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

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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Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

. EDGE. Kansas State. Jordan Willis. 66. player. 42

San Francisco’s first two picks addressed the secondary, which is a pressing need. But the defense still needs help within its front seven.

The 49ers missed out on some of the elite-level edge rushers available in the draft. Fortunately, this class is relatively deep, which affords general manager John Lynch the luxury of finding a mid-round gem in subsequent rounds.

Kansas State’s Jordan Willis is a good fit here in Round 3. Ranked as the 64th overall prospect by CBS Sports, Willis should be someone capable of targeting after the Niners make their first two picks.

He registered a very fast 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.53), and he certainly looked comfortable in all the defensive line drills over the course of the event.

And his 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for a loss during his senior year at Kansas State should catch the eye of San Francisco’s scouting staff.

Apparently it did, with the Niners hosting Willis for a pre-draft visit, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Willis would be a front-runner for San Francisco’s right defensive end, or LEO, position in this new 4-3 alignment. Aaron Lynch is the incumbent here, but the former fifth-round pick has failed to meet expectations the last two years.

Plus, it would be great to have another Willis in a Niners uniform again. We still miss you, Patrick.