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2016 NFL Draft: Complete Mock for 49ers in Each Round

By Bryan Knowles

Trent Baalke and Chip Kelly have the chance to really re-make the roster from the ground up. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Trent Baalke and Chip Kelly have the chance to really re-make the roster from the ground up. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans tackle Zach Banner (73) and guard Viane Talamaivao (60) defend against Colorado Buffaloes defensive tackle Josh Tupou (55) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans tackle Zach Banner (73) and guard Viane Talamaivao (60) defend against Colorado Buffaloes defensive tackle Josh Tupou (55) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 6 (Compensatory): Josh Tupou, DT, Colorado

This would be the 49ers’ final selection, a compensatory pick for the loss of Dan Skuta.

Josh Tupou has some massive red flags on him. He missed the entire 2015 season after being charged with suspicion of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, criminal mischief, trespassing and reckless endangerment. All charges were dropped, however, with the district attorney’s office saying it was a case of mistaken identity. Still, however, Colorado suspended him for the season, and said they could not say why “due to student privacy laws.” That’s concerning, to say the least.

Assuming that all clears itself out, and assuming Tupou does not return to school—he’s draft eligible, but also has a year of eligibility left in Colorado—Tupou’s physical ability is enticing. He’s a massive traditional nose tackle, effective in either one- or two-gap defensive fronts. It’s hard to find true nose tackles, and Tupou fits the bill.

This late in the draft—this would be the 49ers’ final pick—is when you can afford to gamble on players with character flaws. Aaron Lynch fell to the fifth round in large part because of character concerns, and he turned out alright. If the character flaws end up too much, you haven’t lost much capital, whereas if your first- or second-round pick can’t stay out of trouble, you’ve pretty much blown your draft.

Other players considered:

  • J. Dillon, S, West Virginia
  • DeMarcus Robinson, WR, Florida
  • Travis Banks, S, Clemson

Next: A Look at the 49ers' 2016 Salary Cap Situation

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Bryan Knowles is a staff writer here at Niner Noise.  Follow him @BryKno on Twitter.