Niner Noise
FanSided

Power ranking 49ers’ NFL draftees by potential immediate impact

By Jeremy Wohlfart

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Nick Bosa of Ohio State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen #2 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Nick Bosa of Ohio State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen #2 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 18: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes rushes for a first down on a fake punt play against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 18: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes rushes for a first down on a fake punt play against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Don’t worry, when I heard the 49ers took a punter in the fourth round, I groaned, too.

But there are some reasons to like this pick at least a little even though it was a reach:

  • Mitch Wishnowsky has a cannon for a foot
  • Wishnowsky is more athletically gifted than most punters, which helps with potential trick plays
  • It does fill a need
  • Wishnowsky was the best punter in the draft
  • He’s Australian. That’s awesome.

He’s not the most popular pick ever, I know. But Wishnowsky at least promises to shore up the punter position for the foreseeable future, and there will be many times that 49ers fans will be grateful for those extra yards.

All too often, a few extra yard turns seven points into three, and three points into zero.