SF 49ers: Grading all 4 of John Lynch’s NFL Draft classes

Akshaj Dwivedula

San Fransisco 49ers general manager John Lynch Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

John Lynch, SF 49ers — General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

With some members of the SF 49ers’ 2017 NFL Draft class about to become free agents, it’s a good time to evaluate John Lynch’s efforts so far.

The SF 49ers‘ 2017 NFL Draft class is, by and large, hitting the free-agent market, as is the case with many of the players selected across the league that year. The 2021 draft is coming up very soon, too, making this junction a good time to examine the work of general manager John Lynch and the rest of the Niners’ work in the draft.

All the drafts will be analyzed in much greater detail, and later articles will take a look at Lynch’s draft trades, other trades as well as his overall acquisitions. That said, let’s explain the overall grading process because this, in and of itself, is already a subjective work.

Obviously, each pick will get a letter grade based upon the talent and production of the player relative to where he was drafted. These grades will be used to compile an overall grade for the draft class as a whole. Undrafted free agents will be taken into consideration. Trades, however, will not be. While they provide good context for a selection, they shouldn’t drastically alter the talent or production of a player.

The overall grade is heavily dependent where the player was taken. Yes, while it’s important to get good depth pieces, and an NFL Draft steal is most definitely a good thing for the SF 49ers, that’s not a useful way of evaluating a class when trying to understand a front office.

If the Niners knew exactly what they were getting, they’d draft that player with the first pick they had.

Missing at the top is a big deal, and though the roster overall doesn’t change if the miss is at the top or on the bottom, it does matter for the front office.

With all that said, let’s get started.

SF 49ers 2017 Draft Class

The 49ers headed into their first draft under John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan with a sizeable horde of draft picks and an almost unenviable position at No. 2 overall. With talent, though no “can’t-miss” quarterback prospect (more on this later), at many positions, this was a chance for the Niners to start the rebuild in a strong fashion.

This class also has the least ambiguity to it, given that four years have passed. Ninety-nine of the players in this draft have shown largely who they are, and very little will change that.

Round 1, Pick 3: DE/DT Solomon Thomas

Notable players drafted afterwards: Jamal Adams, Deshaun Watson, Marshon Lattimore, Patrick Mahomes, Jonathan Allen

It’s important to understand both the narratives and the situation leading up to the 2017 draft, because in a way, it helps give context to the selection of Solomon Thomas. The draft had been billed as lacking a “can’t-miss” QB prospect — an Andrew Luck or a Peyton Manning-esque prospect who would command the draft.

Following a year where two teams traded up for a QB, it was a unique draft.

There was a top-tier prospect, EDGE Myles Garrett, who was first on virtually every draft board, and there was everyone else. But despite Garrett’s talent, pass-rushers don’t command the draft the way a quarterback would. The Cleveland Browns chose Garrett, leaving a wide-open board.

Shanahan reportedly ruled out selecting a quarterback, opting to rather build a strong ecosystem a free-agent (quarterback Kirk Cousins) could have entered in. The Niners traded a spot down with the Bears so Chicago could ensure it could draft its quarterback of the future, Mitchell Trubisky. At No. 3 overall, the Niners selected Thomas, an athletic but undersized defensive lineman who had exploded his final year at Stanford, hoping for a foundational piece to coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense.

The goal for Thomas was to become the defensive end opposite the “LEO” in the Seattle Seahawks-like 4-3 system Saleh ran. This end would play on the outside on rushing downs and be moved inside for passing downs.

Well, at least it’s good they had a goal. Thomas is a wonderful person. His work supporting and destigmatizing mental health following the suicide of his sister has been inspiring. But he never found a spot with San Francisco. Part of it would be the fact that the Niners never managed to move him inside for passing downs because of a dearth of edge rushers.

At the end of the day, Thomas never produced like a top-three pick should.

Additionally, he was selected early in a draft that was ridiculously talented and has produced several superstars from the first round. It’s not fair to compare Thomas to the prospect of selecting a player like tight end George Kittle, who would have never been considered for a first-round selection, but other first-rounders are fair game.

With that in mind, it’s not pretty. The Niners passed on Jamal Adams, the All-Pro safety, Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore, All-Pro Tredavious White, and talented DT Jonathan Allen (a direct comparison to Thomas), among others. And of course, MVP Patrick Mahomes and Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson, two players who could have fundamentally altered the SF 49ers’ progression.

The Niners had a plan, and they stuck to it. But the amount of talent they passed over, QBs not included, and the disappointing production of Thomas makes this pick an F.

Grade: F

Round 1, Pick 31: LB Reuben Foster

Notable players drafted afterwards: Dalvin Cook, Ryan Ramczyk, Budda Baker, Marcus Williams

When Reuben Foster was drafted, many thought he would be the steal of the draft. A terrific linebacker who played with speed and an edge for the franchise that had been blessed with a decade of Patrick Willis and NaVarro Bowman, it was a match made in heaven.

And though injuries were a concern, Foster’s production his rookie year matched the hype. Though he did not record a sack, fumble forced, or interception, he was flying all over the field, causing mayhem and playing like a future Pro Bowler and long-time stalwart.

Then the offseason hit, and with it, a stark reminder as to why this Alabama linebacker chock full of production and potential nearly fell out of the first round. Foster was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, and though the charges were eventually dropped, it was a questionable and poor situation all around. Add in a gun charge, having already been instituted in the NFL’s drug use system, and continued injury concerns, and nearly every red flag that had been associated with Foster had been hit.

The final straw was an arrest for first-degree misdemeanor domestic-violence battery while on the road in the team hotel in Tampa.

The SF 49ers unceremoniously cut ties with Foster shortly after.

Foster was a high-risk, high-reward selection. Teams that hit on these are applauded. Teams that miss end up with nothing to show for their troubles.

Grade: F

Round 3, Pick 66: CB Ahkello Witherspoon

Long, lanky, and athletic, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon fit a theme the SF 49ers were looking for at as they moved to the Cover 3 system popularized in Seattle. In those days, Saleh didn’t run much of schematic variation, and the responsibilities of the cornerback were largely cut-and-dry: take a deep third of the field and lock it down. That’s a gross oversimplification, but it’s what the Seattle Cover 3 needed from its corners.

Witherspoon had the size and the arm length necessary to play press and take on multiple types of receivers, and the Niners were hoping he’d continue to develop and be able to truly take advantage of his late growth spurt and physical tools.

They weren’t necessarily wrong. Though Witherspoon looked fantastic in limited opportunities in part due to the “Dontae Johnson” effect, where the corner opposite of Johnson got targeted so few times because the other side was a much easier completion, he also finished with two interceptions and looked to take the next step. 2018 was a bit of a step back, but he started 2019 off in phenomenal form, playing at a Pro Bowl level before a foot injury took his momentum, much of his season, and seemingly his confidence.

Witherspoon has showed signs of reaching his 2019 highs in recent weeks in 2020, playing himself potentially back onto the roster. With very clear potential and times of playing up to that level, Witherspoon doesn’t get an F-grade, though his lack of consistency keeps him from going any higher.

Grade: D+

Round 3, Pick 104: QB C.J. Beathard

One could detail the need for a developmental quarterback and how the progression of C.J. Beathard could have reaped great dividends for the SF 49ers. Beathard’s toughness and the spark he gave when he came into a game against Washington as a rookie also speak measures, too.

But frankly, Beathard hasn’t shown himself to be a NFL-level quarterback. On top of that, he was a massive reach in the third round, with him likely having been available in the fifth, or highest in the mid-fourth.

The pick did not make sense then, and nothing Beathard has done since has helped explain it.

Grade: F

Round 4, Pick 121: RB Joe Williams

Generally, when it comes to running backs, Shanahan should get the benefit of the doubt. There was something about Williams that appealed to him, some trait Shanahan thought he could use to craft a productive running back out of.

But, this pick might be the worst of them all.

Given it’s just a mid-round pick, the selection of Williams doesn’t hurt, but since he never played a game for the SF 49ers, there’s no way his selection could be anything other than an F. With a hazardous fumbling habit and a lack of elite and above-average traits, it’s telling the pick the Niners traded out of to trade up for Williams produced a more productive back than him.

Grade: F

Round 5, Pick 146: TE George Kittle

There’s not much that has to be said about the “People’s Tight End.” The unquestioned steal of the 2017 draft, Kittle has been a shining star for the SF 49er.

He broke the single-season receiving record for a tight end in just his second year in the NFL, he’s the 1B to the 1A that is the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce in the tight end echelon, Kittle blocks on the level of an offensive linemen in the run game, he’s a selfless leader, he’s a YAC monster, and his contract, while expensive, seemingly underpays him relative to his production.

Kittle is a top-10 wide receiver and an above-average run blocker rolled into one human being.

There is absolutely nothing the SF 49ers could possibly regret about this pick. The only question is how did teams pass over him for four rounds?

Grade; A+

Round 5, Pick 177: WR Trent Taylor

Trent Taylor was supposed to be the 49ers’ version of Wes Welker, a slot-receiving god who could leverage the sticks with ease and eat up yards in the middle of the field. In 2017, he made good on that promise. But 2018 came with a significant reduction of production, and 2019 was a nightmare year for Taylor as he struggled with a foot injury that never seemed to settle itself.

In 2020, Taylor looked slow and lacked the burst that made him a good slot player. He’s very much a candidate to miss the roster next year. That said, for a fifth-round pick, one good year of production and and the capacity to stick on an NFL roster are enough for a passing grade.

Grade: C-

Round 6, Pick 198: DT D.J. Jones

Despite being drafted 195 picks after Thomas, D.J. Jones has been the more productive lineman for the SF 49ers.

Being such a late-round pick, roster politics, and the existence of veteran nose tackle Earl Mitchell blocked Jones’ path to early playing time. But slowly, Jones continued to develop more and more before taking a sizeable role as the early down nose tackle in 2019. He played well and has played well in 2020, though injuries have been the largest barrier between Jones and a true rise.

That said, a beyond-productive player taken in a round when most players who aren’t specialists end up out of the NFL, that’s a major win.

Grade: A+

Round 6, Pick 202: DE Pita Taumoepenu

EDGE Pita Taumoepenu was taken as a developmental prospect to eventually, if everything broke right, be a competent LEO as a pass-rusher. Everything did not break right, and Taumoepenu was cut by the SF 49ers and now is bouncing around the NFL, currently on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.

As a draft pick, there isn’t much to say, he didn’t pan out, but even though this pick is an F, it doesn’t mean much for the roster and the draft class.

Grade: F

Round 7, Pick 229: DB Adrian Colbert

Adrian Colbert was, at best case, going to be a special teams producer who made his wages as a gunner for the SF 49ers. So, it should be understood his production and play his rookie year was perhaps the single greatest development for San Francisco. As a seventh-round rookie, Colbert was given an opportunity to start because of injuries and ran away with his production, offering a hard hit and decent coverage. He looked like a solid player who could even be a competent starter.

In 2018, things dropped down dramatically before a high-ankle sprain took him out of the year. A lack of snaps in the preseason because of another ankle injury sealed his fate.

As a draft pick in the seventh round, Colbert exceeded expectations, and though he isn’t on the roster, that production his rookie year is more than enough to give him a passing grade.

Grade: B-

Notable Undrafted Free Agents: Matt Breida, Nick Mullens, Kendrick Bourne

If a team can get anything positive out of their UDFAs, it’s a win. If the team gets a competent depth piece, it’s most definitely a win. If it gets a spot starter, it’s one of the best moves.

So the SF 49ers managed to acquire their starting running back for two years whom they sold “low” on by trading him for a fifth-round pick, their backup quarterback who has put up the third-most passing yards in NFL history through his first 13 games (which is a very misleading stat), and arguably the best player of them all, a possession receiver in Kendrick Bourne who has developed to be a very valuable and reliable third receiver.

That’s incredible value, full stop.

Grade: A+

Overall Draft Grade

The SF 49ers horribly messed up the top part of their draft, especially given the talent they passed up on in the process. That alone puts this draft, the very first of the Lynch-Shanahan regime, in poor position. But they made up for it by drafting a bona fide All-Pro player and acquiring, either in the draft or through UDFAs, a few quality starting players and a backup quarterback.

It’s hard to grade this draft, given how Kittle alone might make it quality. But given the failures at the top, the SF 49ers get a D+, with an almost-certain F had they taken a player more consummate with his draft position in the fifth round.

Fred Warner, SF 49ers — Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SF 49ers 2018 Draft Class

Much of the 2017 season for the SF 49ers was an example of extreme incompetence both offensively and defensively. There were signs of life seen in a record-length of one-score losses, but it didn’t actualize into wins until the Niners traded their own second-round pick for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who was a fresh breath for a team plagued by QB incompetence and rattled off five straight wins to close the season.

The addition of Garoppolo as the functional second-round pick, as Kyle Shanahan mentioned, changed the SF 49ers’ plans for this draft likely, shifting them to shore up and support their QB.

Round 1, Pick 9: OT Mike McGlinchey

Notable players drafted afterwards: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, Jaire Alexander

In watching the 2017 SF 49ers season, the first thing that popped from the screen was just how atrocious the offensive line was beyond left tackle Joe Staley.

C.J Beathard wasn’t particularly great at handling pressure on his own, but that offensive line did him no favors. Garoppolo’s performance may have been overstated simply because he managed to survive the barrage opposing teams sent.

While McGlinchey was not a surefire top-10 talent, he fit a positional need, albeit one of many. Many pundits leading up to the draft, and several fans included, had considered the Niners a likely spot for either of the two young dynamic safeties, and the secondary was indeed a spot of worry. Jimmie Ward was slotted in at cornerback, leaving Adrian Colbert, a productive but ultimately limited seventh-round pick as the deep safety.

The career of McGlinchey thus far has been exactly what was a reasonable expectation of him. McGlinchey grades as an above-average run blocker, and throughout his career, particularly in 2019, he played at that level and beyond. His pass-blocking is by no means perfect, and it’s sometimes hard to call even average. But by and large, he has been an average pass-blocker. 2020 for McGlinchey has been ripe with splash plays (not good for an offensive lineman), but the highlights are worse than he has been. He does need to bulk up to manage edge rushers in his pass sets more to get that development and stay at worst average on the edge.

All in all, the lack of development as a pass-blocker for McGlinchey to anything beyond slightly above-average at best has been the greatest limiting factor of his upside, an issue especially given his draft position. He most certainly has not developed to match his ceiling, but he has played at a floor the Niners wanted.

The talent taken behind him makes this pick hurt a decent bit, but all in all, it was a very average selection, and one, given the circumstances, the Niners would do again.

Grade: C-

Round 2, Pick 44: WR Dante Pettis

Notable players drafted afterwards: Christian Kirk, Jessie Bates III, Donte Jackson, James Washington

Well, the good of the McGlinchey pick was that he may have never hit his ceiling, but he has at least played to his projectable floor of average pass-blocking and above-average run-blocking.

If that’s the case, what to make of the wide receiver Dante Pettis selection?

Kyle Shanahan is demanding and strict with his wide receivers, expecting a lot from them and rarely offering them praise. It’s both his personal method of motivation and the resultant factor of him having played receiver in college. So, after a promising rookie season for Pettis following a strong training camp, Shanahan continued to attempt to motivate and criticize Pettis, demanding more from him at least through the public eye and the media.

Few know what happened behind closed doors, but whatever did occur, the result was a complete disappearance from the game plan and eventually the active roster for Pettis. He played sparingly in the first few games, and by the time veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders was acquired in 2019, Pettis had become a healthy scratch before eventually being waived in 2020.

Pettis is an interesting case because he did flash on his potential. However, he had a bad case of the drops, had a bad case of fumbles, and he seemed to simply fade away. Though he may have had quality reps to get open, eventually the SF 49ers stopped trusting him with the ball.

In the end, it was a failed pick.

Grade: F

Round 3, Pick 70: LB Fred Warner

Yes, the unquestioned best pick of the SF 49ers 2018 draft and the second-best steal for the SF 49ers under Shanahan and John Lynch.

Linebacker Fred Warner was a former safety who had terrific coverage ability coming out of BYU. The understanding was he would be a good coverage linebacker who may not reach the levels of game control and run-play disruption to be a terrific starter. He was drafted to play alongside Reuben Foster and fill the MIKE-WILL combination the Niners want from their off-ball linebackers.

Obviously, things changed when Foster was released, but Warner, despite some growing pains, developed comfortably into one of the best linebackers in the NFL by his third year. His coverage ability has been exquisite and at a level beyond most linebackers, which allows Warner to act as an eraser and uniquely benefit Robert Saleh’s schemes. Warner’s football IQ has been off the charts, making him a second coordinator as the best linebackers are, and he’s developed a knack for forcing turnovers and just making the right play.

An unquestioned superstar and a home-run pick.

Grade: A+

Round 3, Pick 95: DB Tarvarius Moore

Tarvarius Moore was a college safety drafted by the SF 49ers to be a prototypical Cover 3 safety given his long arms, height, and blazing speed. After his rookie year, which he played cornerback and even gave some good spot snaps because of injuries, he was moved over to safety his natural position.

Last year, Moore had some early season starts because of an injury to Jimmie Ward and played like a raw athletic safety. He had poor tackling angles, which caused some big splash plays, and he wasn’t always set in coverage. That said, he demonstrated the skills and talent to be a consistent player and a talent at the free safety position.

In 2020, Moore played much more because of injuries, and he’s shown signs of development. There are still poor angles at times, but he uses his speed much better this year, and though his coverage isn’t always consistent, it has been an improvement from the past.

Moore has also been a fantastic special-teams player, which is important, but given his draft position, shouldn’t be his primary position. Moore still has a future as a starting safety, but time is ticking for him to actualize on his talent and make big plays.

Grade: C+

Round 4, Pick 128: DT Kentavius Street

A redux of a traditional former general manager Trent Baalke strategy, Kentavius Street tore his ACL in draft prep, resulting in a drop through the draft and a chance for the SF 49ers to get a steal late.

It did not pan out.

Street hadn’t gotten healthy to play consistently, and when healthy, he never was able to significantly crack the defensive line rotation and make significant plays compared to a D.J. Jones or a Kevin Givens. A mid-round pick who hasn’t panned out isn’t as bad as missing in Round 1, but he doesn’t get the benefit of a late-round pick.

Grade: D-

Round 5, Pick 142: DB D.J. Reed

Given both of D.J. Reed’s career interceptions come as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, and one of them was against the SF 49ers, it’s certainly an interesting situation to grade.

Reed was drafted as a potential nickel corner or free safety, and though his performance at safety wasn’t good enough, he settled in nicely as a strong backup nickel back. Never an elite player but a good competent selection by the SF 49ers who provided valuable depth. Reed’s forearm injury his third season resulted in the Niners cutting him this year hoping to stash him later instead of using the roster sport, which failed. Given the injuries, it’s fair to wonder what Reed would look like on the field for San Francisco.

Overall, though, this is the type of players teams typically want to get in the fifth round.

Grade: B-

Round 6, Pick 184: S Marcell Harris

Safety Marcell Harris is an aggressive fierce tackler who plays with reckless abandon. Though he may not always take the right angle and he misses a significant number of tackles as he flies around, he has been a good depth piece as a backup and he even showed signs as a SAM linebacker, an interesting leveraging of his talents which are more suited for a close to the line linebacker role.

All in all, for a sixth-round pick, the SF 49ers should be pleased.

Grade: B

Round 7, Pick 223: DT Jullian Taylor

Another late-round lineman, Jullian Taylor hadn’t played like Jones, but he also had been a filler depth piece for a strong defensive line rotation. There isn’t much to write home about here, considering Taylor is no longer on the roster after being waived in the middle of 2020, but this was a good seventh-round pick.

Grade: B

Round 7, Pick 240: WR Richie James

Richie James is a backup wide receiver. That should be made clear. He is not a very good return man, though his return against the Seahawks in 2018 was pretty electric. Though he may flash at times and has a monster game on his resume, he doesn’t have the consistency to be a full-time starter. That’s not an insult; to be a good depth piece as a seventh-round pick and make some plays when called upon is a favorable career outcome so far.

Grade: A

Notable Undrafted Free Agents: RB Jeff Wilson, TE Ross Dwelley, CB Emmanuel Moseley

Again, a backup running back, a backup tight end, and a cornerback who played his way to a start in the Super Bowl from the undrafted free-agent pool? That’s a fantastic haul again. Undrafted free agents are typically a volume play, but for the second season in a row, the Niners managed to to get quality players from the undrafted ranks.

Grade: A+

Overall Draft Grade

A draft that wasn’t as bad as the 2017 one at the top but still had some bad misses only to be propped up by a fantastic mid-round selection that essentially saves the draft much like 2017.

Unlike 2017, the SF 49ers have garnered more competence from the mid and early rounds while not having the same obvious misses 2017 did. Because of that, we’ll slot them in at just passing.

Nick Bosa, SF 49ers — Nick Bosa (Ohio State) selected to the San Francisco 49ers Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

SF 49ers 2019 Draft Class

Following the ACL injury to Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 3, the SF 49ers floundered and fumbled their way to the second-overall pick the following year. The hole on the roster was massive and obvious, and the Niners knew what they had to do to to set the final pieces for a strong 2019 season.

It is worth noting grading the 2019 class is very fluid given how all these players are just wrapping up their second season in the NFL. This grade can majorly change in two years.

Round 1, Pick 2: DE Nick Bosa

Notable Players drafted afterwards: DE Josh Allen, DT Quinnen Williams, DE Brian Burns

Entering the draft, it was obvious the SF 49ers had a major Nick Bosa-sized hole on their defensive line. They desperately needed a bookend rusher who could unlock their anemic pass rush.

So, when the Arizona Cardinals drafted quarterback Kyler Murray to start a new era of offense under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the SF 49ers gladly scooped up the edge rusher.

In his rookie year, Bosa was a top-10 EDGE. Not of his rookie class, but of the entire league. He commanded double teams and chips near the end of his rookie campaign. He was, without question, the best defensive lineman on the SF 49ers. His torn ACLin Week 2 versus the NY Jets in 2020 was a fluke injury, but it does re-raise perhaps the only concern with Bosa heading into the draft: his health.

A grade based on one season of play should be taken with mountains of salt, but everything we’ve seen so far paints a picture of a franchise cornerstone.

Grade: A+

Round 2, Pick 36: WR Deebo Samuel

Notable players drafted afterwards: OL Dalton Risner, WR A.J. Brown, WR D.K. Metcalf, S Juan Thornhill

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel also had injury concerns his second year, another issue given how violent and physical his play has been. However, it is important to remember how good and unique Samuel is. A running back in a wide receiver’s body, Samuel combines violent finishes with savvy route-running to be a multi-faceted threat for the SF 49ers. His ability on deep passes to get up and grab the ball should also be noted, though it has been rarely used in his two years in the NFL.

The biggest issue with Samuel’s selection is health and the level of the receivers drafted after him. Both Ole Miss teammates, A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf, have been healthier and therefore more productive than Samuel.

While Metcalf may not have been what Kyle Shanahan was looking for, Brown seems to be able to do what Samuel does, so in that way the pick looks a little worse in hindsight.

However, the SF 49ers would make this pick again if they could.

Grade: B+

Round 3, Pick 67: WR Jalen Hurd

Notable players drafted afterwards: WR Terry McLaurin, DE Chase Winovich

The selection of converted wide receiver Jalen Hurd is a story of “what if?”.

What if Metcalf fell three more spots where Shanahan reportedly was interested in him? What if Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson wasn’t taken one spot ahead?

And perhaps most importantly, what if Hurd wasn’t bit by the injury bug?

The idea of Hurd is a particularly powerful one: a player who was a running back now playing wide receiver built with the size of a tight end. The perfect H-back who would maximize the idea of positional flexibility and allow the SF 49ers to run a positionless offense, something they’ve already done in limited opportunities.

However, the idea of Hurd isn’t what the Niners got. They got a receiver who hasn’t stayed healthy his first two seasons.

Hopefully, Hurd can come back and showcase the talent and flexibility that made him go so high, but until he does, it’s an automatic F.

Grade: F

Round 4, Pick 110: P Mitch Wishnowsky

Mitch Wishnowsky is a fine punter, and after having seen fellow punter Michael Dickson be a legitimate weapon for the Seahawks a year ago, it made sense to select a punter with talent.

But a fourth-round pick for a punter?

This is the definition of a failure of a draft pick, no matter how well Wishnowsky plays. Unless he becomes the greatest punter of all time, it would be a bad draft pick, and even if he did become the GOAT of punters, it’s still a hopeless understanding of positional value.

Grade: F

Round 5, Pick 148: LB Dre Greenlaw

In typical SF 49ers fashion under Shanahan and John Lynch, they correct a mistake in the mid-rounds, such as selecting a punter before the sixth round, with a savvy smart decision in the later rounds. Dre Greenlaw is much of the same mold that Fred Warner was, a college safety who has the physical capabilities to play linebacker.

Though Greenlaw lacks the same instincts Warner has at the respective stages of their careers, and Greenlaw has had a slight step back this year as he seems to get lost in space, he is also a competent linebacker who has tremendous speed and the capacity to be a matchup problem.

He made one of the biggest plays of the SF 49ers’ 2019 season, and for a fifth-round pick, you can’t ask for much more.

Grade: A

Round 6, Pick 176: TE Kaden Smith

Kaden Smith has played relatively well in his NFL career, carving out a solid role as a competent backup rotational tight end. He just didn’t do it for the SF 49ers.

Off the roster early in his career, this pick was a waste.

Grade: F

Round 6, Pick 183: OT Justin Skule

Justin Skule is not a starter-quality lineman. He’s gotten ample opportunity to showcase his ability, and time after time he has struggled. He is, however, a perfectly valid depth piece for a roster, who if necessary, can play maybe a game at a competent level.

Not a good pick by far. But at this stage of the draft, a depth piece like this is good enough.

Grade: C

Round 6, Pick 198: CB Tim Harris

Tim Harris was a developmental cornerback selection who was likely going to be cut before he was stashed on season-ending IR. He hasn’t played nearly enough to warrant any true grade, so there’s nothing to really grade him off of.

For now, it’s an F, but this grade is very fluid and could easily change in the future.

Grade: F

Notable Undrafted Free Agents: DT Kevin Givens, LB Azeez Al-Shaair

Both Kevin Givens and Azeez Al-Shaair are good depth players with both of them flashing enough potential to become competent starters in the future, Al-Shaair especially.

Again, to get any players with decent potential and production is an A-level haul from the undrafted free agent selection, although this group lacks the punch of the previous hauls.

Grade: B-

Overall Draft Grade

The SF 49ers walked away with a superstar at a cornerstone position, a competent building block with star potential who has actualized on that potential to some degree at wide receiver, a starting linebacker and a punter.

What makes this draft different from 2017 and 2018 is where they missed versus where they hit. Once players make the team, the draft position shouldn’t matter too much in evaluating them. They’re just competing. But it is more important to hit up top than to pull a diamond in the rough, so even though the three drafts might have produced the same quality of players, 2019 gets a good grade.

For now.

A few misses push down the stock a bit, but it’s still a very good performance.

Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State Sun Devils, 49ers, NFL Draft — Brandon Aiyuk during the 2020 NFL Draft selected the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)

SF 49ers 2020 Draft Class and Final Thoughts

Grading the 2020 draft class is not productive in any way. There’s no way of knowing if any players had one-year aberrations or have something that can be consistent.

Based on what’s known, however, let’s dive into each player selected.

2020 NFL Draft

Javon Kinlaw, drafted in the first round, has shown himself to a better version of what was expected: an extremely raw, yet uber-talented defensive lineman. As the season has progressed, he’s gotten better and better, and most importantly, he’s already showcasing an understanding and instincts about the game, like his pick-six against the LA Rams.

Though he has a ways to go, Kinlaw is looking like another strong selection.

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been electric in his snaps, and he’s been a slam dunk pick, so far. The biggest positive for Aiyuk is both how much more he can develop and how well he’s playing with subpar quarterbacking, showing an extreme amount of future potential the SF 49ers can build upon.

It looks like Aiyuk will be a stud for years to come.

Offensive lineman Colton McKivitz should not have been starting this year, and he has obviously struggled. Though he has much more development to be done, there isn’t much to expect from McKivitz, though as a fifth-round selection, the Niners could have done much worse.

Charlie Woerner, a sixth-round tight end, has also not shown himself to be starter-level just yet, though in his last performance, he did showcase some receiving ability. Blocking, Woerner’s calling card, has not been up to snuff, and he too has a long way to go, but the potential is there.

Finally, wide receiver Jauan Jennings nearly tore his hamstring off the bone in training camp, so the seventh-round rookie, widely viewed as a potential steal, will have to wait for next year.

Final Thoughts

As many people have seen, John Lynch and the SF 49ers have had a penchant for finding players with good quality traits they can use for the future in the later rounds. This is part of the reason they have managed to build strong depth for their team, and sometimes, these depth choices can turn into something much bigger like George Kittle or Dre Greenlaw.