Top 10 sleepers for 49ers heading into 2023 NFL Draft

The 49ers have a track record of landing impact talent late in the NFL Draft, meaning they have a great chance at landing some sleepers in the 2023 class.

Eight of the San Francisco 49ers’ 11 total picks in the 2023 NFL Draft take place on day three between Rounds 4 and 7.

Yes, the rounds most fans wind up tuning out.

On top of that, the other three picks the Niners have come at the very tail end of Round 3, meaning general manager John Lynch will be inactive for the first two-plus rounds where most of the projected talent is supposed to be.

Except San Francisco has a knack for finding that hidden-gem talent.

All-Pro tight end George Kittle (Round 5), starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Round 5), All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga (Round 5) and even 2022 rookie phenom, Mr. Irrelevant himself, Brock Purdy (Round 7) all help provide the justification for Lynch and Co. hitting on late-round picks.

If the 49ers wind up grabbing one or more of these sleeper prospects from the 2023 class, that reputation should continue.

49ers NFL Draft sleeper target No. 10: LB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas

Greenlaw and All-Pro Fred Warner comprise one of the better linebacking tandems in the NFL entering 2023, but it’s also a group that lost No. 3 linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair to free agency.

One trait that both Warner and Greenlaw have is the ability to cover, and that’s where a find like Texas’ DeMarvion Overshown could come into play.

A converted safety, Overshown made it onto ESPN’s Louis Riddick’s list of favorite sleeper prospects for this year’s draft, and there’s a good chance Overshown could fall into Round 5 where the Niners have three picks.

If San Francisco bites, it’d be getting a physical and fast linebacker with solid coverage skills.

The 49ers could use that kind of insurance for Warner and Greenlaw.