Niner Noise
FanSided

2020 NFL Combine: 3 players no longer in 49ers draft range

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Wide receiver Henry Ruggs III of Alabama talks to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama and wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. of Kentucky during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Wide receiver Henry Ruggs III of Alabama talks to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama and wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. of Kentucky during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Tristan Wirfs, NFL Combine
Tristan Wirfs #OL53 of Iowa (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Tristan Wirfs. 3. player. 878. . Offensive Line. Hawkeyes

The 49ers could be looking to upgrade the interior of their offensive line this offseason, especially considering right guard Mike Person has zero in guaranteed money remaining on his current contract into 2020.

Pressed against the salary cap, the Niners could consider cutting the aging veteran. And it wouldn’t be overly shocking to see San Francisco seek an upgrade here anyway.

The draft is deep at both cornerback and wide receiver, while it’s a lot more topheavy along the offensive line. While O-linemen aren’t the most flashy picks, few could argue against building the foundation from the ground up. With Football Outsiders ranking the 49ers O-line 15th in pass protection last year, one can understand how a younger, cheaper upgrade option would be likable.

Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs is likely to be one of those players.

Wirfs entered the NFL Combine as a fringe first rounder, possibly going as high as the early 20s with the slight chance of slipping to the Niners at No. 31 overall. And it’s hard to argue his fit within head coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, as Wirfs is excellent in zone blocking, pulling and in bootlegs, too.

But that was before Wirfs ran an exceptional 4.85 40-yard time at the combine, which was tops among all offensive linemen. He also had an outstanding three-cone drill, showing off those movement skills.

San Francisco would have loved a player like Wirfs, but he’s well out of range now.