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The San Francisco 49ers focused on defense in free agency but still have several needs heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. The team did not address the offensive line, and it's a safe bet they will do so with some rookie selections next month. The Niners could also continue bolstering things on the defensive side of the football. Adding to the defensive back, defensive line, or linebacker groups remains possibilities.
Pro Football Focus analyst Brad Spielberger released
his latest mock draft and doesn't have the 49ers drafting at any of those positions. Instead, he has the team adding a bit of an insurance policy on offense, drafting former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey with the No. 31 overall pick.
"McConkey should not be typecast as a shifty slot-only receiver with limited athleticism that's made up for with moxie and grit," Spielberger wrote. "McConkey can win vertically, has great hands in traffic and will cause some defensive backs to trip over their own feet with his sharp cuts and very little wasted movement.
"We're not going to say McConkey is a
Brandon Aiyuk replacement, or
Deebo Samuel, for that matter, but if either does ultimately get traded before the 2024 season kicks off, it would make sense for San Francisco to look for another pass-catching option immediately."
McConkey (6-0, 185) hauled in 119 receptions for 1,687 yards with 14 touchdowns over his three seasons with the Bulldogs. Additionally, he carried the football 13 times for 216 yards with four touchdowns.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 5' 11 5/8" and 186-pound McConkey posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds, a vertical jump of 36 inches, a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches, and 13 reps in the bench press.
His performance in Indianapolis drew praise from several analysts and observers, including Rich Eisen, who stated, "He is going to be a problem."
Spielberger has McConkey as the seventh wide receiver selected in his mock draft. While the former Bulldog's collegiate statistics may not be impressive, his 82.6 overall Pro Football Focus grade was the best among Georgia's wide receivers.
"Don't expect McConkey to be an 'X,' jump ball receiver, but outside of that, it's hard to imagine him not succeeding in the NFL," reads the receiver's
Pro Football Focus scouting report. "His game is reminiscent of Eddie Royal. Maybe not as fast with long speed, but he has devastating quickness, is good in the return game, and is a strong blocker for his size."
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, from Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27.
As draft week unfolds, analysts are unveiling their final mock drafts heading into the annual event. The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, and ESPN's Jordan Reid released a behemoth of a mock draft, projecting all 257 selections across all seven rounds.
The ESPN analyst has the Washington Commanders leaping in front of the San Francisco 49ers in the first round to select one of the top offensive tackle prospects, leaving John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan's squad to take a different approach.
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Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus unveiled a seven-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers, addressing several key needs for the team in the 10-pick projection. Interestingly, the mock draft sees the team adding two legacy players. But before delving into that, let's examine the first three selections.
Sikkema has the 49ers shoring up their offensive line at pick No. 31 with the selection of former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Morgan allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in his 477 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle in 2023. He earned an impressive pass-blocking grade of 87.3 and an overall grade of
While most expect the San Francisco 49ers to target an offensive lineman with their first-round pick, NFL Media lead draft writer Eric Edholm has the team going in another direction with the No. 31 overall pick. In his final mock draft of the year, Edholm has the team selecting former Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, who also goes by "Johnny."
"If you're worried Newton's skill set overlaps too much with that of Javon Hargrave, consider that Hargrave is set to hit the salary cap at more than $28 million in the 2025 season -- when he'll be 32 years old," Edholm explained. "As a relentless scheme-wrecker, Newton would help alleviate the
Trent Williams will be 36 at the start of the 2024 NFL season. While retirement isn't on his mind just yet, the San Francisco 49ers must consider a succession plan for left tackle.
NFL Media's Bucky Brooks unveiled his final mock draft, projecting the San Francisco 49ers to select former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan with the No. 31 overall pick as their eventual replacement for Williams.
"With Trent Williams entering the twilight of his career, the 49ers have to find an eventual replacement on the edge," Brooks noted. "Morgan is a sound blocker at the point of attack with diverse skills
