5 hidden-gem sleepers 49ers must target on Day 3 of 2022 NFL Draft

The 49ers may not have a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some good players to pick later in the draft.

With the 2022 NFL Draft under a month away, attention is turning away from free agency and more towards the highlight of the offseason for some.

With the draft closer and closer, San Francisco 49ers fans could be forgiven for not being as interested as much as usual with the club not possessing a first-round selection due to the decision to move up for quarterback Trey Lance a year ago.

But that doesn’t mean the Niners can’t still have a great draft class.

There have been plenty of players from outside Thursday night, such as wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner. Notably for all three players named above, they’ve all been named All-Pros in recent years. Indeed, San Francisco has had a knack of finding talent that can contribute no matter where.

While this year’s draft class isn’t considered to be one of the best seen in some time, there’s still some intriguing talent to be had in the later rounds that could pique the 49ers’ attention.

49ers prospect No. 1: Spencer Burford, Guard/Tackle, UTSA

You can never have too many blockers on your roster, and the Niners have a preference for blockers who can fit into multiple positions.

Spencer Burford enjoyed a strong collegiate career with the UTSA Roadrunners, showing his versatility at both tackle and guard.

Burford played well enough to earn an invite to the Senior Bowl and impressed with his solid performance. He’s not a monster when it comes to size and speed, but he has good instincts and technique for a prospect from a non-powerhouse.

San Francisco will have a spot at guard open with Laken Tomlinson signing with the New York Jets, and Burford could compete right away for that role or be a versatile backup.