San Francisco 49ers: High-Risk, High-Reward Prospects in 2016 NFL Draft

Noah Spence-EDGE-Eastern Kentucky 

College Statistics (Note: Spence transferred from Ohio State to Eastern Kentucky after two seasons playing for the Buckeyes. The stats listed are for those two seasons at Ohio State.)

The 49ers need another player that can generate some sort of pass rush. Sure, maybe Eli Harold becomes that player this season. But that sort of thinking is what I recently defined as the Anthony Davis conundrum.

Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence is considered to be one of the best EDGE players in this draft. For reference, most people consider EDGE to be a defensive end in a 4-3 defense or an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, like the 49ers utilize.

Spence doesn’t have the incredibly long arms that Baalke covets–Spence’s arms are “just” 33 inches long–but he has been productive and explosive in the events leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft.

Bleacher Report’s NFL Lead Writer and Draft Analyst Matt Miller published his Scouting Notebook on Friday and the piece contained a few questions between Miller and Spence. For the full piece, including Miller’s recent mock draft that has the 49ers selecting Jared Goff, head over to Bleacher Report. After you finish this wonderful piece, of course.

In describing himself as a player, Spence makes an interesting comparison:

"Miller: Which NFL player do you think you most closely resemble as a player? Spence: Justin Houston. I love the way Justin plays—his heart, relentlessness and the love for the game show. Not to mention his pass-rush moves. I try to take as many as I can from him and use them in my game."

Houston might be one of the most under-the-radar and underrated pass-rushers in the NFL today. Casual fans don’t always remember that Houston routinely ranks towards the top of the league as one of the most disruptive defenders. Spence is drawing good comparisons for himself in that regard.

Spence makes this list as a high-risk, high-reward draft selection for a few reasons. Primarily, Spence was banned from the Big 10 Conference for multiple failed drug tests in 2014. In rebuilding his career, and in reality his life as a young man and athlete, Spence has taken steps to erase some of the concerns that surely stem from his past experiences.

Now, after entering rehab to address his addiction issues, Spence enters the 2016 NFL Draft as a player from Eastern Kentucky. The “smaller-conference and therefore bad competition” argument doesn’t hold up. Spence was highly productive in his short time at Ohio State and dominated at the Senior Bowl against some of the best competition.

Spence will likely be a top-20 pick in April. The 49ers have needs everywhere on their roster, including quarterback. To select Spence, a prospect that arrives with doubters, over a quarterback at number seven should be seen as a major risk.

Spence’s play warrants being a high pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. But the 49ers, still dealing with the addictions and loss of Aldon Smith, might see Spence as too risky of a pick for the rebuilding franchise.

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