Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Regrading the 2015 NFL Draft class three years later

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 22: Defensive lineman Arik Armstead of Oregon competes during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 22, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 22: Defensive lineman Arik Armstead of Oregon competes during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 22, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Trent Brown #77 of the San Francisco 49ers stands behind his teammates on the sidelines during the national anthem before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Trent Brown #77 of the San Francisco 49ers stands behind his teammates on the sidelines during the national anthem before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

TRENT BROWN. A. . Offensive Lineman. Florida

Perhaps the best late-round pick from Trent Baalke, former Florida offensive tackle Trent Brown actually ended up being a solid addition for the 49ers over 2016 and 2017.

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Especially when one sees he was a seventh-round pick. Rare are those selections to make a 53-man roster, let alone emerge as a starter their rookie seasons.

But that’s what Brown did towards the end of 2015, eventually taking over the starting right tackle spot — beating out an unretiring Anthony Davis (who retired again) — during training camp and holding down that spot before being traded to the New England Patriots amid the 2018 NFL Draft.

Sure, he wasn’t a well-rounded player. His movement and run-blocking abilities remain sub par, although Pro Football Focus graded him the eighth-best pass-blocking tackle in the league last year.

His abilities in this category were impressive enough to warrant Denver Broncos EDGE Von Miller referring to Brown as the “best right tackle in the NFL.”

This certainly wouldn’t have been an A-grade had Brown been selected in Rounds 3 or earlier. But for a seventh-round selection, we should be pretty impressed at what Brown was able to do with only the most modest of expectations.