NFL.com isn't a huge fan of 49ers' 2023 draft class

The 49ers didn't exactly earn top grades within the NFC West from the folks over at NFL.com.

In all honesty, it's a silly exercise to grade and evaluate any team's actions in the NFL Draft. After all, the true impact of that particular draft class isn't likely to be fully felt (or missed) until about three years later.

So, while we should all be tempted to say, "let's check back in three years' time" about the San Francisco 49ers' efforts in the 2023 NFL Draft, the hard reality is that we want to talk about it now.

Especially general manager John Lynch's most surprising pick, Michigan kicker Jake Moody at No. 99 overall.

Moody might have been the best kicker in this year's class. And while the Niners didn't exactly have a ton of roster needs, grabbing him with a third-round pick nevertheless seemed like quite a reach.

That's precisely what Eric Edholm over at NFL.com felt when looking at how San Francisco's draft came together.

49ers, Rams tied for lowest NFL Draft grade within NFC West, per NFL.com

Edholm went through and looked at all 32 teams' draft grades, and he dished out a C-grade for the 49ers, which just so happens to be tied with the Los Angeles Rams for worst within the NFC West.

The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks received B-plus and A-minus grades, respectively.

Understandably, Edholm questioned the Niners' selection of Moody, which fell right in between their two other Round 3 picks, Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown and Alabama tight end Cameron Latu:

"They made a smart opening choice in Ji'Ayir Brown, who didn't test well but has top-notch football instincts and a nose for the ball; they felt Talanoa Hufanga shared those traits two years ago, and the former fifth-round pick has become a star for San Francisco. Jake Moody might have been the best kicker in this class, but will he prove worthy of a top-100 selection? A couple picks later, the Niners got help at tight end in Cameron Latu and later added Brayden Willis."

Edholm felt San Francisco would have addressed the defensive line earlier than in Round 5 when it grabbed former Georgia defensive end Robert Beal Jr., although the NFL.com analyst was a pretty big fan of the selections of Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell in Round 7 and TCU linebacker Dee Winters.

Read More: Who did the Niners take in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Bell, Winters, Beal and the rest of the 49ers' 2023 draft class will likely have to wait to make a serious impact, though, as there weren't exactly a lot of holes on a Super Bowl-caliber roster. If anything, the Niners used this year's draft to help prepare for 2024 and beyond while hoping to improve the depth right now.

Aside from Moody, of course. He'll likely be a day-one impact player for San Francisco.