SF 49ers: 7-round mock 2021 NFL Draft with only SEC players

Round 7, Pick No. 238 Overall: SF 49ers select defensive lineman Tedarrell Slaton, Florida

A sneaky need for the Niners this offseason is their defensive line. And while a quality edge rusher might be the top need, particularly with Nick Bosa coming back from an ACL tear and Kerry Hyder hitting free agency, it wouldn’t hurt to bolster the interior depth at various points, too.

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Case in point, defensive end Solomon Thomas is also a free agent as is nose tackle D.J. Jones. San Francisco already appears to have Jones’ replacement, Kevin Givens, waiting in the folds. But there isn’t a lot of likable depth behind him.

One of the late-round prospects the SF 49ers can pin some hopes on is Florida defensive tackle Tedarrell Slaton — a true 1-technique prospect whose sizable 6-foot-5, 340-pound frame hasn’t prevented him from getting low in his stance and winning with leverage.

Slaton doesn’t offer up much in the pass-rush department, so he’s likely going to be featured as little more than a run-stopping interior lineman on base downs.

Still, those kinds of players have value, and the Niners could stand for that kind of depth anyway with some of their likely free-agent departures along the D-line this offseason.

The 2021 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 29.