SF 49ers boost pass rush in NFL.com’s latest mock draft

NFL.com’s Charley Casserly gave the SF 49ers some added pass-rushing help in a recent mock draft, suggesting Kwity Paye as the pick.

It might not seem as big a pressing need for the SF 49ers this offseason. But the preference of bolstering the pass rush is something general manager John Lynch and Co. have to strongly consider as they prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft this April.

The Niners ranked 11th in 2020 in sack production, generating 30 a year after their defensive line was considered one of the most formidable in the league.

A big reason why, of course, was because of serious season-ending injuries to edge rushers Nick Bosa and Dee Ford suffered early in the year. Bosa suffered a torn ACL in Week 2, while Ford dealt with a back injury that kept him out for all but San Francisco’s season-opener against the Arizona Cardinals. While these two major setbacks helped open the door for depth pass-rusher Kerry Hyder to have a career-best year with 8.5 sacks, it’s pretty clear the SF 49ers would like to bolster their pass-rush production anyway this offseason.

Bosa is expected to return fully healthy, but Ford’s status remains in doubt. And with Hyder poised to cash in on a sizable free-agent contract this offseason, it makes more than enough sense why the Niners would use yet another first-round pick on a defensive lineman.

And that’s what NFL.com’s Charley Casserly suggested with his first mock draft of the year.

According to Casserly, San Francisco will go after Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye:

"The 49ers need another outside presence opposite Nick Bosa, and Paye is my top-rated pass rusher in this year’s class."

Paye’s statistics don’t scream “production.” He managed only 11.5 sacks over his four-year collegiate career and had a season-high of 6.5 back in 2019.

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 2/25/2021.

But this is a case where stats can be deceiving. The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Paye is one of the most physically gifted defenders in this class. And with there being a general lack of quality edge rushers in this year’s draft, it certainly wouldn’t hurt the SF 49ers to consider an alternative to Ford and a complementary player to Bosa.

Even if it means using yet another first-round draft pick on the D-line.

SF 49ers could benefit from another pass-rusher on a rookie contract

Ford’s contract status is one of the main reasons why moving on from him in favor of a rookie would make sense.

Granted, Ford has an injury clause worked into his deal, and that kicks in on April 1. If he stays on the roster, Ford will be due over $20 million this season, according to Over the Cap, or 11 percent of the team’s payroll.

That’s a lot. Especially considering the Niners have to consider what looks to be a lucrative extension for linebacker Fred Warner.

Bosa, meanwhile, still has another two years on his rookie deal with a fifth-year option still in the cards. Should San Francisco somehow find a way to get from underneath Ford’s contract, extending Warner would be easy. Then placing Paye with Bosa would give the SF 49ers two premier pass-rushers together on rookie contracts for the immediate future.

That could be an easy win, freeing up money to help solve other areas of need on the roster.

Sure, going after Paye would neglect some of the Niners’ other needs. But the hope would be the defense returning to the same kind of potency when both Bosa and Ford were on the field at the same time in 2019.

Only in 2021, it would be Paye and Bosa instead.