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49ers: 7-round defense-only mock 2021 NFL Draft

By Robert Morrison

"THE PICK IS IN" for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
"THE PICK IS IN" for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Iowa Hawkeyes defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon (54) Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon (54) Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

. Defensive tackle. Hawkeyes . Daviyon Nixon. 43. player. 878

49ers Round 2 Pick, No. 43 Overall: Defensive Tackle Daviyon Nixon

If you haven’t learned the lesson how John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan want to build their defense from back to front yet, then I’m not sure what you’re looking at.

Since the duo came to San Francisco, they’ve had six first-round draft picks, four of their own and two others they’ve traded out of the second round to grab. Of the six, three have been defensive lineman, including their first, former Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas at No. 3 overall in 2017.

If that doesn’t sell the point, Lynch and Shanahan have made 32 total draft selections in their tenure. Six of those have been along the defensive line, or roughly 19 percent of their picks.

This, of course, means an all-defense mock draft will feature heavily along the defensive front, starting with the second-round selection of Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon.

Initially thought by some to be a potential first-round talent, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has pumped the brakes on that a little of late, stating how discussions with NFL personnel have pushed Nixon out of that group.

That isn’t to say Nixon couldn’t be an impactful NFL defensive tackle, especially since he’d be joining a unit already patrolled by such top-notch talent as fellow defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw along with EDGE Nick Bosa. It simply means Nixon could use his 6-foot-3, 305-pound frame to be a rotational interior pass-rusher as a rookie.

The Outland Trophy finalist would certainly be a welcome addition to an already very good 49ers defensive line and would help relieve the pressure of re-signing some of the free agents the team has at the position.