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

49ers Round 5 Pick, No. 156 Overall: EDGE Jordan Smith

There’s no doubt Nick Bosa is a tremendous pass-rushing talent whose mere presence was the difference between one of the league’s best defenses in 2019 and significantly less one in 2020, at least in the pass-rush department.

But Bosa was also even better when he had fellow EDGE Dee Ford playing opposite him, suggesting multiple pass-rushers are vital to success, no matter how good someone like Bosa may be.

That’s where University of Alabama, Birmingham EDGE Jordan Smith comes into the picture with the 49ers’ second fifth-round draft pick.

Smith was at Florida as a freshman before being suspended in 2017 as part of a credit card fraud scheme and ended up at UAB after a stint in junior college, where he turned himself into one of the most dominating defensive players in his conference. In two seasons, Smith tallied 89 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and even picked off one pass.

He’s a massive man, standing 6-foot-6 tall and weighing in at 255 pounds, but moves very quickly for someone so large, so there’s a decent chance he won’t make it until the fifth round for the 49ers to grab him here.

If he does happen to fall this far, the Niners will have a nice complement for Bosa on passing downs and the possibility of someone who could develop into another elite pass-rusher along the edge.