Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Rethinking 2018 NFL Draft big board after free agency

By Florito Maniego

Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers with general manager John Lynch (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers with general manager John Lynch (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers hits quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers hits quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

No. 2: EDGE

The 49ers were tied with the Miami Dolphins for the sixth least amount of sacks during the 2017 regular season.

Passing Defense Table
Rk Tm Sk
▼
27 San Francisco 49ers 30
Avg Team 37.3

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/18/2018.

Despite using their first-round pick on Stanford’s Solomon Thomas last year, the Niners still lacked a formidable pass rush. Veteran defensive end Elvis Dumervil was the team’s leading edge rusher with 6.5 sacks.

Arik Armstead started in six games in 2017, but has not lived up to his expectations since being drafted in 2015. The 49ers did acquire Jeremiah Attaochu in free agency; though, he might only be a situational pass-rusher at best.

Thus, San Francisco is in desperate need for a legitimate edge rusher.

A few names the 49ers may consider in the first round include Boston College’s Harold Landry and UTSA’s Marcus Davenport.

These players’ respective draft stock increased following their impressive outing at the NFL Scouting Combine. And there’s a big possibility San Francisco takes another defensive end in the first round for the fourth consecutive year.

The Niners might even have the chance to get top prospect Bradley Chubb if he falls to the ninth overall pick. However, it seems unlikely to occur.

It would be surprising if Lynch and the front office don’t pursue an edge rusher within the first two rounds. Especially with their inadequacy of quarterback pressures and sacks, the 49ers likely have their eyes on prospects such as Chubb, Landry and Davenport early in the draft.