Latest 3-round mock NFL Draft makes perfect sense for 49ers

The folks over at The Draft Wire came up with a mock NFL Draft that has the 49ers landing some impact talent late in the third round.

In case you forgot, if you want to read up on mock drafts about the San Francisco 49ers, you’ll need to dig into ones that include at least the first three rounds.

That is, of course, due to the fact the Niners lack both first- and second-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, thanks to trades that acquired quarterback Trey Lance and running back Christian McCaffrey, respectively.

Now that we have that out of the way, it’s also notable to admit that it can be hard to find league-wide mocks that include Rounds 1 through 3.

Thankfully, Luke Easterling of USA Today’s The Draft Wire just came up with one amid the NFL Scouting Combine, and his third-round projections for San Francisco make too much sense.

Especially given the 49ers’ most pressing offseason needs.

The Draft Wire identifies 3 potential starters for 49ers in mock NFL Draft

The Niners are very much a loaded team heading into the 2023 offseason, but there are some pressing problems general manager John Lynch and Co. are looking at.

Veteran safeties Jimmie Ward and Tashaun Gipson, both starters, may potentially leave via free agency, while Lynch all but acknowledged the likelihood of starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey’s free-agent departure

Tack on some interior defensive line depth, and San Francisco has an important draft class to create.

Easterling helped a lot.

No. 99 Overall: Safety Jammie Robinson, Florida State

The 49ers already had an NFL Combine meeting with Jammie Robinson, the 5-foot-11 and 199-pound prospect who recorded five interceptions and eight pass breakups over the last two years.

Like Ward, Robinson is versatile and can play multiple spots within the defensive backfield.

Whether or not he’ll be there at the end of the third round as Easterling projects, though, is a question mark.

If he is, expect the Niners to bite.

No. 101 Overall: Defensive tackle Keondre Coburn, Texas

Lengthy injuries to defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw last season forced San Francisco to rely heavily on interior D-line depth. And while the 49ers still finished with the NFL’s best defense in 2022, getting some interior push will be vital in ensuring this unit’s continued success.

Read More: Why 49ers should draft another quarterback in 2023

That’s where Keondre Coburn comes into play.

At 6-foot-2 and 348-pounds, Coburn is a traditional 1-technique nose tackle in the Niners’ base formation, but he does have a bit of a pass rush with 2.5 sacks and four tackles for a loss in 2022.

No. 102 Overall: Offensive lineman Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan

McGlinchey isn’t the only starter San Francisco potentially loses to free agency. No, center Jake Brendel is hitting the open market after his first highly successful season as a full-time starter, and the 49ers may want to groom a long-term replacement in the middle of the offensive line anyway.

Michigan’s Olusegun Oluwatimi has plenty of experience for the Wolverines at center, and he’s likely a plug-and-play option for the Niners if they go that route.