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

Round 5: Joe Dahl, G, Washington State

The 49ers will have two picks in four selections at the top of the fifth round, thanks to trading down to grab Arik Armstead last year. With one of those picks, I cap off the 49ers’ offensive line rebuild with their third lineman of the draft.

Joe Dahl has started at both guard and tackle, though he projects much better inside at the NFL level, due to his only average size. He’s only average athletically, which will bump his draft status down a bit, but he produces on the football field. He has a fantastic work ethic, according to all his coaches, and is a quick learner. He’s excellent at pass protection, too—playing in Mike Leach’s offense, which passes the ball 50 times a game, you pretty much have to be if you want to start.

He’s a little sluggish coming out of his stance and he does tire a little as the game goes on, but those are more of a problem if he was to remain at tackle. Moving him inside to guard should alleviate some of these issues and allow his ability to fire forward into blocks and his superior hand quickness to thrive.

This is probably the last place to get a traditional inside linebacker to start next to NaVorro Bowman, with both Nick Vigil from Utah State and Blake Martinez from Stanford likely to go at this point in the draft. I felt the offensive line was more important to shore up, however, so I went with Dahl.

Other players considered:

• Nick Vigil, ILB, Utah State
• Blake Martinez, ILB, Stanford
• Jason Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State

Next: Round 5: Beefing up the Secondary