DL: 2026 Draft Class

ninersnation posted something about the best edge fit for Morris' defense... and he suggested Faulk

I like Faulk a lot, but he suggested him based on him being a good 4i fit
I'm not good with Xs and Os - but I thought Osa and Mykel would be our two 4i s and we should focus on a speed rusher instead
and I notice that no one is mentioning Faulk in this thread
anyone football-smarter than me have input on this?
thanks

Originally posted by DoseOfBosa:
ninersnation posted something about the best edge fit for Morris' defense... and he suggested Faulk

I like Faulk a lot, but he suggested him based on him being a good 4i fit
I'm not good with Xs and Os - but I thought Osa and Mykel would be our two 4i s and we should focus on a speed rusher instead
and I notice that no one is mentioning Faulk in this thread
anyone football-smarter than me have input on this?
thanks

I don't think they need to add a 4i and don't think this will be a hard transition to a 34 defense. They got into 5-man fronts last season with Bosa, Mykel, Alfred, West and putting the SAM LB on the line of scrimmage. 5-man surface but they're still in an attacking one-gap front. I expect more along the lines of this next season.

Originally posted by DoseOfBosa:
ninersnation posted something about the best edge fit for Morris' defense... and he suggested Faulk

I like Faulk a lot, but he suggested him based on him being a good 4i fit
I'm not good with Xs and Os - but I thought Osa and Mykel would be our two 4i s and we should focus on a speed rusher instead
and I notice that no one is mentioning Faulk in this thread
anyone football-smarter than me have input on this?
thanks

As often as we have changed DC's I'm not sure how I feel about drafting a player solely on scheme fit for Morris.

Originally posted by DoseOfBosa:
ninersnation posted something about the best edge fit for Morris' defense... and he suggested Faulk

I like Faulk a lot, but he suggested him based on him being a good 4i fit
I'm not good with Xs and Os - but I thought Osa and Mykel would be our two 4i s and we should focus on a speed rusher instead
and I notice that no one is mentioning Faulk in this thread
anyone football-smarter than me have input on this?
thanks

IMO Keldric Faulk is a pretty redundant pick to Williams.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by DoseOfBosa:

ninersnation posted something about the best edge fit for Morris' defense... and he suggested Faulk

I like Faulk a lot, but he suggested him based on him being a good 4i fit
I'm not good with Xs and Os - but I thought Osa and Mykel would be our two 4i s and we should focus on a speed rusher instead
and I notice that no one is mentioning Faulk in this thread
anyone football-smarter than me have input on this?
thanks

IMO Keldric Faulk is a pretty redundant pick to Williams.

I have Faulk as a legit first round talent. I don't think he'll make it to us but would be a great pick if he did. Balanced guy who can do it all. IDK if I'd say redundant. I see him as a JJ Watt type although not quite that caliber but not too far off IMO.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by ritz126:
im not sure how you think he is a huge reach he has better measurables than Howell and has similar pass rush win rate. His tape against Goosby was far better than Howell who was shut down against him and he also had a pretty good game against Proctor as well

They both have that first step and bend that is super desirable i think the difference is R mason it more unrefined but has better measurables than Howell. He may absoutly be the best speed rusher in draft in a lot of teams eyes. I think he is comparable to a Huff or a Dee Ford. He is the most explosive of this class for sure

He recorded a 92.6 PFF Game Athleticism Score last season, powered by 22 plays where he was clocked over 15 mph. Edge rushers usually don't have the runway to get up to such a speed so often.

I like them both, but how does RMT have better measurables than Howell? RMT's arms are about an an inch longer than Howell but both guys are t-rex armed; Howell wins in the 40 and 10-yard split; Howell is a taller and heavier athlete; Howell has bigger hands.

The big difference in my eyes are the medicals. RMT has been injured a lot in college while Howell has a clean medical sheet.

It's more because Howell measurables are so bad Howell has the shortest arms for an EDGE in combine history 0th percentile in arm length. I do think Howell is slightly better because his technique is more refined (specifically hand usage) but he is also a year older. I think both are in that same class as speed rushers who can really be a catalyst in pass rushing situations

Just watching both they both have that elite first step and bend that i know most teams will desire because it is so transferrable. R Mason has had a high ankle sprain which caused him to miss time but im not sure if that can be considered a recurring issue. If he played all season he may have been in that first round talent conversation he was in that conversation to begin the year anyway

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I have Faulk as a legit first round talent. I don't think he'll make it to us but would be a great pick if he did. Balanced guy who can do it all. IDK if I'd say redundant. I see him as a JJ Watt type although not quite that caliber but not too far off IMO.

I've seen a lot of Carlos Dunlap comps vs Watt which I'm not seeing (JJ).

what I mean by Williams is they will play pretty much the same position and someone is sitting on the bench. Both come off as a bit raw as pass rushers imo….I really think we need a DPR who can bring the 🔥 from the edge. Wouldn't hate the pick, I also think someone else will take a chance on him earlier

for reference PFF

"Over the past two seasons, Faulk tallied 75 pressures — 37 of which were charted as either unblocked or clean-up pressures. That leaves his pass-rush win rate, 11.5%, in the range of 2025 first-rounders Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart, both of whom carried pass-rush concerns heading into last year's draft"

Originally posted by ritz126:
It's more because Howell measurables are so bad Howell has the shortest arms for an EDGE in combine history 0th percentile in arm length. I do think Howell is slightly better because his technique is more refined (specifically hand usage) but he is also a year older. I think both are in that same class as speed rushers who can really be a catalyst in pass rushing situations

Just watching both they both have that elite first step and bend that i know most teams will desire because it is so transferrable. R Mason has had a high ankle sprain which caused him to miss time but im not sure if that can be considered a recurring issue. If he played all season he may have been in that first round talent conversation he was in that conversation to begin the year anyway

Mason has horrible measureables all the same, I can't see how you hold that against Howell but not Mason? You're talking 5% vs 0% percentile arm length

end of the day I would prefer Howell, I'm fine with Mason. I'm just not expecting some massive sack master from really anyone in this draft

Originally posted by NYniner85:

I'm irrationally in on Gabe Jacas. Hoss. Not twitchy enough to be an elite sack guy but he's a great power rusher with good football IQ and spectacular effort. Gimme gimme gimme. pic.twitter.com/1ysKjO1PE8

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 25, 2026

what is Morris thinking, tho? 🤔

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by ritz126:
It's more because Howell measurables are so bad Howell has the shortest arms for an EDGE in combine history 0th percentile in arm length. I do think Howell is slightly better because his technique is more refined (specifically hand usage) but he is also a year older. I think both are in that same class as speed rushers who can really be a catalyst in pass rushing situations

Just watching both they both have that elite first step and bend that i know most teams will desire because it is so transferrable. R Mason has had a high ankle sprain which caused him to miss time but im not sure if that can be considered a recurring issue. If he played all season he may have been in that first round talent conversation he was in that conversation to begin the year anyway

Mason has horrible measureables all the same, I can't see how you hold that against Howell but not Mason? You're talking 5% vs 0% percentile arm length

end of the day I would prefer Howell, I'm fine with Mason. I'm just not expecting some massive sack master from really anyone in this draft

i perfer Howell too. I am just saying i understand teams may have R Mason higher because of Howell physical limitation i read somewhere there has never been a guy with sub 31 inch arms that has had more than 6 sacks or something like that. They are both a bit limited but R mason is a bit stronger and can provide more in run support. Both have that elite first step and bend. I also thought R mason tape against Goosby was a bit better than Howell and FWIW Proctor identified him as his toughest opponent. I think the only "sack master" may be Bailey and Josephs from Tenn they are the only ones i can see develop into a 15+ sack guy but doesnt mean these guys cant play a significant role.

Originally posted by ritz126:
i perfer Howell too. I am just saying i understand teams may have R Mason higher because of Howell physical limitation i read somewhere there has never been a guy with sub 31 inch arms that has had more than 6 sacks or something like that. They are both a bit limited but R mason is a bit stronger and can provide more in run support. Both have that elite first step and bend. I also thought R mason tape against Goosby was a bit better than Howell and FWIW Proctor identified him as his toughest opponent. I think the only "sack master" may be Bailey and Josephs from Tenn they are the only ones i can see develop into a 15+ sack guy but doesnt mean these guys cant play a significant role.

Hmm I haven't seen anything to indicate that anyone has Mason higher overall smaller, wins the same way and has injury concerns.

I don't see him as stronger and they both offer little in run D imo.

This draft class as a whole is pretty bad. I'm not gonna die on a hill for one guy this yr lol. I like a lot of guys and overall would be happy with a lot of the different prospects we've talked about. I don't really love anyone

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

I'm irrationally in on Gabe Jacas. Hoss. Not twitchy enough to be an elite sack guy but he's a great power rusher with good football IQ and spectacular effort. Gimme gimme gimme. pic.twitter.com/1ysKjO1PE8

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 25, 2026

what is Morris thinking, tho? 🤔

I love Solaks content and his pre draft evaluations. But man he looks like someone who's football background consists of handing water bottles to players while in civilian clothes on the sideline 🤣

Originally posted by 49ers808:
I love Solaks content and his pre draft evaluations. But man he looks like someone who's football background consists of handing water bottles to players while in civilian clothes on the sideline 🤣

I feel like that's how the new wave of football head coaches are. It's all whizz kids and brainiacs. The stereotypical dweebs and nerds that got stuffed into lockers in the past are now the ones coaching football.

All of my head coaches were big, fat and jacked former players with knee, shoulder and back problems.

Originally posted by 49ers808:
I love Solaks content and his pre draft evaluations. But man he looks like someone who's football background consists of handing water bottles to players while in civilian clothes on the sideline 🤣

Hahaha 100%

Also what happened to The Draft Network? I was a big fan of all those guys…they all left and now that site is a shell of itself