While tackle is definitely a position of need and a popular mock for the 49ers, there are players from other positions who could be worth a look at No. 31.
With the NFL Draft under a month away, the fire is well and truly lit as the San Francisco 49ers prepare to take a player in the first round for the first time in quite a while.
And with that comes the fans wondering exactly what their shiny new toy is going to be under the proverbial Christmas tree.
Well, it's Christmas in April for a draftnik like myself, anyway.
Read More: The 5 best first-round NFL Draft picks by the 49ers in franchise history
While offensive tackle has been a popular mock for the 49ers for good reason, and it's very likely it could fall that way, that doesn't mean that other positions will be ignored. After all, one of the intriguing things with such a late pick is the excitement of a player falling down the draft unexpectedly.
It always happens, it'll happen this year.
So, who would the 49ers consider?
Here are five realistic prospects who could have San Francisco pondering deeply over.
This one is a bit dependent on whether or not Brandon Aiyuk leaves the team, but there's no doubt some strong receiving prospects in this draft who could be a ready replacement.
While his fellow Longhorn Xavier Worthy took all the attention, Adonai Mitchell is probably the more rounded receiver. I've gushed before about him, including his NFL Combine performance:
"Adonai Mitchell transferred from Georgia to Texas, and the move paid off, as he recorded 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Longhorns. He's a good size at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, showing exceptional athletic skills with a 4.34 40-yard time and a 10-yard split of 1.52 seconds.Jeremy Wohlfart, Niner Noise
"
An excellent athlete who runs routes very well, he fits perfectly as a player in the 49ers' motion-oriented scheme designed to get yards after the catch. He could be an instant impact player on a team looking to go one better in 2024.
Is it cheating if I use an interior lineman as one of the five? It is? Well, perks of being the one writing the list I suppose.
But in all seriousness, Jackson Powers-Johnson is seen as the consenus best lineman in the draft who can be seen strictly as an interior prospect. He's not among the absolute elite prospects we've seen at the position, however, which leaves him in a bit of flux.
The Niners could use an immediate upgrade at right guard while looking for a center for the long term. He's a good size at 6-foot-3 and 328 pounds, excelling as a run and pass blocker both. He also possesses the additional value of being a good fit for the 49ers' zone-blocking scheme.
Powers-Johnson can best be described as a better football player than an athlete. He isn't especially agile or a monster size, but he's perfectly strong and very intelligent in what he does. He looks a safe pick to be a good NFL starter for the next decade.
And at No. 31? There are worse prospects who could be picked.
San Francisco added Leonard Floyd to partner Nick Bosa, but we shouldn't at all be surprised if the team looks to add an understudy for the future. Penn State's Chop Robinson is an interesting prospect, slightly undersized at 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds but with excellent technique that will intrigue teams in a draft that isn't highly stocked with pass-rushers.
Robinson had four sacks for the year, which was a step down from his 5.5 sacks from 2022. This hasn't stopped teams falling in love with him, as he showed out his athletic potential at the NFL Combine.
It should also be noted that the four sack total doesn't reflect how well he played for Penn State as well.
Robinson might be slightly undersized, but makes up for it with a relentless motor that never takes plays off. He has a wickedly explosive first step off the line, and he has the strength to take offensive linemen by surprise.
Robinson could stand to improve his pass-rushing moves and tighten up a bit on run plays. It's also worth noticing that teams are also a bit concerned with his lack of production (if not his aforementioned motor), which is a key reason why he's buried a bit on the prospect list despite it not being a deep class for defensive linemen.
A few prospects always seem to get hyped more than perhaps they should. People fell in love with the athletic potential of Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, but with the latest news showing him potentially sliding down draft boards, it may yet be possible for the 49ers to take him if he slides far enough.
Walter Football detailed how the small school cornerback may not be necessarily the top cornerback prospect on the board for teams looking for secondary help:
"While Mitchell is still viewed as a nice prospect, a few sources said the coaches were not as enamored with his college tape than the post-Senior Bowl and post-combine hype train would suggest. The staffs see some very raw elements to Mitchell’s game and feel he is going to need serious development to avoid giving up some plays to pro receivers. Coming from the MAC, that is somewhat understandable. But as a result of various coaches viewing Mitchell as needing development, he may not be the first cornerback taken in the 2024 NFL Draft and could end up going behind Alabama’s Terrion Arnold and/or Clemson’s Nate Wiggins."Charlie Campbell, Walter Football
There's still a lot to like about Mitchell. He's got experience in both man and zone coverage schemes, and he's a good size at 6-foot-0 and 193 pounds. He's very fast and competitive, although his aggressiveness does sometimes leave him exposed as he tried to go for the highlight play instead of playing it safer.
The end result is an exciting talent, but a raw one. This could see him slide down the board, and into the waiting arms of the Niners.
Of all the prospects in the NFL Draft, Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean has some of the more fluid projections when it comes to his draft range. I've seen some arguing he should be top 10, and I've seen some argue he shouldn't be a first-round pick.
As usual, the correct answer is somewhere in the middle. He's not a top 10 prospect, but he isn't going to fall to Day 2 either. But, given teams think he might need to move to safety, there's a good shot he might slide far enough that the 49ers could either nab him at No. 31 or be in a position to trade up for him.
A good size at 6-foot-0 and 203 pounds, DeJean has some interesting versatility. Teams differ on his natural position and whether it's on the outside, as a nickel or as a safety. This concerns some teams, but the Niners greatly value defensive versatility and could find him a perfect candidate to fill the No. 2 corner role.
DeJean played well the last two seasons with a combined seven interceptions and 13 passes defended. He's also a strong run defender, and shines in that regard which is held in high regard by teams.
DeJean has a very fluid draft stock, but his fit in the 49ers defense is certainly something that can't be ignored.