Picking the best Round 3 draft targets for the San Francisco 49ers after the 2024 NFL Combine
The San Francisco 49ers' draft record in the third round is not a particularly impressive one. Though they found Fred Warner in that round in 2018, the All-Pro linebacker is the Niners' only clear-cut hit since Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch took over as head coach and general manager in 2017. But two third-round picks […]
The San Francisco 49ers' draft record in the third round is not a particularly impressive one.
Though they found Fred Warner in that round in 2018, the All-Pro linebacker is the Niners' only clear-cut hit since Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch took over as head coach and general manager in 2017.
But two third-round picks from last year, Ji'Ayir Brown and Jake Moody, did have strong rookie seasons in 2023.
The 49ers had three picks in the third round last year and have another two this year and, given the top-heavy nature of the roster, it would behoove them hit on those selections.
Who should they target? We answered that question prior to the NFL Combine, but have last week's events in Indianapolis changed anything?
The 49ers should take UConn G Christian Haynes with the 94th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
The 49ers might be able to find a stopgap solution they're happy with at right guard, but the reality is they need a long-term answer.
It's looking increasingly less likely that Spencer Burford can be the starter at that spot for years to come, and in Haynes the 49ers would be selecting a player whose skill set gives him good odds for being a sustained success in the San Francisco offense.
Haynes is undersized at 6ft 2in and 318 pounds, but he has 49 career starts to his name at right guard and would fit the 49er attack like a glove. He is excellent at getting to the second level, and consistently does so efficiently while looking smooth and in control as he climbs to meet his target.
Those movement skills were on display throughout an impressive Combine workout. Haynes' A to Z Sports athletic composite score of 95.4% was the fifth-highest among all offensive linemen. His aptitude in that regard should appeal greatly to a 49ers team that still bases their offense predominantly around zone-blocking in the run game. The Niners have implemented more gap scheme runs of late, but Haynes' abilities as a puller would aid him in that area.
Haynes has the power to displace defenders in the run game and he plays with a mean streak that was evident even in games that saw UConn blown out. He is a finisher who often looks to dismiss defenders in the most emphatic way possible.
In pass protection, Haynes' lack of ideal arm length can lead to him being beaten to the punch, and opposing pass rushers have also taken advantage of instances that saw him play with too much forward lean and duck his head into contact.
But Haynes has proven he can recover in such situations where the pass rusher initially wins quickly and, undoubtedly aided by being on the smaller side in this regard, has shown he can win the leverage battle and drop the anchor to stop defenders in their tracks.
An intelligent player who keeps his head on a swivel and excels picking up stunts as a result, the 49ers will love Haynes' combination of aggression and awareness. There may be some concerns over his physique, but the fit with the 49ers supersedes those.
The 49ers should take Michigan CB Mike Sainristil with their third-round compensatory pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
The conversation with Sainristil after the Combine is not whether he'd be an ideal fit for the 49ers. It's whether they'd have to use their second-round pick to get him. For now, though, let's stick with him in round three, at which point he would be a steal.
Sainristil's athletic composite score of 63.7% isn't going to blow anyone away, but his performance in the on-field drills, particularly the gauntlet, looked effortlessly good.
A former wide receiver who only switched positions ahead of the 2022 season, Sainristil's strong showing in the gauntlet was no surprise, and his ability to make plays on the ball is obvious. He had six interceptions in Michigan's National Championship-winning season in 2023, returning two of them for touchdowns. He also had six pass breakups.
He played inside and out for the Wolverines but, at 5ft 10in and 182 pounds, should be destined for the slot at the next level.
The 49ers have a hole in the slot following the failed Isaiah Oliver signing of last offseason and, though Sainristil is inexperienced, he would give them a corner whose composure when playing the zone coverage in which the Niners major belies his lack of time playing the position.
Sainristil plays with excellent zone eyes to the ball and knowledge of where the receivers are around him. He is an assignment sound zone corner who transitions rapidly from his drop to get downhill and rally to the ball, his explosiveness in getting out of his pedal backed up by a burst score of 94.2%. Sainristil's vertical leap of 40 inches was seventh among all corners while his broad jump of 10ft 11in was tied for fourth.
His hip turn is quick and fluid, with Sainristil clearly possessing the long speed to stay with receivers on downfield routes. Not afraid to get physical with receivers, Sainristil also uses his hands to help him stay in phase, but the physicality is most apparent when he attacks ball-carriers.
Sainristil plays well above his size as a tackler, continually flying downhill and producing punishing hits. Though he undoubtedly needs to clean up his technique and look to wrap up more often, Sainristil's attitude to tackling and run support in general embodies what the 49ers look for in that area of the game.
A little ponderous in reacting when receivers attack him with headfakes and jab steps at the top of their routes and occasionally neglectful in finding the ball in the air for a player of his prowess in attacking it, Sainristil is a player still in need of some refinement. However, for a prospect this early into his life as a cornerback, the considerable polish already featured in his game should intrigue the 49ers enough to get them to add a high-upside slot to their secondary.
Final word
In Haynes and Sainristil, the 49ers could not ask for two better fits at two positions of need, and the Combine only confirmed that.
Haynes is an ideal zone guard who thrives in the run game and holds up well in pass protection, while Sainristil is already an impressive zone corner with tremendous ball skills and enticing room to grow. The Niners would be wise to consider both.
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