2016 Senior Bowl: 5 49ers’ Prospect Targets Who Impressed During the Game

The Senior Bowl week in Mobile, Alabama culminated with an uneventful game won by the South team. Although the game lacked excitement, the 49ers had a chance to see prospects in action against top competition. Five distinct players stood out as options for the team to pursue in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Senior Bowl game felt like a formality at the end of a scouting-filled week in Mobile. The South team won the game 27-16 and many of the plays felt disorganized. The players all come from different schools and expecting much out of the teams is typically where viewers begin to feel burnt.

NFL teams gush over players throughout the week but the majority of teams head out before the game is even played. The performances on practice fields hold far more weight than the in-game showcases for teams that want to get close looks at potential draftees.

Both offensive lines looked completely dominated by the defensive lineman of both the North and South squads. The disappointing performances are likely outcomes of players having limited time working alongside one another and the pure skill of the defensive lineman in this class. As far as positions go, the defensive line class in this draft is by far the deepest and offers the most top-end prospects.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller recently posted another Big Board and the amount of DL/DE/EDGE players that rank in his top-50 is astonishing.

Quarterbacks spent the week playing second fiddle to North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, who impressed in practices as a leader that showcased a big arm and prototypical NFL size.

Not all of the performances were underwhelming. Several players made themselves money throughout the week and in the game by playing hard and standing out against the competition. The 49ers will have a short list of candidates to target with their first pick in the draft at number seven overall.

There are, however, plenty of quality players for 49ers’ general manager Trent Baalke to target in the middle rounds to build the depth of his team. In no specific order, here are five players who impressed during the Senior Bowl and find themselves on the 49ers’ radar heading towards the 2016 NFL Draft.

Next: Replacing Ian Williams

Jarran Reed-Defensive Tackle-Alabama

Jarran Reed made plays all over the field on Saturday and it seemed like every couple of minutes his name was being called again. At 6’4” and 313 pounds, Reed stands out naturally but his quickness to make plays downfield was impressive in a game that felt like it lacked real commitment from players.

The game isn’t as uninteresting as the NFL Pro Bowl but many players begin to slow down and mail it in in the fourth quarter. Just as teams know that practices are where the majority of evaluations will take place, players are aware of this as well.

If Jarran Reed knew his performance wouldn’t be heavily scrutinized, he wasn’t playing like it.

Reed was among the defensive linemen that were standing out against OL play throughout the week. He could’ve taken it easy in the game, knowing he is likely a first round choice in a few months. Instead, Reed routinely shut down interior runs and demonstrated a willingness to improve as a pass rushing interior defender.

If Reed can develop skills to get after quarterbacks, he’ll be next in the line of young, freakishly strong defensive tackles to harass linemen on Sundays. His scouting report already looks like a high-level defender and if he gets coached up in the NFL, watch out.

The 49ers already have one of those players on their roster but nose tackle Ian Williams will be a free agent and it’s no sure thing that he’ll re-sign with the team. No matter how much fans and media members know he should stay, Williams has earned a fat paycheck and the 49ers might draft a younger replacement instead.

Reed won’t be worth the pick at number seven but 49ers’ general manager Trent Baalke is known for making draft-day trades and moving back in the first round to secure Reed could be a play he investigates.

Next: Big-Bodied Receiver

Jay Lee-Wide Receiver-Baylor

Jay Lee is the other receiver from Baylor. Corey Coleman is the receiver from Baylor generating hype as a potential first or second round player in April. Lee, however, likely won’t hear his name called until much later in the draft. And that fall may be good for the young man.

Lee can wait to be drafted late and enter a team without crushing expectations about how he should perform. Lee weighed in at 214 pounds on a frame just over 6’1” tall. But he simply looks and plays much bigger than that. He caught a pass in the Senior Bowl and then stood up with a build that looked like a tight end.

All of the reports out of Mobile had Jay Lee as a consistent performer that did well with unfamiliar quarterbacks. Although Lee played for the South team and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley, he already has a connection to a player on North head coach Jason Garrett’s Dallas Cowboy squad.

Lee has impressive size and showed himself as a complete receiver throughout the week and in the game Saturday. He won’t blow scouts away on the stopwatch and he’ll need NFL coaching before reaching his potential, but a team that drafts Lee late could be getting a quality starter for the next six or seven years.

Lee measures up similarly to a current 49ers receiver that may not return next season. 49ers’ receiver Anquan Boldin may decide to pursue a championship with a team that is ready now. The 49ers will have to assess whether Boldin seems prepared to return for 2016. If not, Lee could be the type of receiver to draft as a replacement.

Boldin stands out as incredibly strong and willing to fight for 50-50 balls that require tremendous body control. Lee may have began to put himself in the conversation as a similar style of receiver.

According to Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com, a Cowboys scout was impressed with Lee saying “his size and the way he gets the ball. He’s more physical than I thought he was.”

If that trend continues, sign me up. If the 49ers can grab Lee late and help him develop, they have a shot at an heir to Anquan Boldin.

Next: Young Cornerback

Harlan Miller-Cornerback-Southeastern Louisiana

Harlan Miller was another impressive performer from the game and practice week at the Senior Bowl. Miller isn’t particularly big at just six feet and 182 pounds but he routinely showed a willingness to body receivers and battle against larger competition.

In a game with little time to prepare as a whole defensive unit, each guy needed to be responsible for his own success. Miller did just that. Although he is thin, his long arms helped him get hands on receivers in 1-on-1 drills and the same technique applied in the game.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has an excellent scouting report on Miller as fans get more familiar with the small-school cornerback. The traits Zierlein highlights were on full display in Mobile this weekend.

Matt Miller saw what everyone else saw from the Southeastern Louisiana cornerback throughout the game. Miller continually flashed as a player that wanted to get involved in both pass and run support.

When asked if any players surprised him, Charles Davis, an NFL analyst for FOX, mentioned Miller’s name.

The 49ers already have an abundance of young corners on their roster but Miller could be a player they look to target on the third day. He’ll come as a project and will need time to bulk up his frame in an NFL weight room but he already has ideal height and length.

We’ve seen over recent drafts that Baalke has a habit of taking obscure defensive backs late and hoping they hit on one. Miller could be another example of Baalke’s strategy at play. In a passing league, it’s never a bad idea to have plenty of young and aggressive cornerbacks.

Miller began his draft process with an impressive showing in Mobile. The 49ers and other teams are likely getting more familiar with the corner after recognizing him as a standout this week.

Next: Inside Linebacker Depth

Tyler Matakevich-Inside Linebacker-Temple

The 49ers are on the hunt to replace former 49er Patrick Willis. Okay, maybe they can’t replace Willis but can they replace his replacement, retired 49er Chris Borland?

Anytime a slightly smaller, athletically-limited linebacker that shows impressive instincts comes out, fans will be forced to hear questions about whether he compares to Borland. Matakevich fits the mold as an underwhelming linebacker that just continually makes plays. In the NFL, those guys are worth taking a shot on.

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UCLA linebacker Myles Jack and Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith are the top two inside linebackers in this class. After injuries, however, Baalke may not feel confident taking either with the seventh pick in the draft. In the event he passes on a linebacker to start, he can clean up with Matakevich just a couple of rounds later.

The best comparison for Matakevich came from @NFLDraftInsider during the game on Saturday.

If Matakevich turns out to be anything close to Zach Thomas, then the 49ers will have done an excellent job finding a new inside linebacker to pair with Bowman.

During the game, Matakevich looked impressive stopping the run but his lack of quickness may always be a problem in coverage. He’ll routinely have to guess correctly on routes coming out of the backfield and, while he seems dedicated enough to study, it’s an inefficient way to play to defense.

If the 49ers can get their hands on Matakevich with a year or so to develop, he could become the next tackling machine to play for the Red and Gold.

Next: A New Mauler Insider

Cody Whitehair-Guard-Kansas State

Whitehair isn’t a new arrival for anyone. He’s been on the radar for weeks now as one of the top interior offensive lineman in the upcoming draft. He did, however, continue his hot streak by absolutely dominating throughout the week in Mobile and in the game on Saturday.

In a game where defensive lines continually embarrassed their opposition, Whitehair stood out as the most developed and NFL-ready lineman in the entire group.

Nearly everyone in Mobile recognized how dominant Whitehair was in his performance at the Senior Bowl.

I recently wrote about 49ers players and positions that need major improvement in 2016. Whitehair has separated himself as the best guard in this class, and could be seen as an immediate upgrade on the interior offensive line.

After playing tackle in college, Whitehair will move inside to guard where he figures to be more productive. Although athletic enough to play tackle in college, he simply doesn’t have the arm length or quickness out of a starting NFL left tackle. He can, however, be a mauler inside for the team wise enough to draft him.

Whitehair will be available late on the first day but the 49ers will have to move and monitor other teams if he is the target. Trading back to stockpile picks and target a Day 1 starter along the offensive line could be the strategy to re-establish dominance up front.

Whitehair is big, strong and willing to do the dirty work inside. If 49ers guard Alex Boone leaves in free agency, Whitehair is an immediate replacement. The 49ers could solidify their offensive line for the next five years with one pick.

Next: Poll: Which Quarterback Should 49ers Take In Draft

The 49ers have had an opportunity to view these players close up for the last week and, while the game has little importance, it’s always a great chance to see which players are rising quickly among other boards.

Some of the players that stood out were expected to. Others, well, they made themselves some money by showing up throughout the week. The 49ers have plenty of holes to fill throughout the draft and could target some of these very prospects come April.

Whether the 49ers decide to select players to develop, or choose a “plug and play” guard in the first round, they should have their eyes on these five players that excelled against the competition in Mobile.

Next: 5 49ers with a Last Chance in 2016

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN Statistics unless otherwise indicated.