San Francisco 49ers showing interest in one of the 2024 NFL Draft's best defensive prospects
Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton held an individual pro day a little over a week out from the 2024 NFL Draft, with the San Francisco 49ers in attendance to watch a prospect with the potential to be a long-term starter on that side of the trenches. The 49ers were among a host of teams, per […]
Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton held an individual pro day a little over a week out from the 2024 NFL Draft, with the San Francisco 49ers in attendance to watch a prospect with the potential to be a long-term starter on that side of the trenches.
The 49ers were among a host of teams, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, to get a close-up look at Newton in action now that he is recovered from foot surgery.
He reportedly delivered a very impressive workout that may solidify his status as one of the top defensive players in the draft. Per Schultz, Newton demonstrated "elite explosion and power".
Those attributes, combined with tremendous hand usage that is a hallmark of Newton's play against both the run and the pass, make Newton a player with obvious appeal to a 49ers team for whom prioritizing the defensive line has long since been a tenet of their team-building philosophy.
San Francisco parted with long-time defensive tackle starter Arik Armstead last month and lacks long-term options at the position, with starters Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins 31 and 29 years of age respectively.
Newton had 43 pressures last season, third among FBS interior defensive linemen in the 2024 draft, per Pro Football Focus. On top of that, his 25 run stops were the third-most among FBS defensive tackles in the class.
With his track record of having a huge influence as both a pass rusher and a run defender and the versatility he has shown in excelling from a variety of different alignments, Newton projects as an excellent fit to step in as a long-term answer on the interior.
The problem is that, after an impressive pro day, he could be out of their reach.
ESPN analytics projected the odds of him being available at a shade under 40 percent. Eleven players have a higher chance of still being on the board. As such, it may require a trade up for the Niners to get in a position to draft Newton.
But given how they value the position and his reportedly impressive workout, an ambitious move up the board to land a potential future cornerstone of the defensive cannot be ruled out.
