Niner Noise
FanSided

2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 prospect big board for the 49ers

By Peter Panacy

Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after scoring on a 24-yard touchdown run in the first half against USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after scoring on a 24-yard touchdown run in the first half against USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

Running Back

Head coach Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner don’t take running backs early in the NFL Draft. But depending where the 49ers are slated, it might be impossible to overlook a player widely viewed as the best in this year’s class.

A lot of the Niners’ needs here are predicated on what happens with the position this offseason. No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde is set to be a free agent, but the team has made overtures of him returning.

Meanwhile, undrafted rookie Matt Breida has impressed, and the team should be looking forward to fourth-round NFL Draft selection Joe Williams (ankle) returning from a redshirt season.

But let’s assume Hyde walks and Williams never pans out. Suddenly, this becomes a pressing need.

Round 1 Running Back Big Board

  1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State
  2. Derrius Gulce, LSU
  3. Bryce Love, Stanford
  4. Ronald Jones, USC
  5. Damien Harris, Alabama

Not long ago, it wasn’t hard to find 49ers fans wanting Penn State’s Saquon Barkley within the top three of the NFL Draft. Barkley’s stock has fallen slightly over the past two weeks, but he’s easily a top-five player.

There’s always a chance the Niners go with Barkley this high, but it still doesn’t jive with Shanahan and Turner’s approach.

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If San Francisco does elect to tab a tailback in Round 1, it likely comes towards the end of the round. Fortunately, there are more than a few who could slip or be available at that point. Stanford’s Bryce Love was in the Heisman Trophy discussion, and it’s impossible to overlook the connection between his college and general manager John Lynch.

Oh, and Love has the speed Shanahan covets.

And don’t count out fringe first rounders like USC’s Ronald Jones or Alabama’s Damien Harris.

Next: Full 7-round mock NFL Draft for the 49ers in 2018

Still, it’s unlikely the 49ers go with a tailback this early in the NFL Draft. But hey, stranger things could happen, right?