Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Way-too-soon 2019 full seven-round NFL Draft mock

By Peter Panacy

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces a draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces a draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 25: Running back Myles Gaskin #9 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: Running back Myles Gaskin #9 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) /

Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner have a knack for discovering hidden-gem running backs late in the NFL Draft. And they won’t shy away from looking at Pac-12 players either.

Second-year pro Joe Williams might be Shanahan and Turner’s latest mistake here, depending on what happens to the Utah product this season. But with injuries to both Jerick McKinnon (calf) and Matt Breida (shoulder), the 49ers would be wise to explore contingency plans if neither winds up having a productive season in 2018.

Keep in mind, McKinnon’s four-year contract is heavily front-loaded. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility San Francisco moves on if it has to.

That shouldn’t be the plan, but grabbing Washington’s Myles Gaskin would be a smart move at this point in the draft.

Gaskin has rushed for over 1,300 yards his three seasons with the Huskies, accounting for 21 rushing touchdowns in 2017 and adding another 232 yards through the air — pass catching being a valuable trait for Shanahan.

While his 5-foot-10, 203-pound frame is a little undersized, and he doesn’t exactly offer elite-level speed, Gaskin’s vision and elusiveness are tailor made for Shanahan’s zone offense.

He’d be a solid depth piece and change-of-pace back in case Williams and/or Breida’s development slows or comes to a halt this season.