NFL Draft 2021: 49ers get a QB in 3-round NFC West-only mock

NFC West moves in Round 3 of 2021 NFL Draft

For the first time in the NFL Draft, San Francisco isn’t the team selecting first after having sent its pick in the round to the Washington Football Team in exchange for perennial Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams.

Not a bad move.

The 49ers do have a compensatory pick, as do the Rams. But those Seahawks? Well, they’re short a third-round selection once again. So are the Cardinals, leaving just the Niners and Rams to make NFC West picks here.

Round 3, Pick No. 89 Overall: Rams select center Josh Myers, Ohio State

There’s an argument the Rams should focus on their offensive line with their first pick in the NFL Draft and not wait until Round 3. But the depth of O-line talent at least allows Los Angeles to wait a little bit.

One of the primary needs is to replace center Austin Blythe, who left via free agency for the Kansas City Chiefs during the offseason.

As far as fits go, Ohio State center Josh Myers would be a quality addition in Round 3.

Myers, 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, isn’t overly flashy. But he projects to be a solid zone-style blocker in a run-first offense, which should make head coach Sean McVay happy.

Round 3, Pick No. 103 Overall (Compensatory): 49ers select EDGE Patrick Jones II, Pitt

Despite getting a fully healthy pass-rusher, Nick Bosa, back from a 2020 ACL tear, the Niners could still stand for some additional pass-rushing depth this NFL Draft.

While there are no clear-cut studs in this year’s class, a number of early and mid-round prospects do have a lot of promise, such as Pitt’s Patrick Jones II, who had 17.5 sacks the last two seasons and figures to be a quality rotational piece at the very least.

At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Jones has the intangibles to be a great pass-rusher, but his motor and pass-rushing technique needs to improve at the NFL level in order for him to be a true difference maker.

Still, San Francisco can take a chance on a player like Jones, hoping to maximize his overall impact.

Round 3, Pick No. 104 Overall (Compensatory): Rams select cornerback Tre Brown, Oklahoma

Los Angeles also needs to find a way to bolster its own cornerback crop, and one of the notable offseason losses was nickel corner Troy Hill to the Cleveland Browns.

Hill’s departure will hurt. But this year’s NFL Draft has more than enough nickel-type defensive backs to make up for it.

At 5-foot-10 and 186 pounds, Oklahoma cornerback Tre Brown could be a quality addition late in Round 3, as the Rams look to further develop his three-interception campaign he had with the Sooners in 2020.

Brown also showed up nice enough at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, so that’ll easily push him into day-two discussion as LA looks to reconfigure its secondary.

The 2021 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 29.