Niner Noise
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5 players 49ers should avoid in 2020 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Raekwon Davis #DL24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to the media on day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Raekwon Davis #DL24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to the media on day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Saahdiq Charles, LSU Tigers
Saahdiq Charles #OL09 of the LSU Tigers (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

817. . Offensive Tackle. Tigers . Saahdiq Charles. 3. player

While it’s not necessarily an immediate need, the 49ers have to be thinking long term about bringing aboard a quality offensive tackle to eventually replace the veteran, Joe Staley, who’ll turn 36 years old before the start of the season.

For Kyle Shanahan, mobility and side-to-side movement skills are necessary for the outside-zone blocking system. And on the surface, LSU’s Saahdiq Charles looks to have those desired traits. He’s mobile, quick-footed and has no problems blocking in space.

There are, however, plenty of other problems to look at.

Charles has more than his share of red flags, as Yahoo! Sports’ Eric Edholm pointed out:

"An LSU source told Yahoo Sports that Charles has some work to do to convince NFL teams he’s worth the risk. The 20-year-old Charles was “tremendously immature” and “constantly stayed in trouble” during the Tigers’ dream season. “He’s a follower, not a leader,” the source continued. “He gravitated toward trouble when he didn’t have money, so what’s going to happen when he does have [an NFL paycheck]? He makes it tough to trust him. He’s not reliable. In three years, he had a major discipline issue each year.” As a result, league sources have indicated that multiple teams have removed Charles from their draft board — for now — until they get more answers from him on his character concerns."

Charles is squarely a day-two pick, probably late in Round 2 or early in the third round. While the Niners have steered clear of prospects with checkered pasts since drafting linebacker Reuben Foster in 2017, even a trade-down scenario into day two of the draft shouldn’t mandate San Francisco keeping Charles on the big board.