The San Francisco 49ers first selection in next week's draft comes at No. 31 overall. However, NFL Media analyst Chad Reuter doesn't have the Bay Area team remaining at that spot in the first round. In his seven-round mock draft, he envisions the 49ers striking a deal with the Green Bay Packers to move up six spots to No. 25 overall, where they select former Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Reuter notes, "Whether it's for a cornerback like McKinstry, an offensive lineman or a receiver, the 49ers could very well give up a mid-round pick to acquire one of the few missing pieces on an otherwise potent roster."
The rest of the mock draft reveals at least part of the compensation for the hypothetical trade, as Reuter has San Francisco sending the No. 94 overall pick to Green Bay.
While McKinstry is a key addition, Reuter's mock draft also sees the 49ers bolstering their secondary further. He has the team adding former USC safety Calen Bullock in the fourth round and former Auburn cornerback DJ James in the sixth round.
Interestingly, Reuter defers addressing the 49ers' offensive line until the later rounds, despite it being viewed as a significant team need. Many analysts believe the No. 31 overall pick (or a higher pick, if a trade is involved) could be used to address this area.
Below is a summary of the nine players Reuter projects the 49ers will draft:
- Round 1, Pick 25 (trade): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
- Round 2, Pick 63: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
- Round 3, Pick 94: Traded
- Round 4, Pick 124: Calen Bullock, S, USC
- Round 4, Pick 132: Audric Estimé, RB, Notre Dame
- Round 4, Pick 135: Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
- Round 5, Pick 176: Caedan Wallace, OT, Penn State
- Round 6, Pick 211: Jarrett Kingston, OG, USC
- Round 6, Pick 215: DJ James, CB, Auburn
- Round 7, Pick 251: Winston Reid, LB, Weber State
