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San Francisco 49ers: Biggest Winners & Losers from the 2017 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Mike Purcell (64) runs past Dallas Cowboys guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (73) for an interception-touchdown during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Mike Purcell (64) runs past Dallas Cowboys guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (73) for an interception-touchdown during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Nose Tackle Mike Purcell

Fourth-year pro Mike Purcell managed to get into all but one regular-season game as the 49ers nose tackle last season, even starting five of them before veteran defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey took over the starting job midway through 2016.

But Purcell wasn’t exactly a solid option up the middle. Despite registering a career-high 17 tackles last year, Pro Football Focus gave him a 44.1 overall grade on the season — certainly not high enough to justify him sticking around atop the depth chart.

The free-agent pickup of nose tackle Earl Mitchell this offseason ensured Purcell wouldn’t start in 2017, barring injuries.

Yet Purcell could be in danger of losing a roster spot altogether, especially after the selection of D.J. Jones in Round 6.

Jones, at 6-foot-1 and 319 pounds, is a prototypical nose tackle in Robert Saleh’s 4-3 hybrid defense. Saleh prefers short, stocky nose tackles, and Jones even has a decent pass rush in his arsenal.

Even CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, no stranger to being harsh on the 49ers, said Jones could be “a steal” for San Francisco.

This isn’t good news for Purcell, who will have to fight hard to retain a roster spot this offseason.