Best remaining players available for the San Francisco 49ers on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft
The San Francisco 49ers addressed a key need on both sides of the ball on day two with the selections of Florida State cornerback Renardo Green and Kansas State offensive lineman Dominick Puni. Attention now turns to day three, though the 49ers are less optimistic about having the same success they've had late in the […]
The San Francisco 49ers addressed a key need on both sides of the ball on day two with the selections of Florida State cornerback Renardo Green and Kansas State offensive lineman Dominick Puni.
Attention now turns to day three, though the 49ers are less optimistic about having the same success they've had late in the draft in previous years because of the impact of NIL in reducing the player pool.
But general manager John Lynch said after day two: "There's still good players out there. That's our job, to go find them."
Quarterback and the special teams positions are the only ones that could be considered off the board for San Francisco going into day three.
Let's look at the best remaining talent outside of those positions going into the final four rounds.
Running back
- Tennesse RB Jaylen Wright
- Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen
- Clemson RB Will Shipley
- Kentucky RB Ray Davis
- Notre Dame RB Audric Estime
- Troy RB Kimani Vidal
- Memphis RB Blake Watson
- Oregon RB Bucky Irving
- New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube
- Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo
- South Dakota State RB Isaiah Davis
- Missouri RB Cody Shrader
- Marshall RB Rasheen Ali
- Washington RB Dillon Johnson
- Alabama RB Jase McClellan
- Southern Miss RB Frank Gore Jr.
- Boise State RB George Holani
- Georgia RB Kendall Milton
- Purdue RB Tyrone Tracy
- Arizona RB Michael Wiley
With Christian McCaffrey's backup Elijah Mitchell set for free agency next offseason, there's reason for Kyle Shanahan to indulge in one of his favorite traditions and draft a running back.
Wide receiver
- Oregon WR Troy Franklin
- UCF WR Javon Baker
- UNC WR Devontez Walker
- Virginia WR Malik Washington
- USC WR Brenden Rice
- FSU WR Johnny Wilson
- Arizona WR Jacob Cowing
- Louisville WR Jamari Thrash
- Michigan WR Cornelius Johnson
- USC WR Tahj Washington
- Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith
- Georgia WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
- Pitt WR Bub Means
- Illinois WR Isaiah Williams
- Oregon State WR Anthony Gould
- Holy Cross WR Jalen Coker
- Tulane WR Jha'Quan Jackson
- Colorado WR Xavier Weaver
- Utah WR Devaughn Vele
- UTSA WR Joshua Cephus
- Oklahoma WR Drake Stoops
Yes, the 49ers used their first-round selection on a receiver when they took Ricky Pearsall, but you can never rule out Shanahan adding further to his receiving corps. The Niners held top-30 visits with Baker, Johnny Wilson and Bub Means.
Tight end
- Texas TE Ja'Tavion Sanders
- TCU TE Jared Wiley
- Ohio State TE Cade Stover
- Iowa TE Erick All
- Penn State TE Theo Johnson
- FSU TE Jaheim Bell
- CSU TE Dallin Holker
- Arizona TE Tanner McLachlan
- Michigan TE AJ Barner
- Minnesota TE Brevyn Spann-Ford
- Washington TE Devin Culp
- BYU TE Isaac Rex
- Washington TE Jack Westover
- South Carolina TE Trey Knox
The 49ers have made no secret of their desire to add to their depth behind George Kittle during the offseason. They had All in town for a 30 visit, but the likes of Wiley, Johnson and McLachlan also offer intriguing athletic upside.
Offensive tackle
- Missouri OT Javon Foster
- Oklahoma OT Walter Rouse
- Texas OT Christian Jones
- SDSU OT Garrett Greenfield
- Michigan OT LaDarius Henderson
- British Columbia OT Giovanni Manu
- Georgia State OT Travis Glover
- Lousiana OT Nathan Thomas
- Wyoming OT Frank Crum
- K-State OT K.T. Leveston
- Marshall OT Ethan Driskell
- British Columbia OT Theo Benedet
- USF OT Donovan Jennings
- UCF OT Tylan Grable
- TCU OT Andrew Coker
- Illinois OT Julian Pearl
- Maryland OT Gottlieb Ayedze
- EKU OT Josiah Ezirim
- Howard OT Anim Dankwah
While the 49ers believe Puni has five-position upside and could start at tackle one day, there's a strong case to be made they still need to add competition at right tackle for Colton McKivitz. Foster, Rouse and Jones are the best candidates.
Interior offensive line
- Boston College OL Christian Mahogany
- SDSU OG Mason McCormick
- Arkansas C Beaux Limmer
- Penn State C Hunter Nourzad
- Utah OL Sataoa Laumea
- Texas A&M IOL Layden Robinson
- Maryland OL Delmar Glaze
- Wisconsin OL Tanor Borolini
- Miami C Matt Lee
- Michigan C Drake Nugent
- Georgia C Sedrick Van Pran
- NC State OL Dylan McMahon
- Miami OL Javion Cohen
- Oklahoma OL Andrew Raym
- Florida OL Kingsley Eguakun
- Holy Cross OL C.J. Hanson
- UTEP OL Elijah Klein
- Baylor OL Clark Barrington
The Niners had Robinson in town for a top-30 visit, but it might make more sense to pursue a potential successor at center for Jake Brendel, who will turn 32 in September. Bortolini, Nourzad and Limmer could all be in the conversation.
Defensive end
- CSU DE Mohamed Kamara
- UCLA DE Gabriel Murphy
- Kansas DE Austin Booker
- Troy DE Javon Solomon
- Clemson DE Xavier Thomas
- Ole Miss DE Cedric Johnson
- Michigan DE Braiden McGregor
- UCONN DE Eric Watts
- Washington State DE Brennan Jackson
- Michigan DE Jaylen Harrell
- Texas Tech DE Myles Cole
- Arkansas DE Trajan Jeffcoat
- Notre Dame DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste
- UCLA DE Grayson Murphy
- Houston DE Nelson Ceaser
The 49ers have yet to address the defensive line in any capacity in the draft, but extra edge rush depth behind Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd would certainly be useful, with Drake Jackson, Yetur Gross-Matos and Robert Beal Jr. the primary reserves as it stands.
Defensive tackle
- Oregon DT Brandon Dorlus
- LSU DT Mekhi Wingo
- Alabama DT Justin Eboigbe
- Baylor DT Gabe Hall
- LSU DT Jordan Jefferson
- Northern Iowa DT Kristian Boyd
- FSU DT Fabien Lovett
- Iowa DT Logan Lee
- Clemson DT Tyler Davis
- Virginia Tech DT Norrell Pollard
- Illinois DT Keith Randolph
- Miss St. DT Jaden Crumedy
- FAU DT Evan Anderson
- Cincinnati DT Jowon Briggs
- UNC DT Myles Murphy
- Auburn DT Marcus Harris
- UTEP DT Keenan Stewart
- Texas A&M Commerce DT Levi Drake Rodriguez
San Francisco eschewed the chance to take Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton in the first round. However, the 49ers had a 30 visit with Dorlus, who fits the defense perfectly with his destructive pass rush ability and inside-out versatility.
Linebacker
- UNC LB Cedric Gray
- Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
- Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg
- Texas LB Jaylan Ford
- Washington LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Missouri LB Ty'Ron Happer
- Penn State LB Curtis Jacobs
- Wisconsin LB Maema Njongmeta
- Notre Dame LB J.D. Bertrand
- Miss. St. LB Nate Watson
- Cal LB Jackson Sirmon
- Temple LB Jordan Magee
- LSU LB Ovie Oghoufo
- FSU LB Kalen DeLoach
- UTEP LB Tyrice Knight
- Toledo LB Dallas Gant
- Ohio State LB Steele Chambers
- Georgia State LB Jontrey Hunter
- Wyoming LB Easton Gibbs
Linebacker is an issue with Dre Greenlaw very much a doubt to be ready for Week 1 of the season following Achilles surgery, but a poor class at the position appears to have understandably dampened the Niners' enthusiasm to address it. San Francisco took two linebackers, Dee Winters and Jalen Graham, in the later rounds last year.
Cornerback
- Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa
- Notre Dame CB Cam Hart
- Missouri CB Kris Abrams-Draine
- Oregon CB Khyree Jackson
- Auburn CB D.J. James
- Louisville CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
- Washington State CB Chau Smith-Wade
- Miss St. CB Decamerion Richardson
- Wake Forest CB Caelen Carson
- Auburn CB Nehemiah Pritchett
- Utah CB Miles Battle
- Penn State CB Johnny Dixon
- Penn State CB Kalen King
- Auburn CB Jaylin Simpson
- Arkansas CB Dwight McGlothern
- South Carolina CB Marcellas Dial
- Texas CB Ryan Watts
- Toronto CB Qwan'tez Stiggers
- Ole Miss CB Deantre Prince
- Arizona State CB Ro Torrence
- Tennessee CB Kamal Hadden
- Penn State CB Daequan Hardy
- Nebraska CB Omar Brown
- Pitt CB M.J. Devonshire
- West Virginia CB Beanie Bishop
- Louisville CB Storm Duck
- Tulane CB Jarius Monroe
- South Dakota CB Myles Harden
- Virginia State CB Willie Drew
- Duke CB Al Blades Jr.
- MTSU CB Teldrick Ross
With a high pick spent on Green, that could be it for this draft for a 49ers team that suddenly has quite a lot of depth at corner. Richardson and Smith-Wade were top-30 visits. The 49ers held a private workout with Devonshire.
Safety
- Texas Tech S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
- Washington State S Jaden Hicks
- Auburn S Jaylin Simpson
- Wake Forest S Malik Mustapha
- Utah S Sione Vaki
- Maryland S Beau Brade
- Washington S Dominique Hampton
- Oregon State S Kitan Oladapo
- Oregon S Evan Williams
- Miami S James Williams
- Air Force S Trey Taylor
- TCU S Millard Bradford
- Mizzou S Jaylon Carlies
- Texas Tech S Tyler Owens
- TCU S Mark Perry
- Texas A&M S Demani Richardson
- Kansas S Kenny Logan Jr.
- FSU S Akeem Dent
- Ohio State S Josh Proctor
- LSU S Andre Sam
- Wisconsin S Travian Blaylock
- Alabama S Jaylen Key
The 49ers need some insurance behind Ji'Ayir Brown and Talanoa Hufanga and certainly aren't lacking for options on day three. Keep an eye on Vaki here, with the Niners said to be very interested in a player who brings two-way upside because of what he can do at running back.
