With the 2019 NFL Draft kicking off tonight, 49ers Webzone takes a look at the latest San Francisco 49ers news and rumors as they prepare to use the No. 2 overall pick.
There isn't too much controversy surrounding what the San Francisco 49ers will do with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, which officially kicks off tonight, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET. The Niners will either grab Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa, Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams or will trade out of the spot, likely in a deal with one of the numerous quarterback-shopping teams looking to get within the top five.
In the grand scheme of things, those aren't a lot of options. But they're good ones for general manager John Lynch and Co.
Despite this, San Francisco isn't without its share of rumors and speculation. The proverbial "smoke and mirrors" campaign from all teams runs rampant this time of year, and there's no shortage of it in the hours counting down to the Arizona Cardinals' number being called to kick off this 2019 selection.
Which ones are affecting the 49ers right now?
49ers Appear Content with Either Nick Bosa or Quinnen Williams
Bosa is likely the No. 1 prospect on San Francisco's big board, but that doesn't mean Lynch is ruling out the idea of selecting Williams instead.
"Just because he's an excellent football player," Lynch said of Williams a few days before the draft, via NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco. "The season he had may have been as good of a college football season that I've ever seen. He was just dominant.
"What a season he had. He's a spectacular player. When you look at how your roster is currently comprised, when you have an opportunity to take a talent like that, you certainly look at every avenue to improve your team."
Taking Williams would create a logjam along the Niners defensive line -- a unit already including first-round interior defenders DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead. Yet one could argue Williams may easily push out Thomas from a starting job, while Armstead is scheduled to hit free agency in 2020.
Other Teams Potentially Interested in Arik Armstead?
If Williams winds up being the 49ers' top pick, it all but guarantees the team will move on from Armstead at some point or another. Armstead is currently playing on his fifth-year option, and a successful rookie year from Williams on the Niners roster would turn Armstead into something of an excess commodity, especially considering his contract status.
That could open up the door for other teams to make a move for the 2015 first-round pick. At least according to The MMQB's Albert Breer, who wrote:
The veteran trade market should be active this week. ...Teams are keeping an eye on former Cardinals first-rounder Robert Nkemdiche. And San Francisco's Arik Armstead could be involved in discussions, too (although I'm told he is in the Niners' plans at this point).
It makes sense for the 49ers to keep Armstead in their plans, right now. Yet don't be shocked if Armstead is dangled on the trade market if Williams winds up being the selection.
49ers Shopping Solomon Thomas
Pro Football Talk just reported the Niners may also be shopping third-year defensive end Solomon Thomas.
Just heard 49ers are shopping Solomon Thomas, the third pick in the 2017 draft.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 25, 2019
As would be the case with Armstead, adding a player like Williams could create a logjam along the 49ers defensive line, potentially making Thomas another excess commodity. Thomas hasn't lived up to the desired levels of play after being selected by San Francisco with the No. 3 overall pick back in 2017. His team-friendly rookie contract makes him a bit more movable than Armstead, whose fifth-year option carries a fully guaranteed cost of over $9 million for this season.
Cardinals Trying to Get the 49ers to Trade Up to No. 1
According to a report from CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, the Cardinals are not planning to grab Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick. This stands in contrast to the numerous reports stating Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury was all but set on Murray being his top choice in Round 1, although Prisco admitted the Cardinals have had a change of plans in the days leading up to the draft itself.
NFL insider Benjamin Allbright, appearing on San Diego's Mighty 1090 Ben and Woods Show, isn't buying it, however:
Everything I've heard is (Arizona selects) Kyler Murray. I know there was a report out there by somebody saying that they were considering taking Nick Bosa, but from what I understand and what I'm told, that's a smokescreen. The Cardinals are trying to get the Niners to move up one spot the same way the Niners got the Bears to move up one spot for a quarterback a few years ago.
San Francisco has little reason to move up to the top spot in this year's draft, even if Lynch and Co. are completely enamored with Bosa. Based off Maiocco's report, the Niners are perfectly content with Williams, too, meaning any would-be Cardinals effort to convince the 49ers to trade up wouldn't garner the desired results.
A Wide Receiver for the 49ers in Round 2?
As noted earlier, the Niners have only so many realistic options with their first pick in the draft. In Round 2, however, things get a bit more interesting.
Picking at No. 36 overall, it seems as if San Francisco is set on a wide receiver, especially after no 49ers wideout reached 500 receiving yards in 2018. Plus, with head coach Kyle Shanahan's red-zone offense finishing dead last in red-zone touchdown efficiency last year, one can see how a big, go-to target would be desirable.
And San Francisco is looking as if it's tipping its hand.
Per 49ers Webzone's David Bonilla:
Not counting local prospects, six known receivers have reportedly traveled to Santa Clara for pre-draft visits with the 49ers. They are A.J. Brown of Mississippi, Hakeem Butler of Iowa State, N'Keal Harry of Arizona State, Jalen Hurd of Baylor, Deebo Samuel of South Carolina, and Preston Williams of Colorado State.
Samuel, whom Shanahan coached during the 2019 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama earlier this year, appears to be one of the team's top targets, according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller. The South Carolina standout, along with Butler and arguably Brown, all seem to be surefire second-round picks if they manage to slip out of Round 1.
Unless it's a large-scale smokescreen on San Francisco's part, it sure seems as if a wide receiver will be Lynch and Shanahan's first target on day two of the NFL Draft, which officially kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.
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Written by:Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
