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.
49ers prospect No. 2: Danny Gray, Wide Receiver, SMU
The 49ers have a very talented receiving corps, but they could stand to add a deep threat to complement the roster and give Trey Lance another weapon.
Keep in mind that the addition of Ray-Ray McCloud in free agency doesn’t rule out the possibility of adding another receiver late in the draft.
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Danny Gray had 49 receptions for 803 yards and nine touchdowns last season for SMU. He helped himself at the combine by running quickly with a 4.33 time in the 40-yard dash.
Gray projects mostly as a slot receiver at 6-foot-0 and 186 pounds, but he has some mismatch potential on shorter receivers as well as anyone taller but slower.
He hasn’t gotten much attention, but Gray looms as a potential steal as a productive receiver with potential for the next level.
49ers prospect No. 3: Jake Wydermyer, Tight End, Texas A&M
The Niners have been in the market for a second mismatch at tight end to pair with George Kittle. Jalen Wydermyer is a bit of an outlier on this list, as his skills are very well known, but he has some behavioral concerns that are causing his stock to drop.
Wydermyer had 40 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns during the year. Texas A&M didn’t have the best quarterback play this season, so the numbers could have been better with a more solid passing offense.
Wydermyer is sliding down draft boards for two reasons. The first was a very poor combine (his 40-yard time clocked in at 5.03 seconds), but the second reason is more important as teams have questions about his maturity.
Combined, these circumstances have turned Wydermyer from potentially the first tight end off the board to someone who may not be drafted at all.
But there’s still talent worth taking a late flier on. He can block just fine, runs very good routes and has good hands. He doesn’t have elite speed, but he could be an excellent second tight end.
Wydermyer is a risk, but he could be worth it.
49ers prospect No. 4: Micheal Clemons, EDGE, Texas A&M
The 49ers welcomed back Kerry Hyder to pair with Nick Bosa, but the team could stand to find another EDGE for the long term as well.
Micheal Clemons is the very definition of a jack of all trades, master of none. He has skills as both a pass-rusher and a run defender, but he doesn’t excel at any one area. He has some problems with flexibility and mobility, but he also possesses some excellent rushing moves and strength.
Clemons had seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss this season for Texas A&M. He showed particularly impressive skills against LSU, which really put him on the map for NFL scouts.
Additionally, he shows some definite three-down potential for the NFL, and he can be used right away in obvious passing situations while teams work on fixing his mobility issues. He has good size at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, and his pass-rushing moves are NFL ready.
Sure, Clemons is a bit of a developmental project when it comes to being a starter in the NFL, and he’ll never be a perfect athlete, but teams won’t care if he can get to the quarterback.
Clemons won’t need to shoulder the pass-rushing load to San Francisco if he’s selected, but getting even five sacks in a part-time role throughout his career would be a good return for a Day 3 pick.
49ers prospect No. 5: Coby Bryant, Cornerback, Cincinnati
Cornerback is no longer the biggest concern for the 49ers, given they addressed the position in free agency, but depth is still a concern and this is such a deep class of cornerbacks that the Niners will probably spend at least one pick to bolster it.
Coby Bryant had a very strong senior season for the Cincinnati Bearcats with two interceptions for 21 yards, with one returned for a touchdown. This continues on from the previous season where he had four interceptions for 25 yards. He had 11 passes defended this season, an improvement from the seven from last season.
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Bryant is a versatile corner from his time at the Bearcats having played snaps on the outside, in the slot and at safety, and his best attributes are his ball skills and his fight, constantly making plays on the balls and playing hard against his opponent.
OK, Bryant lacks tackling technique and isn’t especially quick, but they’re weaknesses that can be hidden in the zone based system San Francisco employs in coverage.
Bryant requires some coaching up to reach his potential, but he has all the tools to outperform his draft range.