5 under-the-radar prospects who'll impress at 2024 NFL Combine
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers (and plenty of other teams) will likely end up being wowed by these five prospects' performances at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
In some regards, the San Francisco 49ers hope that many of their preferred targets in the 2024 NFL Draft somehow end up struggling during their NFL Scouting Combine workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, this upcoming week.
After all, those struggles can frequently lead to a falling draft stock, which means those players could turn into massive sleepers.
Case in point, former Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings had an awfully sluggish 4.72 40-yard time during his workouts at the 2020 NFL Combine, which meant he dropped from a probable day-two pick all the way into Round 7 where the Niners grabbed him.
The opposite can ring true, too. A player can significantly boost draft stock by merely having impressive workouts at the combine, which is great news for him and not-so-great news for teams hoping he'd slip in the draft.
Here are five less-discussed prospects whom Niner Noise is looking at to have an impressive outing from Indy.
NFL Combine sleeper No. 1: LB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky
Linebacker. Trevin Wallace. Trevin Wallace. . . player. Trevin Wallace. 1. 528.
San Francisco has a sneaky need at linebacker after losing standout Dre Greenlaw to a torn Achilles in the Super Bowl.
Even if Greenlaw makes a full recovery in time for training camp, the 49ers are poised to lose backups Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Oren Burks in free agency, meaning they'll need to replenish the depth this offseason.
It wouldn't be anything but a day-three pick, but Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace is an intriguing option to target to bolster the depth chart.
At 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, Wallace has the physical tools to suggest his combine workouts will be impressive. And while he's not necessarily the best run defender, which will hinder his draft stock, his coverage skills are very Greenlaw-esque.
Provided he displays that athleticism during his combine workouts, it wouldn't be shocking if he makes it onto the Niners' radar.