3 surprise draft picks the 49ers could make at No. 31 overall

Michael Hall Jr. is a polarizing prospect who could range from a surprise Round 1 prospect to someone who's buried deep on Day 3. He has the skill set to be a Thursday night pick, but some character concerns will probably see it cost him.

To his credit, though, he's done everything right in the predraft process to rehab his stock and the 49ers are at least doing their due diligence on him, which includes a meeting with him.

Hall Jr. didn't have a big season with Ohio State with only 1.5 sacks, which is a poor number for a supposed excellent pass-rusher, but he was played out of position at the Buckeyes in 2023. He's a natural 3-technique defensive tackle in the NFL, and his speed shone in the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.78 40-yard time. He's slightly undersized at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, but the 49ers do love strong pass-rushers on their defensive line.

A natural pass-rusher with underappreciated moves, Hall Jr. might not last long in the second round now. Maliek Collins was only traded for a late pick, so it's not as though the Niners won't be looking hard for a proper replacement for the departed Arik Armstead.

Could Hall Jr. have rehabbed his stock enough to be a dark horse here?