Outside of those teams destined to pick quarterbacks at the top of the draft, there isn’t much clarity about what could happen in the draft until after the first wave of free agency.

The positions a team will look to prioritize tend to become much easier to ascertain once they have signed players on the open market and lost members of their roster to rival teams.

As such, we should have a better handle on what the San Francisco 49ers will do with their 11 picks in the 2024 draft by this time next week. Before the chaos of free agency begins, I took an attempt at trying to call how the first three rounds of the draft could go for the 49ers in a pre-free agency mock.

Round 1, Pick 31: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

The 49ers had a formal interview with Mims at the Combine prior to the former Bulldog experiencing misfortune when he pulled up during his second attempt at the 40-yard dash.

That prevented teams from getting the chance to see Mims go through the on-field drills, which carried a little more importance for Mims coming off a season in which he battled an ankle injury that required surgery.

But the NFL and the 49ers got a clear indication that there are no lingering issues with the ankle on his first 40, which he completed in a stunning time of 5.07 seconds at 340 pounds.

Standing 6ft 8in tall with arms over 36in long, Mims’ combination of freakish physical traits and pass protection prowess that is defined by his lateral quickness and the devastating power in his hands should still land him in the first round even with just eight starts to his name. 

Though he needs to improve as a blocker in space, Mims is a prospect with tremendous upside who could step in immediately at right tackle for the 49ers and develop into a dominant long-term starter under the guidance of offensive line coach Chris Foerster and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams.

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Round 2, Pick 63: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan

Wide receiver is not the most pressing need for the 49ers but, as they negotiate with Brandon Aiyuk over a long-term extension, it would behoove San Francisco to add to the position with the possibility that one of Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel will not be with the team for the 2025 season still on the table.

Wilson is not the burner the 49ers receiving corps would benefit from adding to that the mix. He is, however, a separator who has drawn comparisons to Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks.

He runs his downfield routes with impressive burst and boasts fluidity in changing direction that allows him to consistently create separation. When he does get a step on defenders, he has the speed to maintain it, as his 40-yard dash of 4.39 seconds at the Combine indicated.

Determined and focused at the catch point, Wilson plays above his 5ft 11in, 185-pound frame in going up and attacking the ball, and he boasts the body control to immediately turn and create yards after the catch when he comes down with it.

Adept at attacking the intermediate areas with significant big-play potential as a deep receiver, Wilson ticks most of the boxes of a Kyle Shanahan receiver. Blocking is perhaps the one area where that is not the case, and he would need to fix that in a hurry to make an immediate impact as a rookie.

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Round 3, Pick 94: Mike Sainristil, Michigan

Let's double up on Michigan men with the man many consider to be the top nickel cornerback in the class.

After an excellent Combine, it’s debatable whether Sainristil will be available at this point in the draft. What’s not in question, however, is that he would be a perfect fit for the 49ers’ secondary.

Sainristil’s comfort level at corner belies his inexperience at the position. He is a former wide receiver who has only spent two seasons in the secondary, yet he is extremely assured in both zone and man coverage.

With the ball skills that saw him initially feature on the offensive side helping him make six interceptions in his final season, Sainristil has proven himself as a playmaker who can also make an impact as a blitzer and when he comes down to assist in run support. 

Indeed, Sainristil plays with a physicality that fits right in with the 49ers’ style of defense and, even with his relative lack of playing time at corner, there is plenty to suggest he could step right in and be a plug-and-play option in the slot.

Picking the best Day 3 draft targets for the 49ers after the 2024 NFL Combine

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