2019 NFL Draft: Ranking the San Francisco 49ers’ top 5 NFL mock drafts
By Chris Wilson
2019 NFL Draft: 49ers mock draft option No. 3
player. 42. . Defensive Tackle. Alabama. Quinnen Williams. 3
Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is the draft darling of the “Best Player Available” crowd. With Bosa off the board, Williams would likely be the best player available for the San Francisco 49ers to select.
Unfortunately, Williams plays the same position as San Francisco’s star defender, 3-technique defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who started for the NFC in the Pro Bowl yesterday. This fact does little to deter many analysts, including Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus, who called Williams the best player in college football last season:
"The best player in the nation in 2018, Williams emerged as a dominant interior presence that can disrupt both the pass and the run games. He had the nation’s No. 2 pass-rush grade to go with the No. 1 mark against the run, and he adds a difference-maker as the 49ers continue to develop their defensive front."
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler agreed that Williams is simply too good to pass up with the second overall pick of the draft, regardless of team need:
"Ideally, the 49ers will be targeting an edge rusher with this pick, but Williams’ ability to create interior disruption will make him tough to pass up. At such a young age, he shows the unique ability to interchangeably use his gifts to defeat blocks and live in the opponent’s backfield. With high draft picks, the goal should be to find impact players and Williams is special — the 49ers shouldn’t overthink it."
Williams isn’t the biggest interior lineman, but it’s hard to come up with any other negatives for the Alabama product, who amassed 19.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in his sophomore season:
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
The most compelling argument against selecting Williams is the draft capital — and the ongoing financial capital — the 49ers have spent on similar linemen.
With Buckner entering his contract year, San Francisco would be hard-pressed to keep three additional expensive defensive linemen on the roster before they address the EDGE position or sign their top defender to a contract extension. If the 49ers draft Williams with the second pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, defensive lineman Arik Armstead — a player valued by the 49ers but worth little on the trade market — would likely be shown the door.