Niner Noise
FanSided

2018 NFL Draft: Full Round 1 mock to celebrate New Year’s Day

By Peter Panacy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Haason Reddick of Temple reacts after being picked #13 overall by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Haason Reddick of Temple reacts after being picked #13 overall by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 33
Next
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 17: Quenton Nelson #56 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after a 10-yard touchdown reception by Corey Robinson against the USC Trojans in the fourth quarter of the game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 17, 2015 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 17: Quenton Nelson #56 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after a 10-yard touchdown reception by Corey Robinson against the USC Trojans in the fourth quarter of the game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 17, 2015 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Quenton Nelson. 9. player. 42. . Offensive Guard. Notre Dame

Not long ago, we were talking about the 49ers possibly landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Now they’ve slipped towards the bottom of the top 10. But San Francisco has also won, landing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in a deadline-deal steal with the New England Patriots. The Niners finished 2017 strong and appear to have their franchise QB for the long run.

With Garoppolo under center, the 49ers need to shift their focus on both protecting him and providing him with offensive weapons.

The first is more important, as the Niners’ interior offensive line play has been poor. So going with Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson — arguably the best interior linemen we’ve seen in some years — makes more than enough sense.

Related Story: Quenton Nelson makes even more sense with 49ers falling in draft order

Nelson is a road-grading lineman, which would provide up-front protection from Garoppolo and open up head coach Kyle Shanahan’s complex rushing offense.