49ers mock 2022 NFL Draft after dust settles from free agency

Round 3, Pick No. 78 Overall (from Browns): 49ers select EDGE Cameron Thomas, San Diego State

What’s this? A trade?

Yes, the Niners trade up in Round 3 for this particular mock NFL Draft, making a deal with the Cleveland Browns that involves shipping off San Francisco’s own third-round pick, plus two day-three selections, to Cleveland for the No. 78 overall selection.

Despite their losses in free agency, the 49ers are still a stacked team and don’t have too many holes. It’s not so much about the quantity of player selections, rather it’s about the quality.

Better players are more important than more merely-OK ones.

A good outside pass-rusher could have been the Niners’ top priority in the draft. With the offensive line taking over that spot, finding a complementary EDGE to pair with Nick Bosa is nevertheless a high priority.

Good thing this year’s class is chock full of good pass-rushers.

To achieve this, San Francisco trades up for San Diego State EDGE Cameron Thomas, the 6-foot-4 and 267-pound prospect who recorded 10.5 sacks his final collegiate season.

Thomas might not be anything close to a prolific pass-rusher at the NFL level, but he does project to be a good rotational option, and the 49ers have a need for those, too, especially with veteran EDGE Dee Ford’s injury history and a lack of depth elsewhere to support Bosa.