2019 NFL Draft: Power ranking top 10 edge rushers for 49ers
By Peter Panacy
If you’re looking for a relatively unknown pass-rusher on the fringes of Round 1, look no further than Wyoming EDGE Carl Granderson.
San Francisco 49ers
Granderson, at 6-foot-5 and 261 pounds, looks every part a three-down lineman in this year’s NFL Draft. And while there may be concerns about his small-school pedigree translating well over to the pro ranks, there are few worries about the kind of efforts the four-year collegiate standout can offer.
While only registering three sacks in 2018, one can look back at his 8.5-sack campaign from 2017, which also included 16 tackles for a loss.
That said, Granderson is far from a perfect prospect. His first step isn’t particularly explosive, and he generally has to rely more on sheer power than an array of pass-rush moves and outside bend. If he gets locked up by a blocker, he’s generally taken out of the play.
Still, Granderson’s hand movement is solid enough. On top of that, he’s good enough against the run, which helps him increase stock.
Granderson’s stock needs to rise a bit in order to be considered a first-round NFL Draft prospect, though. Yet if the 49ers are looking to table their pass-rushing needs until the second round, Granderson wouldn’t be the worst target out there.