Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Predicting each rookie’s role, stats for 2018

By Aaron Tan

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Dante Pettis #8 of the Washington Huskies rushes against the Washington State Cougars at Husky Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Dante Pettis #8 of the Washington Huskies rushes against the Washington State Cougars at Husky Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 30: Kyle Postma #3 of the Houston Cougars runs the ball against Jullian Taylor #94 of the Temple Owls in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 30, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Houston Cougars defeated the Temple Owls 20-13. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 30: Kyle Postma #3 of the Houston Cougars runs the ball against Jullian Taylor #94 of the Temple Owls in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 30, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Houston Cougars defeated the Temple Owls 20-13. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Defensive Tackle Jullian Taylor

Jullian Taylor is a project — it is as simple as that. You cannot help but feel the 49ers only selected him for his impressive size, at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, to move him outside to defensive end to address the edge-rusher need the team has. He has only played one full season of college football (a very good one, at that) and will develop under coaches before stepping on the field.

I do not really know how to feel about this pick because it does not support a win-now strategy but is more part of a long-term plan at the edge position.

I get that you cannot really do much in the seventh round, but without a true pass-rusher on this team, the defense will not be able to reach its full potential.