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2018 NFL Draft: Who do the 49ers get in Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller’s latest mock?

By Peter Panacy

BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 24: Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Virginia Tech Hokies prepares to hit quarterback Philip Nelson #9 of the East Carolina Pirates in the first half at Lane Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 24: Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Virginia Tech Hokies prepares to hit quarterback Philip Nelson #9 of the East Carolina Pirates in the first half at Lane Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /
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Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller released his latest mock NFL Draft, and the San Francisco 49ers are going with defense for their first pick, taking linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, in 2018.

The San Francisco 49ers are going defense heavy again in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

At least according to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, who released his first seven-round mock draft after all the action from Super Bowl LII.

And the pick for the Niners? None other than Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Here’s what Miller had to say, who had San Francisco picking at No. 9 (order between nine and 10 will be determined by a coin flip with the Oakland Raiders):

"Here’s what you need to know about Tremaine Edmunds—he’s 19 years old, 6’5″ and 260 pounds. He was also one of the best defenders in all of college football last season and has the skills to be molded into either a stud pass-rusher or a rangy stack linebacker.The 49ers have invested several first-round picks in recent years on defenders—you have to go back to A.J. Jenkins in 2012 for the last time the Niners used their first first-rounder on offense—but the talent and potential of Edmunds is too good to pass up. Especially when he’s such a natural fit for the defense."

Edmunds has risen up draft boards in recent weeks. And while many 49ers fans have a draft crush on Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, including us, Edmunds might have just as much to offer.

Perhaps more.

Edmunds was a tackling machine his junior year at Virginia Tech, registering a whopping 108 total tackles, 14 of them for a loss and 5.5 sacks. Whoever picks him can option the rising star to be a coverage linebacker or edge-type pass-rusher.

The Niners could use both, especially with injury concerns surrounding linebacker Reuben Foster and Malcolm Smith.

The Rest of Matt Miller’s 49ers Picks

Miller gets paid big bucks to do this sort of thing, and we can’t overlook the entirety of all seven mocked rounds.

Here’s who he has going to San Francisco after Round 1:

  1. Cornerback M.J. Stewart, North Carolina (Round 2)
  2. Offensive Guard Will Clap, LSU (Round 3)
  3. Running Back Mark Walton, Miami (Round 3)
  4. Wide Receiver Keke Coutee, Texas Tech (Round 4)
  5. Offensive Lineman Austin Corbett, Nevada (Round 5)
  6. Cornerback Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama (Round 6)
  7. EDGE Joe Ostman, Central Michigan (Round 7)
  8. Linebacker Garret Dooley, Wisconsin (Round 7)

More from Niner Noise

Miami’s Mark Walton was a player Niner Noise listed as a sleeper pick in the mid-to-late rounds, so that’s a name to watch.

Wide receiver Keke Coutee’s collegiate stats in 2017 were surely inflated by the high-flying Texas Tech offense. At 5-foot-11, he fits the mold of a short-but-swift receiver to jell in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. I’m just not sure if the Niners need another player of that physical makeup.

Next: NFL power rankings: Post-Super Bowl LII edition

Of course, there’s free agency to consider, which will highly impact San Francisco’s draft needs. But the rest of these picks make sense. So, good job, Mr. Miller.