Niner Noise
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Breaking Down 49ers’ Top NFL Draft Needs by Value

By Bryan Knowles

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad offensive tackle Jason Spriggs of Indiana (78) and tight end Henry Krieger-Coble of Iowa (82) in the second half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad offensive tackle Jason Spriggs of Indiana (78) and tight end Henry Krieger-Coble of Iowa (82) in the second half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Offensive Tackle

Average pick: Jason Spriggs, Indiana (Value: Pick 45)
Median pick: Caleb Benenoch, UCLA (Value: Pick 133)
49ers “Hot Spot” Picks: 7, 37, 105, 174

With Anthony Davis’ un-retirement hitting some procedural snags, and with him reportedly on the trading block, last year’s seventh-round pick Trent Brown is reportedly penciled in as the starting right tackle. Brown played better than Erik Pears did last season, especially in pass protection, but he’s not exactly the sort of player who makes you feel the position is on lockdown. Considering the 49ers have allowed more than 50 sacks in each of the last two years, investing heavily in the offensive line to protect whoever is behind center seems like a good idea.

ESPN has 18 tackles in their top 255 players, and a third of them will probably be gone by the end of the second round—this is a year to draft tackles early if you want to ensure you get a good one.

Even if you consider Mississippi’s Laremy Tunsil, a probable first-overall pick to Tennessee, out of the realm of realistic possibility, there are a couple other tackles who would be a good value for San Francisco in the first round. Ronnie Stanley of Notre Dame is generally expected to somewhere in the first ten or so selections, so he’d be a perfectly solid value with the seventh selection. They could also take Michigan State’s Jack Conklin, though that’s a bit more of a reach.

It’s the second round that seems like the sweetest spot, though. It’s likely at least one of Ohio State’s Taylor Decker, Texas A&M’s Germain Ifedi or Indiana’s Jason Spriggs will fall to the 37th overall pick, and they could always try and move up a dozen slots or so if they really wanted to ensure they got the player of their choosing. By the time their third pick comes around, all six of these players will almost assuredly be gone—considering the importance of the tackle position and the quality of the players at the top of the draft, these first two rounds are the best place to grab a talented tackle.

If they don’t get a tackle in the top forty picks, they’ll likely be best served by waiting until the third day of the draft. The fourth round may provide some value as well, with both Auburn’s Shon Coleman and Texas Tech’s LeRaven Clark projected to go somewhere around the 49ers’ pick at 105. If they can wait a little longer, the end of round five and beginning of round six will have players like Baylor’s Spencer Drango and Oregon’s Tyler Johnstone available—Johnstone, of course, was recruited by Kelly in college. Nebraska’s Alex Lewis is another option.

Ideally, however, the 49ers would fill this need before too long has passed on the third day of the draft—it’s a relatively top-loaded class.

Next: Find Your Franchise Quarterback