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San Francisco 49ers: Post-Super Bowl 7-round mock NFL Draft

By Aaron Tan

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 05: Shaun Wilson #29 of the Duke Blue Devils leaps for extra yardage against Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Virginia Tech Hokies at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 05: Shaun Wilson #29 of the Duke Blue Devils leaps for extra yardage against Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Virginia Tech Hokies at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft
FORT WORTH, TX – DECEMBER 23: Rashaad Penny #20 of the San Diego State Aztecs scores a touchdown against the Army Black Knights in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Round 3, Pick No. 6: Running Back Rashaad Penny

I’ve been a fan of San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny ever since I first laid eyes on his tape — not because of just how good he is, but because of the amount of value he brings to the table.

Penny has been mocked to go in the third round almost universally by draft experts. I have a high second-round grade on him, and I think that he is in the top-five running back conversation of this strong draft class.

I think Saquon Barkley (Penn State), Ronald Jones (USC) and Sony Michel (Georgia) are all prospects better than Penny right now.

However, Penny has just as much upside as any of them.

Penny has the capability to be a three-down back in the NFL. He comes in at 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, which is pretty much the prototypical size for a running back. Penny is a bruising back, often lowering his shoulder and breaking tackles, but also has surprising patience as well, allowing blockers to set up lanes for him to run through. And once he finds a lane through that hole, it’s pretty much over. Penny has nice burst and deceptive speed to fly past secondaries.

Penny would serve as a great replacement for the Niners’ Carlos Hyde, who hits free agency this offseason. The prospect can catch the ball with ease, which is always great for Kyle Shanahan’s system. Penny is what I think is the epitome of a Shanahan back — a mid-to-late round sleeper. who will be insanely productive in the system.

All in all, Penny has enormous upside to become an elite back in the NFL, and the 49ers cannot pass on that.