re-sign them or bring in replacements but Eagles DL is also a reason they got to the SB in the first place.

3. You clearly haven't looked at our list of free agents. Here are the guys under contract for next year on the DL: Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Drake Jackson, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens(he may be RFA), Kalia Davis.

4. Check out #3.

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by fryet:
I have serious concerns about investing more in the DL.
1. We have an excellent DL coach. Let him coach up mediocre players as opposed to a lot of elite.
2. Philly had a fantastic DL, and it meant nothing against KC. I am starting to think that focusing more on the back 7 might be a more viable defensive strategy. Mediocre run-stuffer DL to stop the running game, and the LB, CB, and Safety doing a great job covering the pass. Mediocre CB aren't that good, but run-stuffing DL are quite common and effective.
3. We just invested a 2nd round pick in the DL. Other areas have a greater need.

This is crazy talk to me.

1. He is great but he's not a magician. Can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t. Give him some talent to work with and we'll get some dominant DL play

2. Meant nothing against KC because they were weak vs the run and their pass rush was falling on their ass on that turf. That's like pointing to our dominant 2019 DL not getting it done vs KC and saying we don't need that again. Not to mention our back 7 was considerably better than what the Eagles had. Some of them are free agents so we have to either re-sign them or bring in replacements but Eagles DL is also a reason they got to the SB in the first place.

3. You clearly haven't looked at our list of free agents. Here are the guys under contract for next year on the DL: Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Drake Jackson, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens(he may be RFA), Kalia Davis.

4. Check out #3.

Well said genus49. Only other point I would make is the Niners have certain position groups that they always draft for every year (e.g. RB). Niners rely on a rotation to keep their DL fresh and effective. They have holes to fill and may have another if they decide to trade Kinlaw.

Looking at the Superbowl and thinking "meh, DL can't be that important because it didn't work vs mahomes" is insane to me. You still have to make it to the Superbowl first..

I think we're fine at the DE position at the moment, I'm more concern of our DTs since we have Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum starting.

Originally posted by 9moon:
I think we're fine at the DE position at the moment, I'm more concern of our DTs since we have Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum starting.

Do people not even follow who our free agents we are?

At the moment these are the DEs under contract with us
Bosa
Drake Jackson
Alex Barrett

I am not saying we want 0 pashrush, but I would rather have our DL coach take a run stuffer and give him some pash rush moves, than paying a premium and constant 1st round picks on DL. As for the field, if the DL is key to your defense, and a bad field eliminates your DL, then your defense is at the mercy of things outside of their control.

You can't have elite in all areas of defense. Right now, the focus is more DL and LB, and lesser quality in the secondary. I am just thinking maybe we should get more mediocre on DL, and try and get more elite in the secondary.

This would be a long term move. In the short term, I can't see us not signing Nick Bosa to a very expensive contract.

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by 9moon:
I think we're fine at the DE position at the moment, I'm more concern of our DTs since we have Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum starting.

Do people not even follow who our free agents we are?

At the moment these are the DEs under contract with us
Bosa
Drake Jackson
Alex Barrett

What round are you thinking of drafting a DE? we drafted Drake last year and this is the year he SHOULD be starting..

Unless some falls on our lap, I would not be looking for a DE very early... I would rather see who's out there via FA..

Originally posted by 9moon:

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by 9moon:
I think we're fine at the DE position at the moment, I'm more concern of our DTs since we have Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum starting.

Do people not even follow who our free agents we are?

At the moment these are the DEs under contract with us
Bosa
Drake Jackson
Alex Barrett

What round are you thinking of drafting a DE? we drafted Drake last year and this is the year he SHOULD be starting..

Unless some falls on our lap, I would not be looking for a DE very early... I would rather see who's out there via FA..

You can't expect Drake to start just because he was the 2nd round pick last year. Hopefully he will but we can't have Bosa be the only guy feasting out there again.

But to answer your question I'm going with the board. Hard to predict the actual draft all the way down to 99th overall but between the different mock draft simulators out there I typically find myself going heavy on DL the way the boards fall.

The last mock I did for the mock offseason Lombardi/Barrows talked about I had Adetomiwa Adebawore as our top pick(although I highly doubt he's going to be there) I see him ironically as what AA used to be where he can play DE on early downs and move inside on obvious pass situations.

I then took Isaiah McGuire with #158
Cory Durden at #217(I really like him and try to grab him in most mocks if he's not gone later in the draft)
Ali Gaye at #256

This draft seems to be pretty deep at DL so it makes sense we try to double/triple dip with all our picks in hopes of findings some gems.

Discouraged by reading opinions in this thread lol. You know, we've ONLY had a top 5 defense and made the NFC championship game 3 times and Superbowl once since 2019 with different DCs while prioritizing the DLine, so maybe it's time to do something different....

Keeping the DL stocked, both inside and out on the edges, is absolutely crucial. That said, there isn't much in the draft this year, imo, where we're picking. I've got my fingers crossed for Omenihu and Arden Key returning.