The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2023 NFL Draft with a lot of questions to answers and a lot of holes to fill and, so far, they've answered some of those questions.

Thanks to the NFL's compensatory system, the 49ers entered the draft with seven comp picks – the most out of any team in the league- and it also gave them 11 total picks. They ended up with nine total selections, in all, and brought in some pretty impressive players despite not picking until the 87th overall pick in the draft.



So, without further ado, let's take a look at the current crop that is the 49ers 2023 NFL Draft class.

San Fransisco 49ers 2023 NFL Draft Class

Round 3, No. 87 overall: S Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State

The 49ers traded up from 102 to 87, plus traded the 164th and 222nd overall picks in order to snag Brown. 

In other words: They really like the kid and obviously have big plans for him moving forward. 

The 49ers met with Brown at the combine and hosted him on a top-30 visit. Those meetings aren't the end-all-be-all by any means, but it's usually significant if the same player has multiple visits with one team

Regardless, Brown needs to add discipline and body control to his game, but he is a stout run defender and can play both in the box and in centerfield. Plus, he's a high-character guy that fits the "spirit" John Lynch and co. look for in players these days.

Round 3, No. 99 overall: K Jake Moody, Michigan

So, this one was expected due to the reported interest in Moody, but it was still surprising to see him go this early.

Mainly because of the players that were still on the board and the fact the 49ers already have a veteran kicker that's coming off a career year on their roster.

Either way, it'll be interesting to see how the 49ers handle the impending competition during the offseason and in training camp.

Round 3, No. 101 overall: TE Cameron Latu, Alabama

It was well-documented that the 49ers were very interested in adding a tight end during the draft and sure enough, they took one within their first three picks.

Latu has to improve when it comes to run blocking, but he has a lot of appeal and ability as a pass-catcher. Don't be surprised if he carves out a nice role behind George Kittle in 2023.

Round 5, No. 155 overall: CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama

Luter is a physical corner that can play both inside and outside. He’s long and athletic, which suits him best for a press-man scheme, regardless of it’s at nickel or on the perimeter.

He also ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash, so he has a speed element to his game and, he's a physical, willing tackler in run support.

He needs to add some bulk and will struggle against the quicker, smaller wideouts, but don't be surprised if Luter Jr. comes in and makes some noise at the cornerback position during the offseason.

Round 5, No. 173 overall: DE Robert Beal Jr., Georgia

John Lynch is always trying to add bodies and quality players to the defensive line, no matter what the position, so it makes sense he snagged Beal in the fifth round.

Yet, Beal's production and size raise questions. He certainly has the tools to be a productive player in the NFL, but is he built to be a 49ers EDGE at 6-foot-3, 244 pounds?

Maybe new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has a specific plan for Beal. Either way, it'll be interesting to see how he impacts the roster over the next few months.

Round 6, No. 216 overall: LB Dee Winters, TCU

Winters is an absolute blazer at the linebacker position and he can get into the opposition’s backfield like no other. He doesn’t have the height that NFL teams look for in an off-ball linebacker, but he certainly has the size at 235-pounds, which makes his play speed all the more impressive.

The trade-off with that, however, is the fact that he tends to over-pursue angles and can run himself out of a play. He also isn't the best in coverage.

But, Winters' relentless pursuit and solid tackling ability should allow him to carve out a special teams role early-on and maybe that'll allow him to compete for some defensive snaps down the road.

Round 7, No. 247 overall: TE Brayden Willis, Oklahoma

Most people expected the 49ers to heavily target the tight end position in this draft, so it’s not much of a surprise that Lynch pulled the trigger on Willis.

But Willis isn't your typical tight end. In fact, he's a great candidate for the H-back role that Kyle Shanahan and co. love to utilize.

It'll be interesting to see if Willis can latch on in that role, but he excelled in said role at Oklahoma and this coaching staff is one of the best staffs at playing players to their strengths.

In other words: Keep an eye out for Willis.

Round 7, No. 253 overall: WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan

Bell is reminiscent of Jauan Jennings in the fact that he’s a productive receiver that was overlooked because of certain traits, but his competitiveness and willingness to work cancel those out and make him a risk worth taking.

Honestly, I guess it's hard to call a seventh-round pick a "risk", so maybe I should back off on that. Regardless, Bell was a four-year starter that played both inside and outside in Jim Harbaugh's pro-style system and that should be more than enough to help him make some noise this offseason.

Round 7, No. 255 overall: LB Jalen Graham, Purdue

Graham is a big ‘backer at 6-foot-2, 226-pounds, but he doesn’t have the speed, quickness, or agility to consistently keep up with NFL skill players.

At best, Graham is a special teams player. But hey, you can find special teams gems in the latest of late rounds that stick around for years.

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• Round 3, Pick 87 (compensatory): S Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State
• Round 3, Pick 99 (compensatory): K Jake Moody, Michigan
• Round 3, Pick 101 (compensatory): TE Cameron Latu, Alabama
• Round 5, Pick 155 (via Miami Dolphins): CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
• Round 5, Pick 173 (compensatory): DE Robert Beal Jr., Georgia
• Round 6, Pick 216 (compensatory): LB Dee Winters, TCU
• Round 7, Pick 247: TE Brayden Willis, Oklahoma
• Round 7, Pick 253 (compensatory): WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan
• Round 7, Pick 255 (compensatory): LB Jalen Graham, Purdue

The 49ers were never going to steal the show in the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to the lack of picks at their disposal, but it's hard to argue with what they did outside of the Moody pick at 99 overall.

Sure, the 9ers never really had complete faith in Zane Gonzalez, but damn, spending a top-100 pick on a kicker? That's always a risky proposition, no matter the collegiate achievements coming in.

But, overall, it's a safe process to trust the 49ers' process, at the end of the day. I more than expect picks like Brown, Luter Jr., and Willis to make an impact in the coming years.