Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Quick-take NFL Draft mock after free agency opening

By Peter Panacy

Commissioner Roger Goodell names a pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 NFL Draft (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Commissioner Roger Goodell names a pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 NFL Draft (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 01: Auburn offensive lineman Braden Smith speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 01: Auburn offensive lineman Braden Smith speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Offensive Guard. Auburn. Braden Smith. 59. player. 42.

The 49ers didn’t go after one of the big-name guards on the free-agent market this offseason, meaning they’ll likely have to use one of their early picks to provide some competition, possibly a replacement, alongside incumbents Joshua Garnett and Laken Tomlinson.

In an ideal world, UTEP’s Will Hernandez would fall out of the first round and deep into Round 2. He’s easily the second best guard in this year’s class behind Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson.

That probably won’t happen, though, so the 49ers settle for Auburn’s Braden Smith.

Smith, 6-foot-6 and 303 pounds, might be suited for more of a power-run scheme. But his bulk is worthy enough to sustain interior pass-rushers, and there are a lot of those in the NFC West.

And if he can work on his technique and burst, Smith would be suitable to eventually take over a starting job along the Niners offensive line.