These potential first-round picks would absolutely stun 49ers fans and challenge everything we think we know
The San Francisco 49ers aren't obvious drafters. It's harder to perceive many trends in their style. But as a team where the head coach has the final call on the 53-man roster, it's normal that the Niners will value production more than traits compared to other teams, and will attack needs with more urgency.With the […]
The San Francisco 49ers aren't obvious drafters. It's harder to perceive many trends in their style. But as a team where the head coach has the final call on the 53-man roster, it's normal that the Niners will value production more than traits compared to other teams, and will attack needs with more urgency.
With the 11th overall pick on Thursday night, the 49ers can go in several directions, and most of them would make sense on some level. Nonetheless, there are some surprising scenarios on the table, and we will discuss shocking possibilities for San Francisco in the first round.
EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia
Walker was more of an off-ball linebacker in college, but now is projected to play as an edge defender at the NFL level. And that's fine, the NFL has had several examples of players making these types of transitions. But that's not what the 49ers are looking for.
The Georgia defender has 243 pounds, which is truly light for an edge—especially based on the description general manager John Lynch revealed about his preferences.
"You hear us talk a lot about setting edges," Lynch said on Tuesday. "You've got to have the ability to set a firm edge. When we're playing that wide nine technique, setting an edge there's space, so you have to be able to take that space away that is initially there. That's something we covet, and obvious you take a look at 'Can they put pressure?'"
Everyone connected that perception to Mykel Williams, and even Shemar Stewart would fit that profile better. Walker can be a good player in the NFL, but it would still be surprising if it was on the 49ers.
RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
We can discuss the value of the running back position, and most would be lower on them than head coach Kyle Shanahan. Even him, though, has never taken a running back in the first round during his time with the Niners.
If there is a special prospect, you can consider that possibility. So if Ashton Jeanty falls to 11, anyone would understand if they pull the trigger. But while Omarion Hampton is a good prospect, with excellent numbers as a zone runner, this is a deep class and you get most of someone's production with much less draft capital investment.
It's plausible that the 49ers will want to take a running back later in the draft, or possibly even two, but the dropoff in talent and high-end potential is much bigger in other positions.
IOL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
Offensive line is certainly a need for the 49ers, both in the short- and long-term. However, it's much easier to justify the value in the first round if it's a tackle. Guards and centers have limited surplus, considering both on-field value (with metrics like wins above replacement) and contract value throughout the rookie deal.
Regarding Zabel individually, he is projected to be a center in the NFL, which is particularly less valuable, but barely played at center in college—he had 14 snaps at center in 2022. Last year, he played snaps at right tackle and left guard, and in his final season he was a full-time left tackle. Offensive line transitions are common, but it adds to the uncertainty around a tough position to play in Kyle Shanahan's scheme.
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