Now that the San Francisco 49ers’ season is complete, it’s time to look forward to the 2018 NFL Draft. Niner Noise’s Chris Wilson brings you a full seven-round — no trade — mock draft of each of the Niners’ nine selections.
With the 2017 season in the San Francisco 49ers’ rear-view mirror, we can now set our sights on the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft.
Although we still have over three months until NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell puts the Cleveland Browns on the clock, it’s never too early to mock draft.
My first San Francisco 49ers mock draft of the year will be a no-trade draft, and will be run on Fanspeak’s “On The Clock” NFL Mock Draft Simulator.
Prior to the draft, and for speculation purposes, the Niners continue their winning streak with a commanding coin-flip victory over Jon Gruden’s Oakland Raiders at the 2018 NFL Combine, and now own the ninth pick in the first round of the draft.
The 49ers have nine overall selections — one in each round, and an additional pick in both the third and seventh rounds.
The San Francisco 49ers are on the clock!
1. EDGE Bradley Chubb, NC State
Thanks to an early run on quarterbacks, premier edge rusher Bradley Chubb fell to the 49ers — as did guard Quentin Nelson from Notre Dame. Although both players would be instant upgrades for the Niners, the choice was simple, as Chubb plays a higher-value position.
Chubb fits in perfectly as a LEO pass-rusher in the 49ers’ defensive scheme. Chubb logged 10 sacks in 2017, on his way to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the NCAA’s top defensive player.
C/G Billy Price, Ohio State
Billy Price is the next best interior lineman on my board after Nelson, and he is a steal in the latter half of the second round. As Price can play both center and guard, he could compete at the guard position in 2018, and then later transition to center when the 49ers eventually part ways with veteran Daniel Kilgore.
So far, the Niners have addressed two of their biggest needs – edge rusher and interior lineman — with their first two picks in the draft.
WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Christian Kirk was consistent over his three seasons at Texas A&M, averaging nearly 80 catches, 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns each year. At under 6-feet tall, Kirk isn’t a red-zone receiver, but he’s surely explosive, both as a wide receiver and returner.
As one of the top receiving prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft, he may not fall to the third round — but since he did in this draft, I gladly snatched him up with the 70th overall pick.
RB Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
Assuming that running back Carlos Hyde will test free agency this offseason, I used the San Francisco 49ers’ fourth pick to select Aztec running back Rashaad Penny. In 13 games last season, Penny ran for a respectable 2248 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The 220-pound Penny would be the largest of the Niners’ three running backs, and would likely share carries with 190-pound Matt Breida and 205-pound Joe Williams in 2018.
CB Holton Hill, Texas
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Holton Hill certainly has the size — and the talent — to play in 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s Cover 3 defensive scheme.
The biggest question surrounding Hill is his level of maturity; the corner was suspended for the final three games of his junior season with the Longhorns after violating team rules. Character issues will surely cause Hill to fall in the draft, but at the end of the fourth round, Hill’s upside is worth the risk.
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
Since the San Francisco 49ers spent starter money on linebacker Malcolm Smith last offseason, he’ll be expected to start next to former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster in 2018. Also, Brock Coyle is a prime candidate to be re-signed — even after a lackluster season in 2017 — but neither are NFL-caliber starting linebackers.
Shaun Dion Hamilton was a future NFL-caliber starting linebacker — until he fractured his kneecap last season, after tearing his ACL the season prior. I selected the Alabama linebacker in the early fifth round, hoping he’ll make a full recovery, in order to be reunited with Foster in the middle of the defense.
CB Christian Campbell, Penn State
The San Francisco 49ers need cornerbacks, and Christian Campbell is another corner with the size to play in Robert Saleh’s defensive scheme. Speed is an issue for Campbell, whose draft stock will fluctuate depending on how he runs at the 2018 NFL Combine.
Campbell only intercepted four passes in four seasons with the Nittany Lions, but he did break up 12 passes last season, and is a willing tackler.
T Cole Madison, Washington State
With right tackle Trent Brown in the final year of his contract — and left tackle Joe Staley entering the twilight of his career, the 49ers will likely draft a tackle at some point in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Madison played right tackle for Washington State, but if he’s able to play a competent left tackle in order to lock up the swing-tackle role, he could make lineman Zane Beadles — one of the 49ers’ most expensive players — a cut candidate prior to the beginning of the 2018 season.
LB Nick Deluca, North Dakota State
This small-school linebacker dominated against inferior competition, like his previous teammate quarterback Carson Wentz — but does he have the physical talent to compete at the next level?
Nick Deluca’s not the fastest — and he’s experienced his fair share of injuries — but he has a nose for the ball. The 49ers would likely have a special teams candidate, and some competition at backup linebacker, with their final pick of the 2018 NFL Draft:
Here are all of my nine selections for the San Francisco 49ers:
What do you think? Sound off here in the comments section or on Twitter @cgawilson.