Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Full 2018 NFL Draft tracker, grades and analysis

By Peter Panacy

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 02: Mike McGlinchey #68 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates as he leaves the field following a game against the Temple Owls at Notre Dame Stadium on September 2, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. The Irish won 49-16. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 02: Mike McGlinchey #68 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates as he leaves the field following a game against the Temple Owls at Notre Dame Stadium on September 2, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. The Irish won 49-16. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Round 1, Pick No. 9 Overall: Offensive Tackle Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame

The 49ers made something of a surprising move with their first pick, grabbing Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey.

With little doubt, McGlinchey is going to be a stalwart offensive lineman in this league for a long, long time. And that’s important, especially when it comes to protecting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

On Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Field Yates reported the Niners were trading right tackle Trent Brown to the New England Patriots, while also swapping pick Nos. 143 (S.F.) and 95 (N.E.).

Brown was never quite the fit for the 49ers’ outside-zone running scheme. Pair that with injury and weight concerns, swapping out Brown for McGlinchey makes a good deal of sense in the long run. Tack on an aging left tackle, Joe Staley, and the long-term ramifications of this deal could be very good from the Niners’ perspective.

However, San Francisco still needs some immediate-impact players on the defensive side of the ball. And plenty were still available at this point in Round 1.

Plus, Niner Noise had McGlinchey ranked as a to-go prospect somewhere in the teens. Maybe the 49ers reached a bit, avoiding some of their defensive needs in the process.

That’s the primary reason for the low-ish grade right now.

But if you favor a “build from the trenches” approach, it’s a good move.

Grade: B-