The 49ers have not been the best team in the league after Harbaugh left, missing the playoffs in 3 consecutive seasons. But the mid season acquisition of Jimmy Garopollo and the transition in the front office before the 2017 season made the Niner faithful happy and has given us much to look forward for the 2018 season. Even if San Francisco doesn’t have an outstanding draft class, it did pick up players in key areas. Here are the 9 picks for San Francisco this year.
Round 1 Pick 9: Mike McGlinchey, Tackle, Notre Dame
SF played it safe when they reached for McGlinchey at the #9 pick. McGlinchey should see the field this year and is an upgrade at right tackle over Trent Brown, who was shipped off to New England for a third round pick. Although McGlinchey adds much needed size to the offensive line, he will be limited to right tackle since he has much development to do in the passing game. Although this is a great addition to the lineup, only time will tell if McGlinchey was worth a top 10 pick.
Round 2 Pick 44: Dante Pettis, Wide Receiver, Washingtion
The Niners traded up for this pick, and added another receiver to complement Marquise Goodwin and Pierre Garcon. Pettis set NCAA records as a punt-returner, something any team could use right away.
Round 3 Pick 70: Fred Warner, Line Backer, BYU
The Niners waited until the third round to pick up their first defensive player of the draft, and to be honest, I would call it a steal. With the same size as top 10 pick from Georgia, Roquan Smith, Warner adds much needed size and play making ability to a 49er defense plagued with injuries and legal troubles. Warner is a versatile player and will make an impact right away. Niner hopefuls can only hope that he can turn into the next NaVorro Bowman.
Round 3 Pick 95: Tarvarius Moore, Defensive Back, Southern Miss
Moore was a safety in college, but is a versatile player that can line up with the best receivers at cornerback with long arms and a 4.32-second 40 yard dash. Although the rookie may not see the field behind safety Jimmy Ward and veteran corner Richard Sherman, but will be able to learn the NFL game behind more experienced players.
Round 4 Pick 128: Kentavius Street, Defensive End, NC State
Didn’t really understand this pick. Street won’t be available until next season and the Niners could have made a better pick given their needs on the defensive line. Street only had 9.5 sacks in 3 seasons at NC State, something that doesn’t scream, draft him. I won’t go as far as a wasted pick, but with Arik Armstead’s future uncertain, this is definitely an iffy pick as his position may be needed right away.
Round 5 Pick 142: D.J. Reed, Corner Back, Kansas State
Reed probably won’t see the field outside of special teams this year. With corner and safety spots all but filled in, the best he can hope for is to make the depth chart.
Round 6 Pick 184: Marcell Harris, Safety, Florida
If healthy, Harris could compete for a spot on the depth chart at strong safety, but this pick makes picking up Tarvarius Moore in Round 3 a definite head-scratcher. Harris, in his 3 and a half years at Florida was dubbed the “Hardest Hitting Safety in the SEC”/
Round 7 Pick 223: Jullian Taylor, Defensive Tackle, Temple
Taylor adds much needed depth behind DeForest Buckner and Earl Mitchell, but at this point, the team is just panning for gold. Although he may not be much, Jullian Taylor is a solid nugget in the 7th round.
Round 7 Pick 240: Richie James, Wide Receiver, Middle Tennessee
James was the best receiver to come out of MIddle Tennessee, ranking first in yards, touchdowns and receptions. James has a long list of wideouts in front of him, but his big play ability and production in college are great traits to have on a roster.
College Football - Big Ten | The Final Snap 