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San Francisco 49ers: Complete 7-Round Mock for the 2017 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 12, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals linebacker Devonte Fields (92) celebrates after sacking Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback John Wolford (10) during the second half at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 44-12. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals linebacker Devonte Fields (92) celebrates after sacking Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback John Wolford (10) during the second half at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 44-12. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 5: Linebacker Devonte Fields, Louisville

The 49ers own two picks in Round 5, and the first is used to address more of the pass rush.

Louisville’s Devonte Fields might have seen his draft stock fall a bit recently (CBS Sports has him ranked as a late fourth- or early fifth-round pick). But there’s no doubting the linebacker’s productivity at Louisville the last two seasons, especially in 2015:

Defense & Fumbles Table
Tack Tack Tack Tack Tack Def Def Def Def Def
Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD
*2012 Texas Christian Big 12 FR DL 13 34 19 53 18.5 10.0 1 0 0.0 0
2013 Texas Christian Big 12 SO DE 2 3 1 4 2.0 0.0 0 0 0 0
*2015 Louisville ACC JR LB 13 45 18 63 22.0 10.5 0 0 0 3
2016 Louisville ACC SR LB 11 24 21 45 9.0 6.0 1 0 0.0 0 3
Career Overall 106 59 165 51.5 26.5 2 0 0.0 0 6
Texas Christian 37 20 57 20.5 10.0 1 0 0.0 0 0
Louisville 69 39 108 31.0 16.5 1 0 0.0 0 6

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/22/2017.

Fields shouldn’t have too much difficulty in San Francisco’s 4-3 under scheme. And he’s not exactly a one-trick pass-rusher either. This clip from Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo reveals the inside cut (Fields isn’t a repeat of former 49ers linebacker Corey Lemonier):

After registering just 33 sacks last year — tied for 19th in the NFL — the 49ers could afford to stock up on pass-rushers.

Fields fits the bill.