Pro Football Focus’ review on the 49ers’ 2018 NFL Draft class

The folks over at Pro Football Focus put together an inclusive assessment of the San Francisco 49ers’ efforts in the 2018 NFL Draft. How accurate is PFF and what can we break down from it all?

It’s anyone’s guess how good the San Francisco 49ers‘ 2018 NFL Draft class winds up being, given none have actually stepped on the field for a pro-level game yet.

But our friends over at Pro Football Focus think they’ve got a pretty good idea.

PFF has been hard at work putting together post-draft assessments for all 32 teams, and the Niners’ own review is now out. You can take a look at it here.

Not surprisingly, PFF got things started with San Francisco’s top pick in the draft, Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, whom they had ranked the No. 1 OT in this year’s class.

Here’s what they had to say about McGlinchey:

"Our top-ranked offensive tackle in the class, Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey adds instant value as a Week 1 starter at right tackle as he earned a career-high 90.6 overall grade in 2017, and was fifth in the class in run-block success percentage at 94.9."

It was a bit of a surprise to see McGlinchey picked at No. 9. Yet the move made sense after the 49ers traded off right tackle Trent Brown to the New England Patriots the following day.

McGlinchey wins in his run blocking, where Brown struggled. Yet Brown was one of the premier pass protectors in the NFL — PFF had him the eighth best pass-blocking tackle in 2018 — and this is where McGlinchey will need some work.

Impact Players for the 49ers’ Wide Receiver Corps

San Francisco also tabbed two wideouts, Dante Pettis and Richie James, in Rounds 2 and 7, respectively.

San Francisco 49ers

PFF’s review states:

"Former Washington wide receiver Dante Pettis, San Francisco’s second-round pick and our 100th-ranked overall player, is a skilled route-runner with reliable hands that can develop into quite the security blanket for Garappolo. He dropped just seven of his 169 catchable targets in his Huskies career and adds even more value with his special teams prowess as a returner.In addition to Pettis, San Francisco added another receiver in Middle Tennessee State’s Richie James, a smaller pass-catcher with slot receiver potential, in the seventh round. James earned 89.6-plus overall grades in each of his first two collegiate seasons, but he earned just 70.4 overall grade in his injury-plagued 2017 campaign."

Pettis, arguably the best route runner from this year’s draft, is an exciting pickup when paired with head coach Kyle Shanahan. For most other teams, going at No. 44 overall would have been a reach.

For Shanahan, though, it’s a great pickup.

James faces longer odds to make the back end of the wide receiver depth chart. Yet he was one of the major standouts at rookie minicamp, so that should serve his chances well.

PFF was also intrigued by the Niners’ selection of Kansas State cornerback D.J. Reed who, at 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds, figures to be the primary competition for the incumbent nickel back, K’Waun Williams.

Next: 49ers' 2018 NFL Draft tracker with analysis & grades

What are your thoughts on San Francisco’s 2018 draft class?