10 prospects 49ers should avoid selecting in 2021 NFL Draft

No. 4 49ers Prospect to Avoid: Offensive Tackle Alex Leatherwood

There’s an awfully good chance the 49ers won’t be able to retain Trent Williams, especially if his asking price ranges somewhere around $18 million per year.

And while there are a good amount of high-quality offensive tackles in this year’s NFL Draft, one of the names the Niners should avoid is Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood.

Leatherwood could have been pegged as a first-round pick this year, but he’s seen his draft stock fall a bit in recent weeks. While he does have some notable versatility, having played at both tackle spots and doubling inside at guard, his pro-level comparisons usually include his best ceiling working as a guard.

Not at tackle, which is what San Francisco needs.

On top of that, Leatherwood doesn’t appear to be the mobile mover Kyle Shanahan would want in his zone-style offense, rather the tackle being a better fit in a power-type scheme.

While Round 2 would be an excellent spot for the 49ers to select Williams’ probable heir apparent, there are plenty of safer and better-fit options for Shanahan and Co. than Leatherwood.