10 prospects 49ers should avoid selecting in 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 6 49ers Prospect to Avoid: Defensive Tackle Alim McNeill
A sneaky need for the 49ers in the upcoming NFL Draft is the interior of the defensive line where they stand to lose defensive linemen Solomon Thomas, Ronald Blair and D.J. Jones to free agency. And while there are currently some on-roster options to step up in their absence, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Niners use at least one draft pick on an interior lineman.
That selection shouldn’t include North Carolina State defensive tackle Alim McNeill, though.
McNeill currently projects as a third-round pick. And while the 6-foot-2, 320-pound lineman has some modest pass-rushing prowess, noted by his 5.5 sacks in 2019, he mostly projects to be a decent 1-technique run-stuffer at the pro level.
Yes, those are important. Jones proved how valuable a short, squatty defensive tackle can be when he’s disruptive enough.
The problem with a would-be McNeill selection by San Francisco, though, is run-stopping interior defensive linemen are relatively easy to find and can be had much later in the draft.
Considering the team’s needs elsewhere, it would be better to save any third- or fourth-round pick to address something else, thereby passing on a player of McNeill’s upside.