No. 30: Offensive Guard Dion Dawkins, Temple
If not Forrest Lamp, perhaps Temple offensive guard Dion Dawkins at No. 34 overall.
The 6-foot-4, 309-pound prospect has left tackle experience, which could bode well down the road when incumbent Joe Staley elects to call it a career. But he still projects as a better guard and, as discussed on the previous slide, this position is far from perfect.
Dawkins is also one of the safer bets in what otherwise is a weak offensive line class in 2017.
And there’s a real possibility he’s on the board in Round 2.
Likely knowing this, the 49ers brought in Dawkins for a pre-draft visit, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
The Niners drafted Joshua Garnett in Round 1 last season, although his rookie year was a bit of a disappointment. And left guard Zane Beadles isn’t a long-term answer either.
Dawkins would, at least, add competition to this group and maybe push Beadles out of the picture. Or, if things go that way, Garnett winds up being a bust and Dawkins is the next man up.
If he’s drafted, of course.