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2016 NFL Draft: Revamped 49ers Mock Draft Post-Trades

By Jerod Brown

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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The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles traded to move up to select first and second overall, respectively. How do their moves alter the 49ers’ 2016 NFL Draft outlook? Niner Noise presents a revamped mock draft.

Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2016 NFL Draft is right around the corner and teams are wrapping up last-minute adjustments. The Los Angeles Rams traded with the Tennessee Titans to hold the first overall pick, while the Philadelphia Eagles traded with the Cleveland Browns to move up to No. 2.

Those two moves make Cal quarterback Jared Goff an illusion in the hearts of 49ers fans. Barring some crazy draft-day shakeup, one of those teams will select Goff. The other will likely select North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, although people have cooled significantly on him.

Let’s assume that no more trades are made. Is that unrealistic? Yes. But predicting what might happen throughout the draft, even with picks set in stone, is incredibly difficult.

The 49ers draft class will be largely influenced by when they choose to address the needs of their team.

For the purposes of this mock draft, the needs were ranked as follows:

  1. Defensive pressure–This doesn’t mean a specific position but a player that puts pressure on an offense. That’s possible in many ways.
  2. Offensive Line–Could be any position, but the 49ers need to bring in some nasty dude to start beating defenders up.
  3. Linebacker–Inside or outside, find a player that will come in and compete to start immediately.
  4. Wide Receiver–Get one of the playmakers available in the middle rounds. I’m not sold on Quinton Patton or Bruce Ellington.
  5. Quarterback–Draft a mid-tier guy and hope head coach Chip Kelly can develop him for 2017.
  6. Cornerback–Take a guy or two late because that’s general manager Trent Baalke’s method of operation.

After that, it was a Best Player Available approach married with the needs of the team. Even if a position had been addressed earlier, selecting another player of a similar position was not out of the question. The 49ers need to build depth. Competition only helps that.

With that in mind, let’s look at a seven-round revamped 49ers mock draft.

Next: First Round