It's nice, for once, that fans get to focus on the NFC playoff picture from week to week rather than the projected draft order. Still, there are 31 other NFL teams out there, and those not focused on January are beginning to look toward April.
Todd McShay of ESPN released his first mock draft for 2020 and has quarterback Joe Burrow of LSU going No. 1 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals.
But you probably don't care about that, right?
Where are the Niners? They are all the way toward the bottom of the draft order at No. 31, and the ESPN analyst has San Francisco selecting a player to add to one of the team's deepest positions — running back. McShay mocks J.K. Dobbins, a running back out of Ohio State, to the 49ers, which seems curious given the depth at the position and the fact that the team currently ranks No. 2 in rushing.
So why the selection at a position that doesn't seem like a significant need?
"The Niners are No. 2 in the NFL in rushing and have used a plethora of backs to get there," explains McShay. "But considering Matt Breida will be a free agent after San Francisco's playoff bid, Tevin Coleman's $0 in guaranteed money after this season and the high-value Dobbins presents here, I like the idea of bringing in another versatile offensive weapon for Jimmy Garoppolo and padding a strength for this team."
McShay goes on to note that it is entirely possible the 49ers don't select at all in the first round, which makes his prediction irrelevant. San Francisco doesn't have another pick until the fifth round, which will be on Day 3 of the draft, after trading away selections for Dee Ford and Emmanuel Sanders. That means San Francisco could look to trade out of the first round to gain some Day 2 picks.
Dobbins, by the way, is a junior and has 1,829 rushing yards with 20 touchdowns this season for the Buckeyes while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He has also caught 17 passes for 200 yards with two receiving touchdowns this year.
Dobbins has 1,000-or-more rushing yards in each of his three collegiate seasons.
The 49ers drafted another Buckeye with the No. 2 overall pick this year. Defensive end Nick Bosa has proven to be an impactful player and was even selected to the Pro Bowl during his rookie season.
