Just taking a stab at this because I have thought about it way to much. I would have done this sooner if it wasn't for the #2 overall pick being so uncertain. I have changed my mind on 4 different players (Solomon, Hooker, Mitch and Adams). They are all good players and I could easily see any one of these guys being the pick. I do believe that our best bet is to trade down and acquire more picks. Any trade that will give us more 1st, 2nd and 3rd rounders (or future picks). The 49ers are very depleted on the roster and we cannot fix all these issues in one draft. We won't find a starter at RB, CB, SF, QB, #1 WR, Edge, G, OT, etc... Just need to focus on drafting the guys that will work for our system and adding talent.
We don't have to stick to selecting only the players we have visited with at the combine or pro days but I do think the positions that we have visited is a "tell" to an area where the coaches think we need help or a better fit. The link in this list is only for visits so the 49ers have been to more pro days and dug deep on more than just these guys. But we can see that CB, Guards, QB's, RB and Safety seemed to get more invites or maybe a better feel to getting to know the player. http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article146501229.html
Round 1 - Second pick: Solomon Thomas Nothing jaw dropping here. This is like when you fill out 2 NCAA brackets, one for what you want to happen and one for how you believe it will shake out. I think the pick is going to be Jamal Adams. Adams is a leader and would be the voice and pulse of the defense. I think Lynch fell in love with a top rated safety and could see the the kid is a leader and that's something the team definitely needs. In the end though, I always came back to Solomon Thomas. So he is my pick of what I want to happen. How our current players fit into the new defensive scheme might be cloudy right now. Reid, Tartt, Ward, Arik, Buckner, etc..., Saleh and the staff will have a lot of figuring out to do. Whenever I think about fixing a team in the draft or Free Agency, I always look at the trenches first. Can we run the ball and can we stop the run? The Defense all across the board is a mess. No pass rush. Extremely weak LB's to plug the holes and stop the RB's and the secondary has too many weak links. I guarantee if we were better at stopping the run last year, we wouldn't be picking #2 overall. Many of our games were close going into the 4th quarter but our defense was just giving up too many yards. Solomon Thomas will help in many different ways. Here's another link to an article of why Michael Bennet is so important to Seattle's D, a guy that I think Solomon compares to. https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-seahawks-de-michael-bennett-is-still-underrated/
"In PFF's grading system, we have a simple motto for pass-rushers: Pressure equals production. Sacks can be fickle. The difference between a sack, a hit, and a hurry usually has more to do with the quarterback throwing the ball than anything a defensive lineman can control. No better player exemplifies this more than Seattle Seahawks DE Michael Bennett.
By official NFL statistics, Bennett has tallied 34.5 sacks over the last four seasons. That's 16th-most in the league over that span. In terms of pressures, though, Bennett has 292 in the same time frame. Only J.J. Watt was better. (That's pretty good company.) Bennett is also far from a one-trick pony. He's had a top-10 run-stop percentage among 4-3 defense ends each of the past three years, as well."
I think that's exactly what we will get with Solomon. Whether he gets the sack or he pressures the QB to throw early or off balance or another player gets the sack because Solomon has him on the run... I don't care where it comes from! I just believe he will make us better in sacks, and pressures and stopping the run. I also think he is a good leader as well and will be an example in the locker room.
Round 2 - 34th Pick: Kevin King I don't know if King will be here or not. My fear is the Seahawks grab him at the end of the first round. Every time I look at the latest mock drafts, it's a 50/50 chance of him dropping to the 2nd round. If he's there, I love the pick. King is an extremely aggressive and physical corner. The pick is getting us a quality player and drafts us according to need as well. Another Link of highlights of King. When I watch him he just looks like he already plays for the Seahawks... which is exactly what we need.
Round 3 - 66th Pick: Kareem Hunt Some people might feel like this pick isn't necessary but the 49ers staff was doing their homework on some of the running backs in the draft. Hyde has trouble staying healthy and we need a change of pace back. Good vision for the holes, good pass catcher and can hold onto the football. No player had a better ratio than Hunt. Over four seasons, Hunt touched the ball 856 times. He fumbled once. It was during his freshman year, and he recovered it himself. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2017-nfl-draft-which-running-backs-raise-red-flags-as-potential-fumblers/
Round 4 - 109th Pick: Nico Siragusa Niners were checking out many guards and OT's as well. We don't have very good depth on the Oline. I don't believe Zane Beadles is very good and is the weak link of the Oline. Nico is a top rated guard and fits our new system.
Again, we can't fix every position in one draft but I think these picks make us better on both sides of the ball. On Defense we should be better at stopping the run and getting pressure on the QB and on offense we can control the clock more by utilizing the strength of our team: THE OLINE.
That's all for now folks! My brain is fried... Happy Draft Day!
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