Niner Noise
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Full San Francisco 49ers mock 2020 NFL Draft: Post-bye week edition

By Jeremy Wohlfart

LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 07: Offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz #61 of the Wisconsin Badgers snaps the ball to quarterback Alex Hornibrook #12 against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 07: Offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz #61 of the Wisconsin Badgers snaps the ball to quarterback Alex Hornibrook #12 against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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A second pick on the offensive line? I think it’s very possible the 49ers pick at least two draft prospects here, and Lucas Niang is the type of player who could easily develop into a top blindside protector.

Niang passes the eyeball test as a tackle. He’s pretty big (6-foot-6, 340 pounds), but is capable of some amazing athletic ability. Niang did not allow a sack in his junior season last year, and was good in the ground game too.

While Niang is strong enough to sustain powerful moves from pass-rushers, he’s also quick enough to get set and make them take long paths to the quarterback. His size, strength and speed screams “franchise left tackle.”

Sounds like a player who would never get close to the end of the third round, right?

Well, Niang has some issues with his technique. He can sometimes be overaggressive and reach on blocks, allowing quicker defense linemen to get past him, either catching him when he isn’t set or simply moving by him.

I consider the bottom of the third round the absolute floor for Niang, but there is a possibility he could fall this far. If so, he would be a perfect heir to take over the blindside after learning behind the seemingly ageless veteran, Joe Staley.