Niner Noise
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Predicting best- and worst-case roles for 49ers’ 2019 NFL Draft picks

By Robert Morrison

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Nick Bosa is greeted by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked 2nd overall by the San Francisco 49ers on day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Nick Bosa is greeted by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked 2nd overall by the San Francisco 49ers on day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 03: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes punts the football during the second half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the 38-20. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 03: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes punts the football during the second half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the 38-20. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

P Mitch Wishnowsky

Best case: The fourth-round draft pick is the best punter in the league, following in the footsteps of fellow Australian and Seattle Seahawks punter Michael Dickson.

This helps the 49ers, in terms of the field position game, forcing opponents to start drives much further from the end zone than the 30.9 yard line average from 2018. In turn, the defensive is able to hold teams away from scoring touchdowns.

Worst case: Wishnowsky gets the job done, but isn’t particularly notable in terms of his qualities. This, of course, leads the detractors to spend all season reminding the team what a reach they made drafting a punter in the fourth round in the first place.

On top of everything else, the former Utah punter also struggles on kickoffs, so the defense is forced into short fields no matter how successful the offense is.

Prediction: I tend to think that Wishnowsky will be a fantastic pickup for the 49ers. Sure, the fourth round might have been a bit of a reach, but general manager John Lynch has shown when he wants a player badly enough, he’s going to get him, no matter the draft slot, especially when it appears another team might have taken their man:

When it comes to teams fighting for a playoff spot, the field-position battle could prove to be quite important.