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.
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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.
49ers Prospect No. 1: Luke Schoonmaker, Tight End, Michigan
One of the reasons George Kittle was a fifth-round pick in 2017 was, despite his talent, he didn’t have the production of top prospects. He had only 22 receptions for 314 yards and four touchdowns in his senior year, with the receptions and yardage being collegiate career-highs.
Luke Schoonmaker has a lot of similarities to Kittle. He certainly has intriguing potential for the NFL but was buried on the Michigan depth chart with the result that he had only 35 receptions for 418 yards and three touchdowns last season with the Wolverines.
Schoonmaker looks like a perfect fit to be the second tight end for San Francisco. He’s an accomplished run blocker and was excellent at Michigan, a big tick for the 49ers who value tight ends (indeed, any offensive player) who can lay a good block in the run game.
Exactly where Schoonmaker stands when it comes to his receiving potential is a mystery, given his lack of production at Michigan. Still, he does look a good threat out of play action (another tick as a fit for the Niners), and he looks good at attacking the seam as well.
Schoonmaker does have some drawbacks as you would expect. He’s old and will be a 25-year-old rookie. He’s not especially talented when it comes to athleticism, and as a result, his upside is minimal.
But for a pick on Day 3, Schoonmaker looks like he could outperform his potential draft placement.
49ers Prospect No. 2: Ricky Stromberg, Center, Arkansas
If Jake Brendel decides to move on from San Francisco in 2023, the team will definitely find a center at the top of their priorities in the offseason. If there’s one position that can find solid starters in the later rounds, it’s here.
One player buried in the Day 3 quagmire but who could develop into a reasonable starter in the NFL is Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg, a four-year starter with the Razorbacks who’s also played guard at times.
The first thing to say off the bat is this isn’t some underrated gem who has fallen because centers tend not to be taken with premium picks, generally. He’s not going to wow people athletically, and he has had problems with elite defensive prospects in the past.
But there are traits there that show he could be a starting center in the NFL. He’s a versatile player who can play anywhere on the interior, and he has the power to sustain blocks. He’s got a big frame for a center (6-foot-4, 318 pounds) and he knows how to use the power.
If Stromberg can perform well at the NFL Combine and at the Arkansas pro day, he looks like a Day 3 pick who could develop quickly as a starter.
49ers Prospect No. 3: Jaxson Kirkland, Offensive Tackle, Washington
Another prospect who will be 25 years old as a rookie, Jaxson Kirkland will appeal to teams in the middle rounds needing a potential right tackle or guard, as he has the capacity to play both from his time at the Washington Huskies.
Kirkland has good length and a good size (6-foot-7, 310 pounds), and he’s a smart blocker who uses the tools he has. It’s probably fair to call him more of a finesse blocker than a true power player, but he has the functional strength to stop him from getting pushed around.
The lineman’s versatility to play tackle or guard will appeal to San Francisco, which often needs to shuffle around the offensive line out of necessity. He’s not a liability in either run or pass blocking, so he looks like he could be a solid steal at the next level.
Kirkland’s main problem is his height-to-weight ratio. He’s very tall at 6-foot-7, so it can be hard for him to play with leverage against defenders as his inability to anchor in that situation leads him to lose reps.
Additionally, he could serve to improve his leg strength for the next level, but he could be a savvy pick who right now is on the Day 2/Day 3 draft bubble.
49ers Prospect No. 4: Dante Stills, Defensive Tackle, West Virginia
Javon Kinlaw will probably be on the team for one more season, but 49ers fans shouldn’t depend on him to finally break out after so long. The team needs some help on the interior next to Arik Armstead, and the slightly undersized Dante Stills is an intriguing mid-round prospect who can put pressure on the quarterback.
In 2023, Still recorded 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a tipped pass for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He showed excellent ability to get into the backfield, recording 53 tackles for loss throughout his collegiate career.
Stills plays with a relentless motor, often getting past defenders with a sheer force of will. His quickness and relatively short stature at 6-foot-4 allow him to squeeze through blockers and attack the quarterback or ball carrier.
In the NFL, Stills will be unlikely to handle all three downs, but he could be a valuable rotational piece who goes onto the field on obvious passing situations. The Niners would love to add some more presence on third downs, and Stills looks like he could be a good value selection on Day 3 if he impresses at the NFL Scouting Combine.
49ers Prospect No. 5: Thomas Incoom, EDGE, Central Michigan
The 49ers love to add to the defensive line, and while they won’t necessarily need to prioritize an EDGE this year, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them add some depth, given the large number of veterans who will hit free agency this season.
Thomas Incoom looks like an intriguing prospect who’s on the Day 2/Day 3 bubble, having recorded 11.5 sacks for Central Michigan last season and being a true breakout player in 2022.
Incoom will intrigue teams with his potential to develop as a true heavy hitter in the pass rush. He demonstrated quite a few moves already at Central Michigan, plays with a relentless motor and has some legitimate speed to close down on the quarterback.
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Incoom is a victim of a strong EDGE class this draft, though, as teams will have concerns about him just being a one-season wonder. He also didn’t play against too much NFL-caliber opposition with the Chippewas, so there could be a definite learning curve for him in the NFL.
However, the talent is definitely there. If he performs well at the NFL Combine and impresses teams, he’ll more likely be a Day 2 than a Day 3 selection.
If the 49ers really like him, they might need to bundle some picks to move up.