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