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2019 NFL Draft: 5 players 49ers can cross off their Round 1 big board

By Peter Panacy

ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 08: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to a sack against the Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 08: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to a sack against the Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 22: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines rushes the quarterback behind the block of Brenden Jaimes #76 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers on September 22, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 56-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 22: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines rushes the quarterback behind the block of Brenden Jaimes #76 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers on September 22, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 56-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Time to criticize a well-respected mock NFL Draft here.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein tabbed Michigan defensive lineman Rashan Gary to the 49ers at No. 2 overall not long ago. Maybe, maybe Gary to the Niners would make sense if John Lynch pulled off some massive draft-day haul and moved down into the late teens, perhaps. But even that’s a stretch.

Why Zierlein considered Gary in the top 10, let alone the top five, is a bit of a mystery. Yes, Gary has plenty of talents. Michigan also lined him up all over the defense, too, which only adds to his versatility.

But Gary isn’t much of a pass-rushing force, which is easily San Francisco’s biggest need. He’s decent in straight-line rushes from the interior. The 49ers, however, already have a player of that ilk, defensive end Solomon Thomas, whom they selected at No. 3 overall back in 2017. As was the case with Thomas, Gary probably won’t have a lot of success rushing off the edge.

And Gary isn’t anywhere close to the caliber of player that Alabama’s Quinnen Williams is, so one can eliminate that check box, too.

Next. 2019 NFL Scouting Combine: Day 2 prospects 49ers must watch. dark

Either way, Gary won’t be appearing on San Francisco’s big board this NFL Draft, which happens to kick off on Thursday, April 25 from Nashville, Tennessee.