Niner Noise
FanSided

Redrafting the San Francisco 49ers’ 2018 NFL Draft class

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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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 14: Maurice Hurst of Oakland Raiders looks on ahead of the NFL International series match between Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium on October 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 14: Maurice Hurst of Oakland Raiders looks on ahead of the NFL International series match between Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium on October 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /

Round 4, Pick No. 128 Overall: Defensive Tackle Maurice Hurst

Original Pick: Defensive Tackle Kentavius Street

This was arguably the 49ers’ most shocking pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, taking a flier on ACL-injured defensive tackle Kentavius Street — something reminiscent of the many moves made by former general manager Trent Baalke.

Granted, Street’s strength is something to monitor when he fully recovers from his 2018 pro day injury. That said, the Niners needed impact players right away last year, not projects and stash-away prospects.

Additionally, San Francisco paid little offseason to its outside pass rush, which culminated in primary EDGE Cassius Marsh finishing 2018 with a mere 5.5 sacks on the year.

A wiser move at this point in the draft, particularly if risks are being taken, would have been to grab former Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst — a player widely viewed as a first-round talent, only to see his draft stock fall due to a revealed heart murmur.

Hurst eventually went to the Oakland Raiders early in Round 5, where he picked up four sacks and could wind up being more than just a solid rotating fixture along the defensive front.