San Francisco 49ers set up themselves for sustained success at biggest problem area in new mock draft
The San Francisco 49ers' offensive line was a huge reason why they were unable to finish the job in overtime of their Super Bowl 58 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last month and, as such, it is an area of the team that is seen a clear focus for the Niners as they retool […]
The San Francisco 49ers' offensive line was a huge reason why they were unable to finish the job in overtime of their Super Bowl 58 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last month and, as such, it is an area of the team that is seen a clear focus for the Niners as they retool the roster in an effort to get back to the biggest stage next season.
Both the right guard and right tackle spots have been identified as problem areas for San Francisco. Starting right tackle Colton McKivitz was consistently targeted as the weak link by opponents, while Jon Feliciano's Super Bowl injury forced 2022 fourth-round pick Spencer Burford into action at right guard. Burford's overtime protection error cost the Niners a likely touchdown on the first possession of overtime.
The 49ers, who are set to head into a draft that is heavy on offensive line talent with 11 selections, cannot afford to exit the offseason with right side of the trenches in the same situation with McKivitz the undoubted starter at tackle and Buford competing with a veteran at right guard.
And in Destin Adams' recent mock draft for A to Z Sports in the wake of last week's NFL Combine, the 49ers make two selections that would go a long way to fixing the issue.
Round 1, Pick 31: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Barton has been an extremely popular pick for the 49ers in mocks this draft cycle and it is easy to see why.
While he spent his time for the Blue Devils at left tackle last season, Barton is seen as a player that can operate at any position along the line and is viewed by many as an eventual starter at center.
But guard would be his more immediate home were he to be drafted by the 49ers, who held a formal interview with Barton at the Combine and should find plenty to like in his tape.
Barton is an agile offensive linemen with outstanding footwork that helps him stay square to pass rushers, with excellent low pad level and a strong wide base allowing him win to the leverage battle. Quick to beat defenders to the punch, Barton often wins with his hand placement and rarely allows opponents to disengage once he locks on, his ability to drop the anchor frequently and swiftly bringing an end to his assignment's hopes of getting to the quarterback.
Constantly aware of the threat posed by secondary rushers and composed in the face of defensive line stunts, Barton plays with awareness and a clear understanding of his responsibilities when defenses show pressure looks. In the run game, Barton is a violent finisher who displays impressive power, regularly driving defenders off the ball. He has no problem executing reach blocks and sealing defenders off and, crucially for the Niners, moves well in space.
Barton can be a little miss hitting his target at the second level as a run blocker, while sometimes disappointing lateral quickness has left him vulnerable when he leaves his inside shoulder open, with that frailty perhaps why a move to guard looks likely.
The 49ers haven't taken a guard in the first round in the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era. However, the book on Barton is backed up by the film. He is a plug-and-play starter and, at pick 31, the 49ers would be wise to break their run and invest premium capital in the interior line.
Round 2, Pick 63: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
The 49ers' most pressing hole outside of the offensive line is at nickel corner. The Niners either need to acquire a nickel to start and fill that void full-time or land another outside corner who can start and enable Deommodore Lenoir to kick inside permanently having rotated between the two spots during the second half of the Super Bowl run.
Sainristil, as arguably the best nickel corner in the draft class, ticks the former box.
Despite having only played corner for two years, he has shown outstanding promise in zone coverage, playing with excellent eyes to the ball and complementing his awareness with burst that allows him to get great drive to the catch point. Similarly assignment sound in man coverage, Sainristil plays above his size as a tackler, offering tremendous physicality, and has natural ball skills that were illustrated by his six interceptions in Michigan's National Championship-winning campaign last season.
Starting in the NFL in just his third year playing a position would be a huge challenge for Sainristil, but all the evidence from the tape suggests he will be up to it.
Round 3, Pick 94: Jonah Elliss, EDGE, Utah
The 49ers could be about to see their depth on the edge decimated in free agency, with Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell and Randy Gregory all poised to hit the open market.
San Francisco therefore seems likely to address the issue of getting more assistance for star defensive end Nick Bosa in both free agency and the draft.
Unlike Barton and Sainristil, Elliss would not be an immediate starter. His work in the run game is far too inconsistent for that to be the case, but he could make a quick impact as a designated pass rusher.
Measuring 6ft 1in and 248 pounds, Elliss is an undersized pass rusher who also lacks the ideal arm length for the position at 33in.
What Elliss does have is a recent history of production, racking up 12 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2023, and a skill set that would encourage defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
Elliss plays with extremely active hands and has rip, dip and swipe moves in his locker along with a nasty spin move that is in part facilitated by speed that turns him into a threat to turn the corner and flatten to the quarterback.
His get-off is quick rather than consistently explosive and moments where Elliss transforms sped to power are often limited to plays where he has a significant runway. Fortunately, playing on the 49ers' Wide 9 front, Elliss would regularly have such a runway.
Elliss is a high-motor player, but the combination of his frame and an inconsistency in terms of winning with counter moves prevented him from being even more impactful for the Utes.
There are more complete edge rushers in the class, but at this point in the draft, the 49ers would likely be happy to land a strong fit as a designated pass rusher who would undoubtedly benefit from Kocurek's tutelage.
Round 3, Pick 98: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
The 49ers would be happy with Elliss, but they would be delighted getting Rosengarten at this point in the draft, especially after his outstanding Combine performance.
Rosengarten posted an A to Z Sports athletic composite score of 93.9% for his efforts in the testing in Indianapolis, with his athletic gifts evident on film.
Quick out of his stance in pass protection, Rosengarten boasts an agile lower half and plays with efficient but composed footwork, helping him effectively mirror pass rushers and stay square.
That footwork is complemented by impressive hand usage. Rosengarten wins consistently with his hand placement and has the strength in his hands to keep his hands locked on for the duration of the play. Additionally, he plays with an excellent wide base and has little difficulty quickly dropping his anchor to shut down defenders.
Rosengarten's composure shines through when he is faced with stunts, with his combination of his calm and controlled playing style and his athleticism often facilitating a quick recovery when edge rushers put him in the race.
As is the case with Barton, there is a violence to Rosengarten's game that shines through predominantly when he tosses run defenders to one side. On top of that heavy punch, Rosengarten plays smoothly in space and takes good angles to his targets at the second level.
Occasionally guilty of playing with too much forward lean and vulnerable to inside moves, Rosengarten is not without his flaws. Yet the reality is that, if he was not a part of a potentially historically good offensive line class, Rosengarten would likely be in the first-round conversation.
That he is not is a potential blessing for the 49ers and, if they were allowed to land a player who could instantly compete with McKivitz for the starting right tackle role with a compensatory pick at the end of the third round, that would be a substantial error by the rest of the NFL.
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