We take some calls to trade down, but no offers are made that we find valuable enough to risk losing out on our favorite player in the draft. We need QB pressure. We need to get in the backfield and disrupt. The first two picks of this draft are directed at this effort. Note: Small trade later in draft - we give our 4th and our 6th to move up in the 4th.
The issues I'm trying to address:
- Our Edge pressure needs improvement. We need to get off the field on 3rd down. Saleh did such a good job of improving our Run D last year. Recall, 2 yrs ago, we were a joke on Run D. So, we fixed that first. Now, we need to become terrifying on the edges. This draft attempts to do that.
- Our interior O Line is scary – not in a good way. We need to bring in talent that can compete to start day 1.
- The Rueben Foster situation – we have to acknowledge that he's probably missing time. So, we will be drafting a MLB/WLB (they are very similar in this scheme) higher than we would've. That's not a bad thing though. Malcom is most not likely the long term solution, so we will draft a LB that can come in and start if needed, as well as develop him to take over and start alongside Foster in the future.
- Richard Sherman is a gamble – it's a good one, and I love the signing, but we have to get a Corner that can develop, has elite traits, and could fill in if needed.
- Developmental Tackle – We've got to get a guy, but this draft is so bad at OT…I just couldn't justify a pick on one.
One thing about my draft that I have used to heavily influence these picks is SPARQ. I feel we can comfortably make the assertion that "elite traits" are highly valued (based on last draft, who we looked at as UDFAs, and hearing interviews of Lynch and Shanahan). I feel that SPARQ is one measure of "elite traits", and so I'm leaning heavily on SPARQ scores (as well as a couple of Big Boards I like) to make these picks. Each pick will have some discussion on their productivity and the projected role in the D. The % given is how athletic they are with respect to others in the NFL at their position. 50% would mean they are average (this is the NFL, so that's pretty darn good). They have to have production though. I'm not just drafting athletes. However, athleticism played a major role in who I went after. For example: Josey Jewell vs. Fred Warner. Jewel is the superior overall LB imho. But he's not fast. And this scheme drafts fast, fast LBs. Warner is that, and productive. (and I think he'll be really good in our scheme).
Defense is getting 5 picks; Offense 3. We trust Kyle to do "more with less"; Saleh needs more talent.
Oh, and a reminder: we're never drafting any offensive lineman from USC ever again. Ever.
2018 49ers Draft picks:
1-9: Harold Landry, LEO/Edge, Boston College – 6'2" 252 – The most talented pass rusher in the draft. He's our Leo in base, and our Edge in Sub. The guy was amazing his Junior year. His senior year, production fell, but he was dealing with injuries and more attention. As well, he was getting a lot of pressures, but those weren't resulting in gaudy sack numbers like his junior campaign. Simply put, if he didn't have a down senior year, he's not available at 9 for us to pick him. Per pff – "His high end as a pass-rusher is as dominant as anyone we've graded at the college level not named Bosa or Garrett. We can forgive an injury-riddled 2017 when athleticism is such a big part of Landry's game."
SPARQ: 87.1% (more athletic than 87% of NFL edge rushers)
2-59: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, SAM/Edge, Oklahoma –6'1" 242 – Another incredibly talented pass rusher. This guy's highlights are ridiculously fun to watch. He's not tall and he's "light". So, he falls. Elite traits? Check.
SPARQ: 85.5!! Edit - I guessed 70% (I'm guessing. I looked up his pro-day results and compared them to current SPARQ rankings – Athletically, he compares favorably with Peter Kalambayi from Stanford, so I used his score (72.3) as reference).
3-70: Braden Smith, OG, Auburn – 6'6" 315lbs. – Athletic lineman, good in a zone blocking scheme. We need interior help. This is the guy. This guy starts – the other three (Garnett, Cooper, Tomlinson) vie for the other spot.
SPARQ: 82.7%
1:40 lol
3-74 Fred Warner, LB, BYU - 6'3" 236 lbs. - Athletic LB. Great fit in our scheme. Fast, quick reads, and understands (excels in) Zone coverage. This is our future started next to Reuben. But he's also ready to go now if needed.
SPARQ: 75%
**Trade Up- We acquire 4-116 in exchange for 4-128 and 6-184 **
4-116 Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford – the similarities to Sherman are eerie. This is the guy we need to develop behind Sherman. If you haven't read this, you should: Meet Quenton Meeks, the complete corner who wants to change the world.
………..Sherman…….Meeks……
3cone:…..6.82…………6.72…….
Vert:……..38.0…………39.0…….
Shuttle:….4.33…………4.23........
Ht:…….….6'3'…….…….6'2……
Wt:……….195………….205…….
40:………..4.56…………4.49……
SPARQ: 93.9!! Edit: I guessed ~89% (I'm guessing. I looked up his pro-day results and compared them to current SPARQ rankings – Athletically, he compares favorably with Cruikshank from Arizona, so I used his score (89.3) as reference).
5-143 Tre-Quan Smith, WR, Central Florida – Athletic receiver who separates. Another toy for Shanny. From pff - "Smith's toughness and body control stand out, allowing him to catch 70.8 percent of his deep targets last season, second-best in the nation. He gets on cornerbacks in a hurry when facing off coverage and he was productive when facing press. Smith is one of the more underrated pass-catchers in the draft after he was one of the best big-play threats during a breakout 2017 campaign."
SPARQ: 64.7%
7-223 Oren Burks, LB, Vanderbilt – Athletic freak. A chance to make the team as a core special teamer and a developmental backup LB. Leader and involved in the community. This is the kind of guy we draft.
SPARQ: 94.7%
7-240 Chase Edmonds, RB, Fordham – Another athlete to put in the backfield competition this year. He's kinda similar to Devonta Freeman.
SPARQ: 60%
[ Edited by Lobo49er on Apr 22, 2018 at 10:43 AM ]