The 49ers bypassed drafting an offensive tackle, quarterback, tight end or a defensive lineman but their eight-man class is full of promise.
SANTA CLARA – Time to swipe the NFL Draft board and clean out my notebook with 10 items learned in the 49ers’ bunker at Levi’s Stadium.
1. TACKLE FOOTBALL
It’s neither shocking nor problematic that the 49ers did not draft an offensive tackle. Not many come ready to start, and eight were gone by the 49ers’ original spot at No. 31. Guess what: the 49ers shouldn’t be drafting much higher in future years by staying in Super Bowl contention. Thus, Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz are the certified bookends protecting Brock Purdy, for at least 2024, maybe ‘25.
2. NO DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
For only the second time in 12 years, the 49ers did not select a defensive lineman. This, the same franchise that selected one with its top pick in six of the previous nine drafts.
Sure, they added Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos in free agency, but this puts 2022 top pick Drake Jackson on notice to produce and feast — for a full season. Same goes for Robert Beal Jr. and Austin Bryant. Keep that “Help Wanted” sign in the window.
3. CONTACT CORNERBACK
Second-round cornerback Renardo Green is arguably the 49ers’ most intriguing add. If he physically hits as advertised, the 49ers Faithful can channel the soccer world and just call him by one name: Renardo. He is the 49ers’ highest-drafted, true cornerback since Shawntae Spencer (2004, second round, No. 58).
The 49ers’ biggest need may have been at nickel cornerback, and coach Kyle Shanahan says Green “is wired” to play there with his aggressive mentality in the run game and quickness in pass coverage. Linebacker Tatum Bethune was a Flordia State teammate and said of Green: “He actually is the one who I sometimes feed off his energy and sometimes he feed off mine. So, it’s a great feeling to have one of my old teammates back as my teammate again.”
4. TRANSFER PORTAL
Of the eight draft picks, seven transferred during their collegiate careers, with Green being the lone exception through a five-season tenure at Florida State. General manager John Lynch said a red flag used to go up with a transfer; not anymore, as it benefits both the player in his exposure but also personnel evaluators.
That also makes this draft class, ahem, seasoned. Once NFL Kickoff Weekend arrives Sept. 5-9, here will be the ages of the newest 49ers (perspective: Purdy is 24):
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (Arizona State to Florida): 24
Cornerback Green (Florida State): 23
Offensive lineman Dominick Howell (Central Missouri to Kansas): 24
Safety Malik Mustapha (Richmond to Wake Forest): 22
Running back Isaac Guerendo (Wisconsin to Louisville): 24
Wide receiver Jacob Cowing (UTEP to Arizona): 23
Offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston (Washington State to USC): 24
Linebacker Tatum Bethune (UCF to Florida State): 23
5. FAMILY MATTERS
No, the 49ers did not extend invitations to legacy players Luke McCaffrey (Commanders, third round), Brenden Rice (Chargers, seventh round), Frank Gore Jr. (Bills, undrafted) or Ron Stone Jr. (Raiders, undrafted). However, wide receiver Terique Owens, son of Pro Football (and 49ers) Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, is among the undrafted free agents signing with the 49ers, with him reportedly getting a $6,500 signing bonus. If he can survive camp and make the practice squad, that is huge, because he needs reps, as his dad said at the 49ers’ April 10 tryout for local products.
“I wonder if he can catch 20 balls on the day Brenden Rice retires,” NFL Network’s Rhett Lewis said on “NFL Total Access.” History lesson: Owens set the NFL’s then-record with 20 receptions against the Bears to overshadow Jerry Rice’s final home game as a 49er in 2000.
Here’s hoping Gore makes the Bills’ cut and faces his dad’s original team when the 49ers visit Buffalo this year.
6. DEFENSIVE MINDSET
If the 49ers’ defense reputationally lost its bite in the playoffs, then perhaps new defensive backs Green and Mustapha will help restore that, at least verbally so far.
That came across in Green’s pre-draft chats with secondary coach Daniel Bullocks. “One thing that he said was that he wouldn’t want to fight me,” Green recalled. “I asked him why and he said, ‘Because I feel like you’ll fight until you die.’ I said, ‘Yeah, that’s what a dog is. You ever seen a dog fight?’ You’re getting a dog, a tenacious football player, an instinctive, athletic football player, and a versatile, smart football player.”
Lynch, a Pro Football Hall of Fame safety, said of Mustapha: “Just love the way he plays the game, plays our style. We talk a lot about running to the football and getting there with bad intentions, and Malik kind of embodies that.”
7. LINEBACKER YOU
Not to be forgotten in the defensive additions is Bethune, the linebacker from Florida State via UCF. Here is what he said about joining a unit led by Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, the latter of whom is recovering from a torn Achilles in the Super Bowl.
“The guy who I actually watched this past season was Greenlaw, because of the way he just showed his passion on the field and he’s always around the ball,” Bethune said. “His physicality, it reminded me a lot of myself. So yeah, I’m pretty sure the whole college football world knows about the linebacker corps at the 49ers.”
8. QUARTERBACK CROP
The 49ers have not drafted a quarterback since famously taking Purdy with the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 draft – a pick that should deem moot the ceiling of any prospect. Tanner Mordecai is expected to sign as an undrafted free agent from Wisconsin. Last month, the 49ers added Josh Dobbs and re-signed Brandon Allen as Purdy’s potential backups. Six quarterbacks got drafted in the first 12 picks … after a gap of 138 picks … five more were taken by the draft’s end.
The 49ers’ quarterback slot has been volatile since … well, how old are you? It’s gone on forever. So has chatter about Kirk Cousins reuniting with Shanahan. The draft’s wildest pick came when the Atlanta Falcons took Michael Penix at No. 8 overall, a month after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal that essentially locks him in through 2026. Then what? Will Shanahan still be coaching the 49ers then?
9. SPEED RUSHER
The 49ers were compelled to part with not just one but two of their historically precious fifth-round picks to move up and draft not just a running back but the draft’s fastest (4.33-second 40-yard dash). His name: Isaac Guerendo, a fourth-round pick at No. 129 overall. He spent five seasons at Wisconsin — a couple chewed up by injury — before finishing at Louisville last season. Drafted five spots after him was former Wisconsin teammate Braelon Allen, by the New York Jets.
“We love his speed,” Shanahan said. “All our backs can run, but it’s nice to add one who possibly can run a little bit faster just for the change of pace and things like that. We like his running style. His running style is similar to Elijah [Mitchell’s] and the style that he runs with, he’s built that way and like the 40 that he has.”
Projected depth chart: Reigning NFL rushing champion Christian McCaffrey, then it’s a race between 2021 team rushing leader Mitchell and Guerendo. Third-year back Jordan Mason and undrafted rookie Cody Schrader (Missouri) will make strong roster bids.
10. TIGHT ENDS
George Kittle’s top backup at tight end will be … ? It’s an annual quandary, and even more so this year after Charlie Woerner headed to the Falcons in his native Georgia. Cameron Latu was a 2023 third-round pick who should be positioned for that No. 2 role, but he didn’t play as a rookie, after a drop-filled camp and preseason-finale knee injury. What about 2023 seventh-rounder Brayden Willis? Journeyman addition Eric Saubert? Cal product Jake Tonges? Undrafted rookie Mason Pline of Furman fame?
“We’re looking at all the tight ends,” Shanahan said. “You know, we like guys to practice first.”
Amen. Bring on the actual football. So long to the draft hype!
