Grading a potentially transformative San Francisco 49ers' 2024 rookie class at their bye week
The San Francisco 49ers have long since had a lot of stars on their team. The problem with the roster that had become increasingly apparent prior to this season was a lack of young depth. Coming off their loss in Super Bowl 58 last season, the 49ers clearly needed to have a very successful draft […]
The San Francisco 49ers have long since had a lot of stars on their team. The problem with the roster that had become increasingly apparent prior to this season was a lack of young depth.
Coming off their loss in Super Bowl 58 last season, the 49ers clearly needed to have a very successful draft to replenish the roster and help them achieve the long-term aim of extending that Super Bowl window.
Reflecting on the first eight weeks of the season as the 49ers enjoy a Week 9 bye, it appears as if that is exactly what they have produced. The 49ers have definitely found one long-term starter from this class and look to have unearthed at least two more.
San Francisco's crop of rookies played a huge role in last Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys that got them back to 4-4 and will likely have a significant part to play in the stretch run as the Niners look to get back to the Super Bowl.
The 49ers waived their sixth-round pick Jarrett Kingston before the season, but I've graded the remaining seven members of the draft class and their undrafted free agents as San Francisco has its much-needed break.
Ricky Pearsall
It's impossible to properly grade the 49ers' first-round pick after two games. However, his performances since finally rejoining the team after being shot through the chest in an attempted armed robbery in August have been promising.
Pearsall has already shown himself to be a receiver capable of running the full route tree effectively, while his abilities as a runner were clear for all to see on his 39-yard jet sweep against the Cowboys. It's early, but things are looking promising for the wideout.
Grade: Incomplete
Renardo Green
Over recent weeks, Green has rapidly ascended to an extremely important role for the 49er defense, taking over as the third cornerback behind Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir and playing snaps on the outside when the latter kicks inside on nickel downs.
Green's reputation as a physical corner who can produce sticky man coverage and bring thump in the run game has translated to the pros. Pro Football Focus' Defensive Player of the Week for Week 8, Green ranks sixth in Expected Points Added allowed per target among corners with at least 10 targets.
With Ward and Lenoir both scheduled to hit free agency next offseason, Green's emergence as a potential long-term starter at the position is extremely well-timed.
Grade: B+
Dominick Puni
It's perhaps a little premature to declare Green a home run, but we can certainly make that statement in the case of third-round pick Puni.
The former Kansas Jayhawk has been a revelation at right guard, fixing a position that had been a consistent problem spot for San Francisco. Puni is one of only two guards not to allow a sack or a quarterback hit this season, the other being All-Pro Joe Thuney.
On top of that, Puni ranks 14th among all guards in PFF run block grade and, per SIS, has just six blown blocks on 213 run blocking snaps, excelling in an area of the game that was considered a weakness coming out of college. Puni is set to be a mainstay up front for years to come.
Grade: A
Malik Mustapha
As is the case with Green, we haven't seen quite enough of Mustapha for him to be declared a definitive success, but what the fourth-round pick has put on tape to this point has been very exciting.
Mustapha has consistently caught the eye as a punishing hitter who excels as one of San Francisco's best 'sprint tacklers', but has also demonstrated instincts and ball skills in coverage.
The former Wake Forest defender has only been targeted six times, per SIS, with opponents averaging minus 1.56 EPA on those targets. With Talanoa Hufanga an unrestricted free agent next offseason, Mustapha has already given the 49ers a replacement who looks set to form an impressive long-term partnership at the position with Ji'Ayir Brown.
Grade: B+
Isaac Guerendo
The 49ers traded a pair of fifth-round picks to go up and get Guerendo, the fastest running back in the 2024 draft, in the fourth, and in recent weeks the decision has begun to a look a lot more astute.
Guerendo iced the Week 6 win over the Seattle Seahawks with a 76-yard run. Against Dallas, he went for 102 yards from scrimmage, including 85 on the ground, and a touchdown.
The former Louisville and Wisconsin back has displayed progress with his vision and in creating yards after contact. With his speed, Guerendo has enough in his locker to remain worthy of a role even when Christian McCaffrey returns.
Grade: B-
Jacob Cowing
In the preseason and in the 49ers' Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Cowing flashed the big-play ability that comes from his enticing combination of speed and route-running prowess.
The problem is his opportunities to use those attributes have been bizarrely few and far between, even as injuries have hit at the wide receiver position. The fourth-rounder has muffed one punt, but he's been otherwise reliable in the return game.
Grade: C
Tatum Bethune
Bethune has been largely limited to special teams in his rookie season, but has seen some limited work on defense when injuries have pressed him into service and hasn't looked out of place.
Green's former Florida State teammate, Bethune boasts the play speed the 49ers look for at linebacker, which was evident in preseason. If nothing else, Bethune should be a useful long-term depth piece at linebacker. That would be a win for a seventh-round pick.
Grade: C
Undrafted free agents
The 49ers kept several undrafted free agents on their practice squad. Defensive tackle Evan Anderson has since been promoted to the active roster, while safety Jaylen Mahoney has played three games.
It is Anderson who has been the standout, though, providing heft against the run while also producing some surprisingly strong pocket push as a pass rusher.
Having even one contributor from a crop of UDFAs is enough for that group to be considered a success. The 49ers have had two involved in several games, with Anderson looking like he could be part of the defensive line rotation for years to come. In that sense, it's a job well done by San Francisco
Grade: B+
Steve Young suggests an interesting way the 49ers can make the most of Christian McCaffrey’s impending return
They have used similar packages in the past.
