Niner Noise
FanSided

Power ranking 49ers 2019 NFL Draft class after first 3 weeks

By Peter Panacy

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Nick Bosa of Ohio State reacts 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 reacts 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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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 29: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #6 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi’s Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 29: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #6 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi’s Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

player. 42. . . . Mitch Wishnowsky. 3

Yes, many a 49ers fan scoffed at the move, which brought in former Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky in as a fourth-round NFL Draft pick.

Whether or not that was a wasted pick matters not anymore. Wishnowsky is here, and he’s expected to be a field-changing weapon.

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Now, the question is whether or not he can be that kind of tool.

San Francisco was terrible in defensive-stand field position in 2018. Through three weeks, the Niners are averaging defensive stands on the opponents’ 27.0-yard lines — good for 16th in the league.

Wishnowsky’s 45.1 yards-per-punt average is only 21st among qualifiers, yet that stat can be misleading. Coffin-corner punts aimed to pin opponents within their own 20-yard lines don’t always have to be long ones.

The rookie could still improve here, as Pro Football Focus has him with only four of these punts so far. And his hang time on punts is 4.40 seconds, on average, which is good for 16th.

Still, Wishnowsky has been an improvement over the 49ers’ former punter, Bradley Pinion.