San Francisco 49ers: 5 bold predictions for 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
49ers Prediction No. 4: No defensive linemen are drafted
This sounds like complete buffoonery after what the Niners have done ever since 2015: drafting a defensive lineman in each first round since that year aside from the 2018 selection of right tackle Mike McGlinchey.
In the context, though, suggesting San Francisco won’t draft a defensive lineman this year sounds like a bold statement.
There’s some merit to it, however.
True, the 49ers could use some pass-rushing help, particularly with Nick Bosa coming back from a 2020 ACL tear and fellow EDGE Dee Ford still very much questionable with a back injury. True, the Niners inked EDGE Samson Ebukam in free agency this offseason, but he’s primarily served as a rotational player over his four-year career up to this point.
Yet essentially every edge rusher in the 2021 draft has at least one major question mark, and there are far safer prospects and deeper positions San Francisco can go after instead. If anything, the 49ers can hope their current crop of Bosa, Ebukam, defensive end Arik Armstead and hopefully Ford wind up providing enough thump, while interior defensive tackles like D.J. Jones, Zach Kerr and second-year standout Javon Kinlaw help enough on the inside.
No defensive linemen for this prediction. Instead, the Niners target other positions where there are better depth and fewer question marks.