We don't get to say "I told you so" much in this business. Such are the unpredictables of the way NFL teams think, particularly during NFL Draft time, that they often leave us with egg on our faces.
Heck, the San Francisco 49ers' second-round pick of wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling falls into this category. No one, to my knowledge, mocked him to San Francisco, and some might not have even had him in the second round at all. Yet the Niners trusted their board, and made the selection.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We'll see.
In the third round, though, the 49ers did pull a mild surprise; Texas Tech rusher Romello Height might have been available later in the day, or even tomorrow. But positionally and roster fit-wise, he drops into an immediate Day 1 impact role at edge.
And who told you how this would work? Me, of course!
Alright, I didn't pick Height. I probably should have, there was enough smoke around to suggest the Niners were interested, including some scrutiny at the NFL Combine and a top-30 visit. That said, it was difficult to project the archetype of edge rusher the 49ers would be looking for under Raheem Morris, their new defensive coordinator.
What I did say, though, was that I thought the flashier picks at edge would make the 49ers run a mile. Simply, there was no room for an every-down edge on the roster. From the moment the Niners picked fellow defensive Mykel Williams in the first round last year, the base bookends were set; Williams would be lining up opposite Nick Bosa, and hopefully, for some time to come.
There was no way any 49ers pick would supplant Williams in the base starting defense, and therefore, it made edge surprisingly terrible value in Round 1, and questionable in Round 2.
In order for the 49ers to draft an edge, it needed to tick some key boxes. Namely, it needed to be a straight edge rusher, rather than an edge-setter who moves inside on passing downs like Williams. Then, it needed to be someone who would be comfortable coming in on third downs and in sub packages, purely capable of rushing the passer and with a history of getting to the quarterback.
In Height, the 49ers have found that player: a strong, athletic pass-rusher with proven ability to get to the quarterback.
While he needs to round out some areas of his game, he's certainly not as raw as someone like Robert Beal was coming onto San Francisco's roster, for example. Either way, defensive line coach Kris Kocurek should love working with him.
Ultimately, the 49ers have drafted genuine Day 1 impact, something they desperately needed from their earlier picks as the contending window continues to squeeze its way closed.
Height should be able to find a role immediately, and if he hits the ground running, perhaps it'll be a big one.
The hope, and absolute zenith that it could reach, would be something of the impact of Aldon Smith. But pump the brakes on that, he hasn't got Smith's ability... I don't think, anyway. But perhaps Height could be one of those productive guys every team needs. The 49ers have specialised in these in the Shanahan era, but they've usually come from free agency or trades: Arden Key, Cle Ferrell, and Charles Omenihu, for example.
It looks like they've finally got one of their own, home-grown, situational players. Just like I thought they would.
Now, if only I could have been right about A.J Haulcy, too, I'd have gone to bed in peace.
Add us as a preferred source on Google