49ers mock 2024 NFL Draft after selecting Ricky Pearsall in Round 1

Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft is complete, and the 49ers grabbed wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Let's mock out Rounds 2 through 7.

The San Francisco 49ers made something of a surprise selection at the tail end of the 2024 NFL Draft, grabbing Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall at No. 31 overall.

This probably means the Niners will move on from either of their other top two wideouts, Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk, at some point in the near future. But it's feasible a win-now San Francisco team simply holds onto them both with the aim of having a strong receiving corps for the upcoming season.

More shall be revealed.

The 49ers passed on cornerbacks and offensive linemen, but those needs aren't going away. And with nine more picks scheduled to be at the team's disposal, barring a blockbuster trade that might include the aforementioned Samuel or Aiyuk, general manager John Lynch won't be on the clock again until the 63rd overall pick, way toward the end of Round 2.

With one round in the books, let's mock out the rest of the Niners' selections, using Pro Football Focus' trusted mock draft simulator tool.

It's the 63rd overall pick, and San Francisco is back on the clock.

49ers 2024 mock NFL Draft, Rounds 2 through 7

Cornerback is a need, but safety could also be a priority with All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga coming back from a torn ACL and hitting free agency in 2025.

Georgia's Javon Bullard is more of a hybrid defensive back who can play safety but also doubles as a nickel cornerback, and the 49ers have a need there, too, if Deommodore Lenoir walks after this upcoming season.

It's a good thing the 2024 draft has plenty of decent O-linemen available, and the Niners have to think about eventually replacing All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who is nearing retirement, and upgrading over right tackle Colton McKivitz. They also could seek a replacement for starting guards Aaron Banks and Jon Feliciano, who are both free agents in 2025.

Kansas' Dominick Puni has experience at both tackle spots and at guard, giving him some immediate value with versatility, and he has the upside of potentially working his way into the starting lineup in a year's time.

San Francisco doesn't need just one defensive back. It could stand for two, perhaps even three.

Missouri's Kris Abrams-Draine has a smaller build and might be better suited for nickel play, but his one-on-one coverage skills suggest he's comfortable with boundary duties down the field.

Wisconsin center Tanor Bortolini has been a Niner Noise draft crush for some time now, and head coach Kyle Shanahan could seek out an experienced and promising center who can eventually take over for Jake Brendel in a year or two.

Bortolini also offers flexibility as a guard, too, potentially mitigating the long-term need for reinforcements if both Banks and Feliciano are gone in a year's time.

Another year, another chance for the 49ers to find a serviceable backup to All-Pro tight end George Kittle.

True, the Niners invested in two tight ends in last year's draft, Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis. But neither made much of an impression in year one.

Penn State's Theo Johnson is unpolished and needs a lot of work as an inline blocker, but he has some solid pass-catching traits and has good speed for a player of his size.

This isn't the first time Notre Dame linebacker J.D. Bertrand has been mocked to San Francisco by Niner Noise.

With Dre Greenlaw coming off a torn Achilles in the Super Bowl and entering a contract year, it'd be worth adding someone in the mold of Bertrand, who can contribute right away on special teams while beefing up the depth chart if Greenlaw misses time early in 2024.

Mississippi's Cedric Johnson won't have much of a chance to crack the 49ers' 53-man roster, at least not with pass-rushers like Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos ahead of him on the depth chart.

But, Johnson's rawness and unfinished skill set could be worth a longer look if he winds up being stashed on the practice squad with the hope of being a rotational pass-rushing piece.

The Niners previously met with UCLA running back Carson Steele, who's versatile and might serve as a unique chess piece behind the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Christian McCaffrey.

Considering No. 2 tailback Elijah Mitchell has a lengthy injury history, adding some insurance and competition would be wise at this stage of the draft.

San Francisco already struck gold with one seventh-round quarterback, Brock Purdy. Could it happen again?

If there's a day-three quarterback tailored for Shanahan's offense, it's Kentucky's Devin Leary, who has a number of Purdy-like traits.

The 49ers could use some additional competition for third-string signal-caller Brandon Allen behind Purdy and the veteran, Josh Dobbs.

Perhaps the Niners could turn someone like Leary into a tradeable asset in a couple of years.

Day two of the 2024 NFL Draft begins on Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. ET.

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