Analyzing 49ers' undrafted free agents and how they fit on the roster

Overview for 49ers 2024 UDFA class: Offensive line and defense

Drake Nugent, Center, Michigan

An experienced collegiate body with 39 starts at Stanford and Michigan, Drake Nugent is slightly undersized at 6-foot-1 and 298 pounds with average arm length and below average athletic ability.

The ceiling probably isn't the biggest in the UDFA class, but the depth on the interior offensive line isn't the strongest either. There just doesn't seem to be that much to be excited about though unless something shines through in training camp.

Verdict: Low ceiling, but could maybe stick around as a backup with a strong camp.

Briason Mays, Center, Southern Miss

Briason Mays doesn't have nearly the profile that Drake Nugent had at Michigan, but he's a much more intriguing physical prospect at 6-foot-4 and 298 pounds combined with the second-longest wingspan among centers in the draft.

Mays did spent time at left tackle at Southern Miss, but he will be a center for the pros.

Verdict: The floor might be low, but there's an intriguing ceiling for Mays in the NFL.

Evan Anderson, Defensive Tackle, Florida Atlantic

It's clear the the San Francisco 49ers love Evan Anderson, given they held a top-30 meeting with him before the draft and invested $280,000 guaranteed (a colossal sum for a UDFA) at him to ensure he became a UDFA signing.

A run-stuffing defensive tackle who stands at 6-foot-0 and 319 pounds (which is much skinnier than his top weight of 356 pounds) and can handle double-teams, the team has an eye on him clearly to help tackle their run defense while providing some interesting pass-rush upside given he had 3.5 sacks at Florida Atlantic in 2023.

Verdict: The 49ers didn't throw this much money at him for no reason, the most likely to make the roster

Jaylen Mahoney, S, Vanderbilt

Jaylen Mahoney was a versatile defensive back at Vanderbilt who looks set to be a safety for the NFL, but his size at 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds combined with a 40-yard time of 4.54 seconds could see him try to be a nickel corner as well.

There's some talent to work with too. Mahoney is good at making plays in space and he's very physical with the added bonus of being a good run defender. While he's not an exceptional athlete, he's not lead-footed either.

Mahoney isn't a playmaker (he had only six passes defended and no interceptions in his 2023 season at Vanderbilt, and only four interceptions in five seasons with the Commodores), but he's shown enough that he could stick it out in the NFL.

Verdict: Not the most publicized signing, but one with a good chance of sticking on the roster as a versatile backup.