The 49ers came away from the NFL Draft with a rookie class stacked with experience and speed, but that doesn't erase questions about the futures of Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams and more.
SANTA CLARA – And now for the 49ers’ 2025 mock draft … just kidding. It’s mailbag time to review your 10 best social media questions, in the wake of last weekend’s eight-is-enough draft class that comes packed with experience and speed:
Is Deebo going to get traded away from us? (@juanayonjr1982)
File this question away for next spring. By not trading Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk during the draft, that almost assures their return this season, barring unforeseen drama internally or another team’s desperation before the Nov. 5 deadline. Whereas Aiyuk should land a market-rate extension (say, $28 million annually) in three months, Samuel’s contract runs only through 2025, and it’s hard to see him playing out that final year at a $16.6 million salary. For this year, Samuel will be the one wearing No. 1 at a $21 million salary.
If teams would die to have Kyle Shanahan as their coach, why has his name ever come up in any trade discussions? (@ghosct)
Shanahan enters his eighth season entrenched in the good graces of 49ers’ ownership. That harmonious relationship between Shanahan, John Lynch and Jed York has ideally stabilized that side of the franchise. Shanahan and Lynch signed their second batch of contract extensions before last season’s Super Bowl run. Who’d be better? What place would be better? Onward!
Will Guerendo be RB2 or RB3 in the depth chart? How many TDs? (@wojaen19)
Let’s see how fast Isaac Guerendo integrates into the 49ers’ system first. Speaking of fast, his 4.33-second speed in the 40-yard dash offers a desired change-of-pace look behind Christian McCaffrey. Yes, that could mean Guerendo overtakes Elijah Mitchell (and Jordan Mason) as RB2, but he’ll have to prove worthy in practices and not just be a one-trick pony/racehorse.
Do the 49ers project Green as a boundary or slot corner? What does that say about Samuel Womack? (@JerodBrown)
Renardo Green proved in college he can play outside, but the 49ers’ greater need is inside, and that is where they’ll initially train him. “He’s wired the way you can be at nickel, from a mentality in the run game, also the quickness in coverage,” Shanahan said. Deommodore Lenoir can play inside and outside, but this being his contract year, he’ll want to seek an outside-cornerback payday. As for Womack, he’s mainly been a special-teams ace, but he was inactive in the playoffs, so he’s not assured a job, nor are any of their 2022 draft crop aside from Brock Purdy.
I get not reaching on an offensive tackle in the first round. The fact they sat back in the second round and didn’t move up for one is egregious. This line will be awful if Trent misses any time. (@fbudick83)
Awful? Look, Trent Williams is a three-time reigning All-Pro, so there obviously is a major dropoff when he’s not present. A second-rounder (and the 11th tackle off the board) isn’t going to fill that void. Eight tackles went in the first round, so there wasn’t a surplus remaining. Roger Rosengarten, a popular target in mock drafts, was snatched one spot before the 49ers’ original second-round pick. That left BYU’s Kingsley Suamatala available at No. 63 – and he made a pre-draft visit to the 49ers – but they traded down a spot with the Chiefs, who were the ones that took Suamatala.
What’s our succession plan for life without Big Trent? (@jgm_72)
File this question away for next spring, too. Trent Williams turns 36 in July, and he should have a couple of seasons left in the All-Pro frame (including a wickedly smart mindset). Perhaps they see if Colton McKivitz can flip sides and protect that quarterback he co-stars with in a John Deere commercial. Jaylon Moore got a complimentary shoutout from Lynch on Sunday. Sixth-rounder Jarrett Kingston and ex-Raiders starter Brandon Parker will audition this summer, too. If better options arise in future years, the 49ers know they need a top-notch left tackle to protect Purdy into the future.
Which 49ers draft picks leave you warm and fuzzy, and which don’t? And who might be a sleeper among the signed undrafted free agents? (@MrEd315)
Let’s see what first-rounder Ricky Pearsall can do. It’s as if Kyle Shanahan envisions him as the NFL receiver he always wanted to be himself. So let’s see the sticky hands, swift routes, fearless crossing routes, and, perhaps, return-man magic. Jacob Cowing brings speed but must prove better than Pearsall, Trent Taylor and others. Of the undrafted crop — which has yet to be officially announced – doors are open for running back Cody Schrader, center Drake Nugent and tight end Mason Pline.
Now that SF knows what they have in Brock Purdy, are we starting to see a shift in offensive philosophy building around his strengths and processing (and less “bully ball”)? (@JasonPSargent)
Let’s remember that this 49ers offense produced the NFL rushing champion (Christian McCaffrey) in Purdy’s first full season as a starter. That said, the 49ers can expand their passing attack with this influx of wide receivers, perhaps taking the onus off a tight end unit that is top-heavy with George Kittle.
We lost Armstead and Kinlaw, and didn’t take a defensive tackle. How are we feeling about that? (@bruisergrande)
It feels like Maliek Collins (traded from Texans for a seventh-rounder) and Jordan Elliott (signed away from Browns) better pan out and complement incumbents Javon Hargrave, Kevin Givens, T.Y. McGill and Kalia Davis. Undrafted rookie Evan Anderson has a shot to command a spot.
Are the Niners looking to get a No. 2 linebacker aside Warner? Or is Greenlaw gonna be back in time? (@jonny4916)
Check March’s file and you’ll see they signed veteran De’Vondre Campbell, who can start in place if Greenlaw needs a month or so more to recover from his Achilles tear in the Super Bowl. Other options: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Ezekiel Turner, Dee Winters, Jalen Graham, Curtis Robinson and seventh-round pick Tatum Bethune.
Who’s the most interesting undrafted free agent they signed? (@mark.shapiro.80)
Terique Owens has the name power as T.O.’s son, and he’s a nice project who could learn fast on the practice squad. But the most interesting: Mason Pline, a former college basketball player whose 6-foot-6 frame could be a nice target, if he makes the transition from Ferris State and Furman.
When is the schedule release? (@jmelgoza81)
Not officially announced yet but you might want to circle your calendar for May 9, to then circle your calendar for these 49ers’ games:
Home vs: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys
Away at: Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
