For a group that’s gentle on wage cap area and heavy on expectations following a run to the NFC Championship Sport, the 49ers took a prudent method to this 12 months’s NFL Draft.
They drafted for want with their prime three picks, fortifying the sting throughout from star Nick Bosa with second-round choice Drake Jackson, including to their working again depth with third-round decide Tyrion Davis-Worth and giving quarterback Trey Lance a vertical risk with their different third-round selection, large receiver Danny Grey.
Nailing the participant acquisition course of is essential to sustaining long-term success within the NFL, so the 49ers didn’t cease including after making 9 picks final weekend. The group additionally signed 14 undrafted free brokers, together with many who've a reputable probability to safe spots on the depth chart, carve out significant particular groups roles or influence a sport sooner or later within the close to future.
The chances are stacked towards undrafted free brokers, however listed below are 5 who we predict can assist make the 49ers a greater group.
Kevin Atkins, DL, Fresno State
The 49ers at all times roll no less than eight or 9 deep with defensive linemen on their lively roster, which implies accidents and attrition can create alternative. Enter Atkins, an inside lineman who registered a mixed 12 sacks over the past two seasons at Fresno State and has proven the power to hurry the passer as a 3-technique. Atkins doesn’t have the identical sort of burst as D.J. Jones and even Kevin Givens, however for a 49ers group that values linemen with a nostril for the quarterback, he might be an honest sub-package choice on passing downs.
Tayler Hawkins, S, San Diego State
If an undrafted participant makes a major contribution for the 49ers this season, there’s an honest probability it’ll be on the security place, the place the group is gentle on confirmed expertise. The 49ers are apparently optimistic about free agent George Odum and hopeful Talanoa Hufanga can take a step ahead, however with Jaquiski Tartt nonetheless unsigned, the door stays open for a participant in Hawkins’ place to step on in. Hawkins made 31 begins at San Diego State and was a second-team All-Mountain West participant final 12 months. He doesn’t have elite ball expertise, however these aren’t a prerequisite for enjoying in San Francisco’s secondary. On the very least, Hawkins is an effective sufficient tackler to assist on particular groups.
different Oklahoma State large receiver Tay Martin (1) runs for a landing towards Notre Dame throughout the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA faculty soccer sport, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photograph/Ross D. Franklin)
Tay Martin, WR, Oklahoma State
Martin will not be notably quick for the place he performs nor did he typically display big-play potential at Oklahoma State or his earlier college, Washington State. So why is the undrafted large receiver on this checklist? Yearly, NFL scouts overlook gamers who had been productive in faculty in favor of exercise warriors who thrive on the Mix, and yearly, a number of gamers like Martin slip via the cracks. After reeling in 80 catches and ending with greater than 1,000 receiving yards at Oklahoma State final 12 months, there’s cause to imagine Martin might present depth behind Jauan Jennings, even when he’s not practically the blocker Jennings has been within the 49ers’ run sport.
Leon O’Neal, Jr., S, Texas A&M
One other security? One other security. The 49ers didn’t handle this place throughout the draft, as an alternative opting so as to add a pair of corners in Samuel Womack of Toledo and Tariq Castro-Fields of Penn State. Now, the group is only one or two accidents away from needing to significantly take into account Hawkins or O’Neal for a depth spot. Like Hawkins, O’Neal ought to be part of the 49ers with a practical path to turning into a particular groups ace, even when he wasn’t a prolific tackler at Texas A&M. The knock on O’Neal is that he’s not quick or twitchy sufficient to hold with elite NFL receivers, however with an SEC background and respectable protection expertise, he has some attributes the 49ers’ teaching employees might recognize.
Dohnovan West, OL, Arizona State
Let’s be trustworthy, the underside of the 49ers’ offensive line depth chart is hardly inspiring. There’s some mediocre expertise, a number of tasks and critical concern as as to if the group has sufficient expertise to maintain Lance wholesome over a 17-game season. That’s why West, who does have a number of flaws, has a path to the roster. A primary-team All-Pac-12 guard in 2020 and second-team in 2021, West’s most real looking probability to contribute might be as a middle, notably if Alex Mack retires. There’s cause to love his run-blocking talents as a middle and with the flexibility to play guard, it’s straightforward to examine West pushing Colton McKivitz, Jake Brendel and 2022 draft decide Nick Zakelj for a roster spot.