The 49ers wrapped up the 2022 NFL Draft last weekend with no eye-popping picks or draft-day trades, but there were newsworthy moves nonetheless.
The 2022 NFL Draft is officially in the books, now generating the waves of takeaways and analysis you’ll see between now and the start of training camp.
The San Francisco 49ers didn’t have a first-round pick, of course, and they didn’t acquire one via trade either, meaning general manager John Lynch and Co. didn’t hear their number called until the end of Round 2.
After holding nine picks in total in this year’s draft, let’s review whom the Niners drafted.
- Round 2, No. 61 overall: EDGE Drake Jackson, USC
- Round 3, No. 93 overall: RB Tyrion Davis-Price, LSU
- Round 3, No. 105 overall: WR Danny Gray, SMU
- Round 4, No. 134 overall: OL Spencer Burford, UTSA
- Round 5, No. 172 overall: CB Samuel Womack, Toledo
- Round 6, No. 187 overall: OL Nick Zakelj, Fordham
- Round 6, No. 220 overall: DT Kalia Davis, UCF
- Round 6, No. 221 overall: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State
- Round 7, No. 262 overall: QB Brock Purdy, Iowa State (Mr.Irrelevant)
Though San Francisco seemed to have filled every need heading into the draft, it also made some head-scratching selections at some points over the three-day event from Las Vegas, too.
The 49ers nailed some picks during the draft, but they may have botched on some of those picks as well.
Let’s break down which ones were great, which ones weren’t and which ones got us thinking.
49ers’ best picks of 2022 NFL Draft
DL Drake Jackson (USC)
With their first selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Niners selected defensive lineman Drake Jackson out of USC.
San Francisco nailed this pick, bringing in some needed pass-rush help, opposite of Nick Bosa.
Jackson shows elite athleticism on tape and can immediately make an impact on the defense. Using his speed around the edge is what Jackson does best, as he is much more of a finesse pass-rusher than a power-type of player.
Though Jackson only finished with five sacks in 2021, many predicted more of a breakout season. He still has plenty of time to develop as a player and has the ceiling to be an elite pass-rusher in the NFL.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson improved his pass-rush grade by 22 points from the previous year.
Don’t miss the excitement behind Jackson, if he had the sack numbers he would have been a day-one pick.
WR Danny Gray (SMU)
In Round 3 of the draft, the 49ers added some serious speed to the receiver room with wide receiver Danny Gray out of SMU.
Posting a 4.33 40-yard dash time, Gray can take the top off a defense and has a speed element other Niners wideouts don’t.
Gray is more of a project in terms of his route running and catching ability. But what he does bring immediately to the offense is speed, and that alone is enough to get a few touches in the head coach Kyle Shanahan offense.
Shanahan listed his favorite characteristics of San Francisco’s newest wide receiver:
"What I like about Danny, I would say his No. 1 trait was speed, but his No. 2 trait was toughness. I think that’s a rare quality for those to be one and two, so I definitely like that about him a lot."
Gray brings a toughness most deep threats don’t and is willing to make those contested catches across the middle of the defense.
OL Spencer Burford (UTSA)
With plenty of movement along the offensive line this offseason, the 49ers elected to draft offensive lineman Spencer Burford. Burford primarily played left tackle and started at every other lineman position besides center during his collegiate career.
He started four years at UTSA, and according to PFF, never allowed more than 15 pressures in a single season. Burford comes in with a ton of experience and will also spend the entirety of the season at age 22.
Burford will compete for a depth spot along the offensive line, and if he progresses, can remain in the Bay Area for a very long time.
49ers’ worst picks in 2022 NFL Draft
RB Tyrion Davis-Price (LSU)
This pick being bad is less about the player and more about the need for the position on the roster. There were other areas of the depth chart that could be reinforced instead of the running back position.
After moving up in last year’s draft to select Trey Sermon, for the second straight year in mysterious fashion, the Niners picked yet another running back, LSU’s Tyrion Davis-Price.
There’s a side to this where it may be good for All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, as it looks like Kyle Shanahan and Co. want to add as many ball-carriers as possible
Read More: 4 needs Niners failed to address in 2022 NFL Draft
Davis-Price is a downhill runner who isn’t shy of contact, he has a bigger build and can take on hits. He eclipsed 1,000 yards last season but wasn’t necessarily efficient in doing so, averaging just 4.8 yards per carry on over 200 touches.
Though Davis-Price may have been a reach at this point in the draft, expect him to play a role in the offense in 2022 nevertheless.
OT Nick Zakelj (Fordham)
Offensive lineman Nick Zakelj out of Fordham is a true project and does not have a clear path for immediate playing time. Playing over in the Patriot League conference, he didn’t see very many NFL prospects and lacks proper technique.
At best, San Francisco can develop Zakelj to compete for a depth spot in 2023, but seeing him on the field anytime soon is a bit far-fetched.
49ers’ most intriguing picks of 2022 NFL Draft
NCB Samuel Womack (Toledo)
Samuel Womack will likely make an immediate impact for the 49ers, filling the void the now-Denver Broncos’ K’Waun Williams has left at the slot corner position.
Womack is a 5-foot-9 corner who covers the slot position very well. Excelling in keeping up with receivers across the field, Womack attacks the ball while it’s in the air, and with an impressive 18 pass breakups in 2021, he has elite ball skills despite his shorter frame and should fit well in the team’s defensive scheme.
Tackling is a glaring weakness in Womack’s tape, though, but he still isn’t afraid to get involved. Tackling is less desirable at his position, and he checks the boxes in terms of coverage.
In addition, one shouldn’t look at Womack as being afraid of mixing it up with bigger, stronger wide receivers.
QB Brock Purdy (Iowa State)
Brock Purdy, a well-known name across the college football landscape, started 35 games over his illustrious college career at Iowa State.
Purdy’s arm strength isn’t the reason he slid down all the way to “Mr. Irrelevant” at No. 262 overall. He can truly push the ball down the field and showed he can make every NFL throw. Additionally, Purdy is a fairly athletic quarterback who is very comfortable running RPOs and throwing on the run.
Read More: “Mr. Irrelevant,” Brock Purdy, is actually relevant for San Francisco
Where Purdy struggles is making reads and standing in the pocket. Even when there is no pressure in the pocket, Purdy is quick to escape and fails to move defenders with his eyes.
Purdy has the makeup to be a career back-up, which is more than most get out of the last pick in the NFL Draft.
DL Kalia Davis (UCF)
With the 220th overall pick in the draft, the Niners selected an interior defensive lineman out of UCF, Kalia Davis.
Davis opted out of the 2020 season, and just five games into 2021, he tore his ACL, causing him to miss the rest of the year. In those five games, however, Davis was quite productive with 17 tackles, 4.5 for loss and one sack.
With the departure of nose tackle D.J. Jones and the questions surrounding third-year pro Javon Kinlaw, Davis brings some added depth, who can potentially find himself on the field. If it wasn’t for his lack of play on the field due to injuries, many of the top analysts had Davis going in the fourth round.
San Francisco again struck value in this year’s draft, and you can add Kalia Davis to that list.
CB Tariq Castro-Fields (Penn State)
Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields could be in the best-draft picks category, but he lands here because he is indeed a very intriguing prospect.
Want your voice heard? Join the Niner Noise team!
After spending the past five seasons with the Nittany Lions, Castro-Fields is another experienced prospect. Playing in the Big Ten is a plus, with some of the best receivers in the country coming from that conference year in and year out.
Castro-Fields finished his 2021 campaign with 33 tackles and six pass breakups. With those less-than-impressive numbers, it’s easy to overlook his skill set. But he is willing to get involved in the run game and uses his length well to keep receivers close to him.
Excelling in press coverage, he is in his zone when he can readjust the receiver’s route. He has less-than-average ball skills and dropped several interceptions throughout his career, but through development can be a complimentary piece to the secondary.