With the Senior Bowl done and dusted, Niner Noise looks at players who impressed during the week and who could pique the interest of the 49ers.
The San Francisco 49ers are officially in offseason mode, and the first step on the road to the 2022 NFL Draft is the Senior Bowl, which recently concluded this past week.
With a lot of top talent playing in the game, interest is usually high as it’s the first real chance for draftees to boost their stock after the college season. While the game is fun, it’s traditionally the practices that teams focus on the most.
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The Niners don’t own a first-round pick in this draft due to the trade-up last year to pick quarterback Trey Lance, but there are several players at the Senior Bowl they could pick in the later rounds which we will be focusing on.
Following is a shortlist of players who improved their stock at the Senior Bowl, but the 49ers won’t be looking at for one reason or another.
49ers won’t land these NFL Draft prospects who nevertheless impressed at Senior Bowl
No. 3: QB Malik Willis, Liberty
2022 is shaping up to be a poor quarterback class, with huge flaws in all of the top quarterback prospects which was a thought confirmed by an uneven quarterback performance.
Of these quarterbacks, only Malik Willis has a big cannon arm for the pros and that was on show for the Senior Bowl.
Willis severely lacks touch however and all week he was overthrowing his receivers. But this can be taught, and he also has the legs to make plays.
The 49ers obviously won’t be looking at a quarterback, and he’ll be long gone before they pick regardless, but Willis made a case to challenge Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett as the No. 1 quarterback of the class.
No. 2: RB Dameon Pierce, Florida
In today’s NFL, the running back position isn’t valued highly in the draft, and picks in the first round are few and far between nowadays at the position.
Dameon Pierce won’t be picked in the first round but showed definite three-down potential to put himself in the running to be the first running back chosen.
Pierce showed a good blend of speed and power during the week, showed up in the receiving game and also showed talent at pass blocking. He could be a nice sleeper pick on Day 2 of the draft who starts as a rookie.
No. 1: OL Zion Johnson, Boston College
Unlike the other two picks, the Niners would definitely entertain picking Zion Johnson if he was available at their pick (especially if Pro Bowl guard Laken Tomlinson signs elsewhere or Pro Bowl center Alex Mack retires), but the performance of Johnson put him out of the reach of San Francisco.
Johnson was the offensive MVP of the Senior Bowl and has shot into first-round consideration. It’s rare an offensive lineman garners so much attention, but he looked so complete during the week despite playing an entirely new position in center during the week.
Even if he isn’t picked in the first round, he isn’t going to last long the next day before hearing his name called.
49ers target No. 1: WR Calvin Austin, Memphis
Wide receiver doesn’t seem like a huge need for the 49ers on the surface, and indeed it truly isn’t when you consider they have entrenched starters in Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, as well as a developing third receiver in Jauan Jennings.
But there are two needs that must be upgraded before next season. A true home-run speed threat at the position, as well as a return specialist.
Calvin Austin ticks these boxes, as he looks like he could be a solid selection in the draft.
Austin is undersized at 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds but produced huge at Memphis with 74 catches for 1,149 yards and eight touchdowns. He also returned two punts for touchdowns during his collegiate career.
While the secondary is certainly a big need for San Francisco, so is special teams as well as the need to surround Trey Lance with as many weapons as possible.
A luxury pick on the surface, Austin in fact ticks quite a few of the boxes the Niners need to make their offense and special teams complete.
49ers target No. 2: TE Greg Dulcich, UCLA
The 49ers’ biggest asset in the passing game is the ability to create mismatches and generate yards after the catch. They also like to play with multiple blockers on the line, and it’s no secret they’ve been seeking another weapon at tight end to complement George Kittle.
Greg Dulcich is a decent size at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds and ran a very good route at the Senior Bowl. He has definite mismatch potential at the next level.
Just as importantly for San Francisco, Dulcich isn’t lost as a receiver, improving significantly in his career with the Bruins. He stacks up defenders on the second level and can slide back into pass protection also.
The Niners also value versatility, and Dulcich can line up as an H-back, in the slot and could even be a fullback at times.
Dulcich also has his flaws. He’s not elite in any one area and his blocking could still stand to be improved. He’s a jack of all trades and master of none, which is why he’s likely to be picked somewhere in the middle rounds.
But the 49ers like to find value precisely in this area in the draft. Dulcich could contribute right away in the Kyle Shanahan offense.
49ers target No. 3: CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
Another player who put themselves on the first-round bubble for the draft, Roger McCreary lacks size but is an excellent cover cornerback who could be a great fit for the 49ers secondary.
6-foot-0 and 190 pounds isn’t going to impress most teams who want a sizeable outside corner, but the Niners will be desperate for an upgrade they can find.
Despite the lack of size, McCreary is a physical corner who’s twitchy in the hips and can prevent separation. With the 49ers’ defensive philosophy of using defensive pressure to limit the time quarterbacks have to throw, McCreary’s ability to prevent initial separation would be a perfect fit.
What could assist San Francisco is the strong class of defensive backs in the draft pushing prospects down the order a little. While McCreary could easily be a first-round pick in a weaker class, he’s more likely to slide down into Round 2.
McCreary will always be a risky pick due to being undersized, but he has the talents to make up for it in San Francisco.
49ers target No. 4: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
As mentioned before, the wide receiver position isn’t the biggest need for the team, but can the 49ers possibly say no to someone familiar with Trey Lance who’s also very tall and very fast?
Standing at 6-foot-5 and 208 pounds, Christian Watson certainly piqued the interest of teams with his route running and game-breaking abilities. He has a rare blend of size and speed but hasn’t gotten the hype he might otherwise have gotten since he played at North Dakota State.
But at the Senior Bowl, Watson showed he can play with higher-level talent and made several big plays.
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A Day 2 prospect, Watson could almost be seen as a poor man’s Calvin Johnson. A big body who can catch the ball well and has the ability to pluck the ball over the heads of smaller defensive backs, while possessing the speed to make players miss tackles in open space.
Jauan Jennings has developed well this season into a potential WR3, but Watson contains the traits that turn heads.
Add in his familiarity with Lance, and the 49ers would have to think long and hard over whether or not to reunite the two.