The San Francisco 49ers grabbed offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey in Round 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft, and then followed up with a Round 2 selection of wide receiver Dante Pettis. Now it's time to focus on the defense.
The San Francisco 49ers chose to upgrade the offense over the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft, taking Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 overall and then Washington wide receiver Dante Pettis after a trade-up in Round 2.
These two moves might have shocked a few fans, who thought the Niners' first two picks would have focused on the defense. That said, there are still some options for San Francisco in Round 3. And the two names to watch here are Florida State edge rusher Josh Sweat and Stanford cornerback Quenton Meeks.
After finishing with 30 sacks last year -- tied for 26th in the NFL -- the 49ers clearly need a true edge bender off the outside. It's a need general manager John Lynch largely avoided this offseason, which means he'll need to hit on a quality pass-rusher in these middle rounds.
Sweat, 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds, isn't quite at the level of top pass-rushers like NC State's Bradley Chubb or Boston College's Harold Landry. But he has a decent variety of pass-rushing moves, which largely negates any concerns of him getting pushed beyond the pocket.
Meanwhile, San Francisco can supplement cornerback depth by targeting Meeks.
At 6-foot-1 and 209 pounds, Meeks is the long-limbed defensive back prototypical for coordinator Robert Saleh's Cover 3 defense. He already met with the 49ers at their local pro day, even earning comparisons to current Niners cornerback Richard Sherman.
From Sherman, nonetheless.
With two picks in Round 3 (Nos. 70 and 95), we'll have to see if San Francisco's defensive needs are finally met.
Written By:
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers owner Jed York reveals the only NFL Draft pick he ever pushed for
There's often a different energy when Jed York discusses players from his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame. For the most part, the San Francisco 49ers owner has stayed hands-off when it comes to draft decisions. However, in a conversation with ESPN's Jamison Hensley,... -
49ers rookie Kaelon Black aims to change draft narrative
The San Francisco 49ers faced immediate scrutiny after selecting running back Kaelon Black with the No. 90 overall pick in the third round of the NFL Draft—far earlier than many projections suggested. Additionally, San Francisco's recent track record of drafting running... -
Where does 49ers' Mac Jones rank among NFL backup QBs by trade value?
Mac Jones saved the San Francisco 49ers' season in 2025. That wasn't a statement any fan expected to hear before last season began. But it happened. And it's not an overreaction. Starting QB Brock Purdy missed eight games in 2025. And Jones filled in admirably, going 5-3, and... -
49ers facing harsh reality as NFL execs label Brandon Aiyuk 'untradeable'
There appears to be no trade market for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, despite the team's hope that interest could eventually develop. With rival teams believing the 49ers will ultimately release the disgruntled receiver, there is little incentive to surrender...