49ers rookie report card: San Francisco getting little impact out of 2023 class
The San Francisco 49ers did not have a pick until the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft because of trades for Trey Lance and Christian McCaffrey. That was not such a huge problem for a loaded roster filled with blue-chip talent, but the Niners might have had hope one member of the class would […]
The San Francisco 49ers did not have a pick until the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft because of trades for Trey Lance and Christian McCaffrey.
That was not such a huge problem for a loaded roster filled with blue-chip talent, but the Niners might have had hope one member of the class would breakout in one year given San Francisco's propensity for getting a lot out of late-round picks.
But any such hopes have not been realized, with the lack of impact from the draft class helping to illustrate why one of the oldest rosters in the NFL is in need of a refresh in a 2024 draft in which the Niners will have 11 picks.
How has each individual pick fared? Here we hand out grades for each member of the draft class.
Ji’Ayir Brown, S
Grade: C
The 49ers’ top pick has barely played on defense. San Francisco has unsurprisingly stuck with Tashaun Gipson as the partner to All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga and three-safety looks have not been a part of the 49ers’ defensive repertoire so far this season.
Brown, therefore, has played mostly on special teams and looked good doing so, with his aggressive downhill playing style predictably suited to kick coverage. It will be interesting to see if he can get more defensive snaps down the stretch, particularly with slot corner Isaiah Oliver enduring some substantial struggles of late.
Jake Moody, K
Grade: C –
Moody has been largely reliable and has shown off the big leg that convinced the Niners to draft him with successful field goals from 57 and 55 yards.
However, when you draft a kicker in the top 100, you expect him to make the pressure kick. Moody failed to do so in Week 6, missing a game-winning attempt against the Cleveland Browns from 41 yards.
A miss from 40 versus the Minnesota Vikings also proved costly in a narrow defeat. On top of that, Moody has had issues with kickoffs going out of bounds.
Cameron Latu, TE
Grade: Incomplete
A knee injury ended the third-round right end’s season before it had even begun.
Darrell Luter Jr, CB
Grade: Incomplete
Luter has spent the entire season on PUP with a knee injury.
Robert Beal Jr, DE
Grade: Incomplete
The edge rusher is on short-term IR with a hamstring injury.
Dee Winters, LB
Grade: C
Winters has only played sporadically on defense as an injury fill-in and during garbage time. The sixth-rounder has otherwise been limited to special teams.
Brayden Willis, TE
Grade: Incomplete
The seventh-round tight end has featured in two games, making one tackle on special teams. He does not have a reception.
Ronnie Bell, WR
Grade: B
The undoubted standout of the draft class to this point. Bell’s impressive preseason has translated to the regular season when he’s had the chance to get on the field, and it was a surprise to see him go without a target during Deebo Samuel’s recent absence.
But Bell already has a touchdown to his name and has demonstrated admirable buy-in as a run blocker. That he is the best of the class while only touching the ball three times speaks to the lack of impact from the group as a whole.
Jalen Graham, LB
Grade: Incomplete
Graham was a star on defense in preseason but the final pick of the 49ers’ draft has been inactive for every game so far.
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