2017 49ers NFL Draft Prologue: ‘Grit versus Fit,’ the Solomon Thomas Connection
By Jonah Burros
The San Francisco 49ers may not be interested in selecting another defensive lineman in the 2017 NFL Draft after taking Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner over the last two seasons, respectively. But Stanford’s Solomon Thomas is an exception.
In all my years as a football fan, I have never seen such non-consensus coverage of an upcoming NFL Draft in regards to player rankings and mocks.
Everything you read, hear or watch seems to be varied and change as the days roll by.
Every couple of weeks, a consensus begins to develop around a position group, player ranking or team board. And then a medical condition, poor workout or free-agent acquisition comes along and changes everything.
San Francisco 49ers
The one thing that does not change, regardless of the situation, in these prospects is the character trait.
We are constantly computing physical measurements, drill times, intelligence and raw or freakish skills in order to rank and position collegiate players. Every now and then, you hear the word “character” used, and then there are descriptions of leadership and words like “heart and soul” thrown around.
Guys who have character and grit are coveted on a different level as all the tangibles. They are truly rare, mathematically. Players who make your team better just by being there are fantastic.
But players who have tremendous skill and character are franchise players.
Reggie White once said, “One thing that I don’t think my critics realize about me is that I’ve been trained to look adversity in the face.”
Players who have a drive, fight and leadership, coupled with skill, can have a much larger impact on the team than the most talented at his position.
Most prognostic breakdowns of incoming players don’t include character details unless a player has been a detriment to the team or an absolute “heart and soul” guy, is it mentioned. When it is the latter, the charts and measurements get antiquated and a prospect can move ahead of need and perfect fit.
Bad teams need these guys.
The San Francisco 49ers find themselves in the unusual position of owning the second overall pick in a draft that doesn’t have a consensus No. 2 prospect. With holes all over the roster, and no future franchise quarterbacks, all the pundits’ picks have been varied and fluid. Prospects like quarterback Mitch Trubisky, linebacker Reuben Foster, safeties Malik Hooker and Jamal Adams and cornerback Marshon Lattimore have all spent a week, or so, as the favorite to-go No. 2 to San Francisco.
Currently, Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas is a popular guess from many of the analysts but is receiving criticism due to lack of complete fit with the current defensive line.
It isn’t exactly that he would not have a spot to play in the 49ers new 4-3 under scheme. But the fact incumbents DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead currently occupy the logical spots Thomas he would play in.
Thomas is considered a very high-character guy — a player with an every-down high effort. He plays violently, with an infectious fire that lifts the team up even in losing efforts. Described as a leader and a Swiss Army knife of a defensive lineman, Thomas has confidence at any position along the line in any situation, even LEO.
Thomas had fantastic career numbers at Stanford but is compared with the likes of Myles Garrett, whose numbers are padded with stats coming from games against inferior competition.
Many fans and analysts believe the fit isn’t worth the second overall pick and would like to see a safety, cornerback or edge rusher taken here.
The reality is Thomas has that X-factor players rally behind.
General manager John Lynch has been adamant about getting high-character football guys, guys who love the game compete as such. He covets players who contribute to the locker room and help to keep everyone’s motors running high.
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Thomas seems like a Lynch-type of player and is why the grit beats out the fit here.
At the same time, there should be considerations made for the strategic misdirection franchises can put forward in order to create perceptions of interest for trade value. All this could be a plan to gain a suitor for a trade down in order to pick up more picks. The Carolina Panthers might be the fish for this bait, with reports of their high interest in Thomas.
Either way, this new front office seems to have a steady direction and some swagger, something the 49ers Faithful have not seen in quite some time.
All things considered, what happens with the first of the 49ers picks is currently the most fascinating of the draft. What becomes of it should give us all some insight into how this new team thinks.
Next: Reevaluating the 49ers' Positional Priority List in the NFL Draft
Whether the analytics fit or not, it is hard to argue with a foundation built on character and grit.