5 sleeper draft prospects 49ers must watch closely at NFL Combine

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With the NFL Combine rapidly approaching, the San Francisco 49ers will once again be scouting prospects in the middle rounds to find their next gem.

The 2023 NFL Draft is coming up on us faster and faster, and the search is on for the San Francisco 49ers as they look to find the next batch of rookies to add to the team.

The Niners have had a knack for finding late or undrafted talent to contribute on the field, so it’s certainly possible they can pull it off yet again.

San Francisco doesn’t pick until the end of Day 2, with its first- and second-round picks traded in the Trey Lance and Christian McCaffrey deals, respectively. The team does have three consecutive picks, however, to begin its class (pending a trade-up), and 10 selections overall, currently.

Keep in mind, though, this does not include compensatory selections, which don’t get allocated until after the NFL Combine, so the number could very well increase.

The 49ers do have a few needs to address, depending on who hits free agency for the team. A backup tight end, center, right tackle, defensive tackle and linebacker depth are but a few holes the Niners could address.

This could include a kicker, but San Francisco could end up retaining Robbie Gould in one way or another.

There are certainly a few prospects who could fill the 49ers’ needs in the middle rounds however and shine as steals in their own right. This is especially true of some of the more deeper positions in the draft such as tight end and cornerback.

So, looking at some of these prospects, let’s look at five sleeper players the Niners should keep a keen eye on when the NFL Scouting Combine begins.