10 prospects 49ers should avoid selecting in 2021 NFL Draft

The 49ers passing on these 10 questionable prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft would be a wise idea.

Late in Round 1 of the 2017 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers took a flier by trading back into the round and selecting Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster with the No. 31 overall pick.

The move was considered genius at the time. After all, Foster had top-10 talent despite also carrying both injury and off-the-field concerns. And while Foster’s rookie year seemed promising enough, those off-field issues boiled over in 2018 and ultimately led to the Niners waiving him in November of that year.

In hindsight, general manager John Lynch and Co. should have done what the 30 previous team selections did: pass on Foster.

Heading into 2021, San Francisco owns eight picks in this year’s NFL Draft and should expect an additional two more compensatory picks, one in Round 3 and likely another in Round 5. And while day-three picks are about as big a proverbial “throwing at the dart board” as can be, selecting the right players between Rounds 1 and 3 can make or break a team’s immediate future.

Passing on the wrong players can be just as important, too, and here are 10 Lynch and the 49ers drafting department should pass on this April.

No. 10 49ers Prospect to Avoid: EDGE Gregory Rousseau

Yes, it’s possible the Niners seek additional pass-rushing help in Round 1 of the draft, particularly with EDGE Nick Bosa coming off an ACL tear suffered last year and fellow EDGE Dee Ford having dealt with serious injuries the last two years.

Unfortunately, nearly all of the collegiate edge rushers in this year’s draft have some sort of major question surrounding them.

And while San Francisco will have to navigate this regardless of its targets in Round 1, one player who should be avoided is Miami EDGE Gregory Rousseau.

This isn’t to say Rousseau won’t be a massive-impact player at the NFL level. He did, after all, record an impressive 15.5 sacks with the Hurricanes in 2019. The problem, though, is that was Rousseau’s sole breakout season. He appeared inn only one game in 2018  after suffering an ankle injury and then elected to opt out in 2020, meaning that lone 2019 campaign is all scouts have for the 6-foot-7 pass-rusher.

At best, Rousseau will take a lot of time to develop. Even then, he’s still a risky prospect, and the 49ers don’t have time to wait on him to become a force with their Super Bowl window open now.