In his 2019 NFL Mock Draft 1.0, Mel Kiper predicts the San Francisco 49ers will draft EDGE Josh Allen with the second overall selection.
With draft season in full swing for the 28 NFL teams not in playoff contention, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released the first round of his first mock draft of the year on Thursday morning. In his 2019 NFL Mock Draft 1.0, Kiper predicts the San Francisco 49ers will use the second overall pick in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft to address their most glaring offseason need -- an outside pass rusher -- by drafting University of Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen.
It's no secret the San Francisco 49ers need to add talent at the EDGE position, and would prefer for Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa to be available when the Niners are on the clock with the No. 2 overall pick. In his first mock draft of 2019, Kiper predicts the Arizona Cardinals will snatch Bosa -- the younger brother of the Los Angeles Chargers' Pro-Bowl edge rusher Joey Bosa -- with the top selection in the draft.
This scenario would leave the Niners in a difficult position, as Bosa is not only the consensus top edge-rushing prospect, but is also the top overall prospect in the draft.
After amassing 31.5 sacks at Kentucky, including 17 sacks during his senior season, Allen is generally regarded as this year's second-best EDGE prospect, but not necessarily a player worthy of a top-2 draft pick.
Allen's decision to skip the 2019 Senior Bowl also has the potential to lower the pass rusher's draft stock. After previously accepting the invite, Allen's name was absent when full rosters for the upcoming Senior Bowl were released on Wednesday. With the San Francisco 49ers coaching the South Team in the Senior Bowl, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and his coaching staff will get a close look at a number of top prospects, but unfortunately, Allen will not be one of them.
Allen could still be a viable option for San Francisco at pick No. 2 given the consensus All-American's college productivity, and will certainly be a player for the 49ers to target if the team chooses to trade back in the 2019 NFL Draft.
- Chris Wilson
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Written by:You may have seen Chris Wilson's work on NFL game theory, statistical analysis, and film breakdowns at Minute Media, FanSided, Niner Noise, Insidethe49, LockedonSports, ClutchPoints, and others. Follow Chris on Twitter @cgawilson.
