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2019 NFL Scouting Combine: 5 pass-rushers who should intrigue 49ers

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 06: Defensive back Brian Allen of Utah runs the shuttle drill during day six of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 6, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 06: Defensive back Brian Allen of Utah runs the shuttle drill during day six of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 6, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 30: Montez Sweat #9 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs reacts after a tackle for loss against the Louisville Cardinals during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 30: Montez Sweat #9 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs reacts after a tackle for loss against the Louisville Cardinals during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

If the 49ers are somewhat concerned about Jachai Polite’s size and strength, they shouldn’t be with regards to Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat.

Sweat, 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, has both the size and power one would like to see from a three-down EDGE. And the scary thing is he has room to grow into his large, still-lanky frame.

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Sweat’s 22.5 sacks and 30.0 tackles for a loss the last two years at Mississippi State sure are impressive enough. But his excellent converging skills, plus a violent array of pro-level pass-rushing moves, are enough to suggest he can easily be a double-digit sack artist within NFL ranks.

Plus, Sweat managed to showcase his abilities to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan at the 2019 Senior Bowl, which never hurts. And those efforts certainly caused Sweat’s NFL Draft stock levels to rise from being a fringe first rounder.

Whether or not they’ll wind up in the top 10 is anyone’s guess. One thing is for certain, however. Sweat will have to answer for some team disciplinary actions at Michigan State, where he spent 2014 and 2015, that ultimately led to him transferring away in 2016.

Remember, the NFL Scouting Combine includes those crucial player interviews, where teams want to see accountability. Those teams have already done their research on players’ pasts. How a player responds can have a huge impact on their draft stock.