Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 2019 NFL Draft expert mock roundup

By Peter Panacy

"THE PICK IS IN" for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
"THE PICK IS IN" for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks out of the tunnel during warm ups with Jonah Williams #73 during warm ups prior to the game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks out of the tunnel during warm ups with Jonah Williams #73 during warm ups prior to the game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports — LT Jonah Williams, Alabama

OK, time to round out this roundup with a bit of a head scratcher.

CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson came up with something off an odd pick in his latest mock draft, pegging an offensive tackle to the 49ers instead of much-needed help on the defense.

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The selection? Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams. Here’s what Wilson had to say about his pick at No. 6 overall:

"Joe Staley is 34 years old and in his 12th season. The 49ers drafted right tackle Mike McGlinchey ninth overall in the spring and it would make sense to bookend him with the best tackle in this draft class, Jonah Williams."

It makes sense if Joe Staley was playing at a poor level this season or had already admitted he’d be around for one more year after 2018. Neither has happened, and the 49ers would be wise to table that need for at least another year.

Or spend later draft capital on a player they can develop. Not a first-round pick. That would be a luxury selection at this point, and the Niners don’t have those.

This isn’t a slight against Williams, of course, who is a solid prospect and will likely be a fine offensive tackle for a long, long time. But San Francisco has far more pressing needs on defense, and it would be hard to fathom the team making this kind of selection two years in a row.

Next. 49ers 2019 NFL Draft mock: Assessing needs over 7 rounds. dark

At any rate, the 2019 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 25.