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2017 NFL Draft: 5 Mid-Round Players Who Can Start for the 49ers

By Robert Smith

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 25, 2017; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty of Pittsburgh (69) battles offensive tackle Julien Davenport of Bucknell (70) in a drill during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2017; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty of Pittsburgh (69) battles offensive tackle Julien Davenport of Bucknell (70) in a drill during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports /

Julie’n Davenport, Offensive Line

The 49ers offensive line has been an area of concern the past few seasons, as they have weathered free agent losses (Mike Iupati), retirements (Anthony Davis) and underperforming draft picks (Brandon Thomas, Marcus Martin).

They have made efforts to address the issue, bringing in first-round draft pick Josh Garnett last season, and trading for former Raven’s Pro Bowler Jeremy Zuttah.

But adding another lineman in this draft is almost certainly a priority, as left tackle Joe Staley is beginning to get a little long in the tooth. Trent Brown and Zane Beadles are serviceable but not necessarily Pro Bowl caliber.

In fact, the team must have taken notice of Davenport, as they have had him in for a workout.

Davenport, a 6-foot-7, 318-pound behemoth, is a strong, downhill blocker with good footwork, pad level and a mean streak to boot.

His hand placement and ability to block downfield on the move make him an intriguing option for teams, and in particular for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking schemes.

As a two-sport star in basketball and football from Camden, New Jersey, Davenport has always been a tremendous athlete.

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But once at Bucknell, he honed his skills in the trenches with hard work and dedication, and he built himself into a viable NFL draft prospect.

That combination of size, athleticism, skill set and the desire to succeed and improve make Davenport an attractive option for the 49ers as a mid-round pick.

As the 2017 NFL Draft nears, rumors and misdirection will abound as teams try to keep their draft prospects a mystery  and hone in on their final big boards.

With new general manager John Lynch and Shanahan focusing on their first draft, their big board may look completely different than the potential choices I laid out in this article.

Next: 49ers Complete 7-Round Mock for the 2017 Draft

However it plays out, the 2017 version of the San Francisco 49ers will look significantly different than last year. And after a 2-14 season, that should be a good thing for 49er fans to hear.