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

The San Francisco 49ers look to build upon a budding team with some key picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. Follow along with Niner Noise with this live tracker with grades and analysis.

The San Francisco 49ers held the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and elected to kick off this year’s efforts by taking Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey with the pick.

General manager John Lynch and Co. could have gone one of many different directions with the team’s first pick. There were plenty of needs, such as an edge rusher, cornerback, linebacker, wide receiver or the offensive line.

McGlinchey is a smart investment, especially considering the money spent on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason. And while this pushed back some other pressing needs in the draft, particularly on defense, the move has to be looked at as a smart, safe pick.

San Francisco 49ers

Round 1 took place on Thursday, April 26, while Rounds 2 and 3 were on Friday, April 27. The last day of the draft, Saturday, April 28, saw the final four rounds to close this year’s festivities out.

We’ve given you a detailed preview for what’s on tap for the Niners in this year’s draft already.

Here’s how San Francisco’s draft is panned out:

• 1st round, 9th overall: OT Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
• 2nd round, 44th overall (from Washington): WR Dante Pettis, Washington
• 3rd round, 70th overall (from Chicago): LB Fred Warner, BYU
• 3rd round, 95th overall (from New England): S Tarvarius Moore, Southern Miss
• 4th round, 128th overall (from Pittsburgh): DE Kentavius Street, NC State
• 5th round, 142nd overall (from Washington): CB D.J. Reed, Kansas State
• 6th round, 184th overall: S Marcell Harris, Florida
• 7th round, 223rd overall (from Miami): DT Jullian Taylor, Temple
• 7th round, 240th overall (from Kansas City): WR Richie James, Middle Tennessee State

Let’s get onto the grades, shall we?

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-

Round 2, Pick No. 44 Overall: Wide Receiver Dante Pettis, Washington

The 49ers moved up from No. 59 overall in Round 2 to the 44th spot, grabbing Washington wide receiver Dante Pettis. In doing so, the Niners sent off a third rounder, No. 74 overall.

In Pettis, San Francisco gets a dynamic playmaker capable of separation with burst. At 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds, Pettis isn’t the big red-zone threat many thought head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. would target. But what Pettis does have is tremendous athleticism and pass-catching abilities.

You can get the idea below (h/t Rob Lowder of Niners Wire):

Pettis had a combined 1,583 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns his final two collegiate seasons. Additionally, he returned nine punt returns for touchdowns, giving the Niners special teams an added dimension.

Not sure about San Francisco trading up for this selection, which is the reason the grade won’t make it to A status.

Still, Pettis in the hands of Shanahan should make 49ers fans awfully happy.

Grade: B+

Round 3, Pick No. 70 Overall: Linebacker Fred Warner, BYU

Second-year pro Reuben Foster’s legal situation might have gotten a bit better this past week, meaning his chances of sticking with the 49ers improves.

Still, the linebacker position is something the Niners could ill afford to address.

BYU linebacker Fred Warner is a solid off-the-ball linebacker, capable in coverage and seemingly always around the ball. His 262 tackles over four collegiate seasons attests to this. At 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds, he’s more than capable lining up at either WILL or MIKE linebacker spots. And his hybrid-like abilities could mean San Francisco places him into more sub packages as well.

Foster could still face a lengthy suspension this season, and he also comes with injury concerns.

Adding Warner helps ensure a backup plan for Foster, also adding a versatile defensive weapon capable of helping in coverage and holding his own against the run. And Warner’s sideline-to-sideline abilities can’t be ignored either.

Solid pick for this point in the draft.

Grade: A-

Round 3, Pick No. 95 Overall: Safety Tarvarius Moore, Southern Mississippi

The 49ers could stand to use some safety depth, and Southern Miss’ Tarvarious Moore fits a great need.

Keep in mind, the Niners inked strong safety Jaquiski Tartt to a two-year extension. But with free safety Jimmie Ward hitting a contract year, and Adrian Colbert with just one year’s experience at the pro level, it’s not a total shock to see San Francisco grab a safety here.

Moore, 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, was a quick riser after his 4.32 40-yard dash time at his pro day.

That’s elite speed, even for the best of defensive backs.

In terms of overall athleticism, there are few prospects matching Moore’s overall package. While he’s a little thin — marking a key question mark among NFL ranks — he’s more than capable handling man-to-man coverage duties or acting as an over-the-top safety.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be a shock to see San Francisco peg Moore in as a possible depth cornerback. It’s a scenario John Lynch admitted considering after the selection.

Safety is still his best spot. And if Moore adds some bulk to his frame, he’ll be a big-time and rangy playmaker amid a budding secondary.

Grade: A-

Round 4, Pick No. 128 Overall: Defensive End Kentavius Street, North Carolina State

The 49ers are taking a bit of the long game with their first pick on day three of the NFL Draft, grabbing North Carolina State defensive end Kentavius Street at No. 128 overall.

Street, a 6-foot-2 and 280-pound EDGE, managed 19 sacks over four collegiate seasons.

Initially projected as a mid-round pick, Street ended up tearing his ACL in a team workout earlier this month. He’ll likely need to be redshirted this season, and the injury certainly hurt his draft stock.

There were some other pass-rushers — still a remaining Niners need — available on the board, such as FSU’s Josh Sweat, who went two picks later, or Oklahoma’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.

And remember, San Francisco didn’t exactly have a lot of luck taking injured players the past few years.

Hard to look at this pick in a positive light. If Street works out as a nice rotational player, great. But he won’t be contributing much, if at all, this year.

That’s not what the 49ers needed.

Grade: D-

Round 5, Pick No. 142 Overall: Cornerback D.J. Reed, Kansas State

Cornerback depth was still a concern for the 49ers, who helped solve some of the backup worries behind nickel corner K’Waun Williams by adding Kansas State’s D.J. Reed early in Round 5.

Reed, a California native, stands at 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds. He was a bit of a ballhawk at Kansas State, though, registering seven interceptions over the last two seasons. San Francisco hasn’t had a true ballhawking defensive back in a while, so this might help out nicely.

Despite his smallish stature, Reed plays bigger than his size would indicate. He’s tough, physical and doesn’t shy away from contact.

And while his man-to-man coverage skills are good enough, he’s also effective against the run too.

In the meantime, San Francisco will look to have Reed contribute on special teams and serve as a backup to Williams with the long-term prognosis of developing into a starter.

Good pick for the Niners here. But that edge rush is still lacking, hence the grade.

Grade: B-

Round 6, Pick No. 184: Safety Marcell Harris, Florida

The 49ers continued to reinforce their secondary, grabbing Florida safety Marcell Harris in Round 6.

Harris, a 6-foot-1 and 216-pound prospect, looks more the part of a strong safety, playing down low in the box and working well against the run. But he more than holds his own in coverage and presents a physical impact against receivers running across the middle.

The Florida product had 73 tackles his junior year in 2016 but missed last year due to an Achilles injury.

Jaquiski Tartt will be the team’s starter at strong safety. But Harris looks very similar in stature and skill set.

He’ll be a decent backup for Tartt, although the 49ers still negate the pass rush.

Grade: B+

Round 7, Pick No. 223 Overall: Defensive Tackle Jullian Taylor, Temple

After spending a bit of draft capital on the secondary, the 49ers looked back at the defensive line to find pieces to reinforce the trenches.

Temple defensive tackle Jullian Taylor, 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, isn’t much of a pass-rusher — a remaining San Francisco need — and registered just one sack during his collegiate career.

A one-year starter with the Owls, Taylor is more of a project and depth competition at the next level. He’s adequate enough against the run and could serve well enough as a 3- or 5-technique player in non-pass-rushing situations.

If he does move outside, his ability to set the edge will be key in determining if he can stick to the Niners roster.

Grade: C

Round 7, Pick No. 240 Overall: Wide Receiver Richie James, Middle Tennessee St.

Back to the offense for San Francisco.

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If you’ve learned anything about the 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan, tall-bodied wide receivers aren’t a necessity. It wasn’t a year ago, and it hasn’t been during this offseason.

The 49ers added yet another receiver in Middle Tennessee State’s Richie James who, at 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, looks every part the role of a slot option. One of the subtle differences, though, is James’ 40-yard time was moderate, coming in at 4.48 at the NFL Scouting Combine.

But what separates him from the pack at this point in the draft is his electrifying abilities with the ball in his hands. James, like most Shanahan-type receivers, has excellent separation abilities and won’t need to use his “size” as a factor when catching the ball.

Injuries limited James to just five games last year. Before 2017, though, James was a touchdown-scoring machine and posted 20 between 2015 and 2016. He also has modest experience on special teams.

There doesn’t appear to be too much room on the Niners’ roster, particularly after using a second-round pick on Dante Pettis. But James could end up being one of those stash players Shanahan and Co. look to keep around as a developmental option.

Grade: C+

Next: Full 49ers preview for the 2018 NFL Draft

Day three of the 2018 NFL Draft kicked off on April 28 at 12 p.m. ET, and we hope you’ll continue following along with us!