First Mock of the Year

With the news of Jimmy's torn ACL, this season which had so much promise, will likely lead to another Top 10 draft pick. The silver lining is that this draft is loaded with a plethora of solid pass rushers, which is arguably our greatest need.

SF 1st - Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson; Arguable the best pass rusher in the draft. Need I say more.
SF 2nd - Brian Burns, DE/OLB, Florida State; Also considered one of the top pass rushers in the draft. But given his size at 6'5'', 218, he is likely to experience a Harold Landry like drop to the second round, at least that is what I am banking on.
SF 3rd - Dalton Risner, OT/OG/OC, Kansas State; He is just solid and can come in and either compete for starting playing time at either guard position or provide great depth and competition. Also, his experience playing across the line should come in handy.
SF 4th - Germaine Pratt, LB, NC State; The injury to Malcolm Smith and suspension of Reuben Foster, have shown me that we need better depth behind our starters.
SF 5th – Traded to Detroit for Laken Tomlinson
SF 6th - Sione Takitaki, DE/OLB, BYU; He is arguably the best player, pass rusher, and defender on an underrated BYU defense that recently shocked the world and beat Wisconsin.
SF 7th – Kansas City has option to swap 7th round picks in trade for Rod Streeter – Traded to Cleveland for Shon Coleman

FA: Rashaan Melvin - CB; EJ Gaines - CB; Maurice Harris - WR;

These additions will help solidify our defense at all three levels and provide multiple, legitimate pass rush options that we have been lacking since Aldon and Justin were on the team. Adding Melvin and Gaines will help out our cornerbacks who seem to be struggling with Witherspoon's sophomore slump and Sherman being prone to injury. They also allow us to move on from Jimmy Ward, who just has not been able to live up to his draft round. He is a mediocre jack of all trades, and a master of none. Lastly, I believe in drafting offensive lineman every year because it is that important to having a successful offense and adding someone like Risner to come in and compete at guard seems like a no brainer to me.

I would love it if the 1st two picks went down like that, but I'd be shocked if Burns is there in the 2nd. Maybe a guy like Wyatt Ray will be there, if he declares.

Only two edge rushers?! That's not enough lol.

Seriously need to start scouting these guys because I will definitely start making mocks earlier this year. I watched a little of Ferrel and he didnt seem very flash but he was consistently productive. Hope we suck enough for Bosa!

Originally posted by Waterbear:

Only two edge rushers?! That's not enough lol.

Seriously need to start scouting these guys because I will definitely start making mocks earlier this year. I watched a little of Ferrel and he didnt seem very flash but he was consistently productive. Hope we suck enough for Bosa!

How many did you expect? The effort spent on the O line is disappointing here.

Originally posted by English:
How many did you expect? The effort spent on the O line is disappointing here.

Just curious. What would you do to address the O line? On one hand, I imagine that you are similar to me in thinking that drafting offensive linemen should be a priority every year due to the importance of that position group to having a solid offense. But on the other hand, We have Staley, Richburg, and McGlinchey, so both tackle positions are good, and our center position is good. We have lots of bodies in competition for time at both guard spots and I proposed drafting another in Risner. So would you prefer that my mock utilizes a higher draft pick on an OG? Or that I addressed OG in free agency?

Originally posted by YayArea:

Originally posted by English:

How many did you expect? The effort spent on the O line is disappointing here.

Just curious. What would you do to address the O line? On one hand, I imagine that you are similar to me in thinking that drafting offensive linemen should be a priority every year due to the importance of that position group to having a solid offense. But on the other hand, We have Staley, Richburg, and McGlinchey, so both tackle positions are good, and our center position is good. We have lots of bodies in competition for time at both guard spots and I proposed drafting another in Risner. So would you prefer that my mock utilizes a higher draft pick on an OG? Or that I addressed OG in free agency?

YES to the taking of O linemen every year! This doesn't have to be high picks, once the system is in place the lower picks can be developed over time. But you obviously know this.

Regarding OT I don't agree. I think we need to be developing Joe Staley's replacement ASAP. Not that I am in a hurry to get rid of him but time is not on our side here. I am hoping, by the way, that he might come back in a coaching role. But here is where I would probably look to spend the 2nd round pick.

Yes we have a ton of bodies at guard but quantity rather than quality. But you have addressed this.

I think the OG position has changed and the days of relying on cheap retreads through FA are gone.

Originally posted by English:
YES to the taking of O linemen every year! This doesn't have to be high picks, once the system is in place the lower picks can be developed over time. But you obviously know this.

Regarding OT I don't agree. I think we need to be developing Joe Staley's replacement ASAP. Not that I am in a hurry to get rid of him but time is not on our side here. I am hoping, by the way, that he might come back in a coaching role. But here is where I would probably look to spend the 2nd round pick.

Yes we have a ton of bodies at guard but quantity rather than quality. But you have addressed this.

I think the OG position has changed and the days of relying on cheap retreads through FA are gone.

Are there any OTs that you like in the upcoming draft? In the limited research I have done, two names that I am curious about, that supposedly have the necessary athleticism to play in Shanahan's system are Bobby Evans from Oklahoma and Andre Dillard from Washington State. Both are projected in the 2nd - 4th round range.

Originally posted by YayArea:

Are there any OTs that you like in the upcoming draft? In the limited research I have done, two names that I am curious about, that supposedly have the necessary athleticism to play in Shanahan's system are Bobby Evans from Oklahoma and Andre Dillard from Washington State. Both are projected in the 2nd - 4th round range.

In all honesty it is a little early for me to single out names for the draft. As you have mentioned them, I will keep my eyes open for Evans and Dillard. Evans will be easier for me to watch. But if we nailed edge rush and OT in the first two rounds I would be

Originally posted by YayArea:

Originally posted by English:

How many did you expect? The effort spent on the O line is disappointing here.

Just curious. What would you do to address the O line? On one hand, I imagine that you are similar to me in thinking that drafting offensive linemen should be a priority every year due to the importance of that position group to having a solid offense. But on the other hand, We have Staley, Richburg, and McGlinchey, so both tackle positions are good, and our center position is good. We have lots of bodies in competition for time at both guard spots and I proposed drafting another in Risner. So would you prefer that my mock utilizes a higher draft pick on an OG? Or that I addressed OG in free agency?

Richburg has been horrible. Staley will not be here for long. And mcglinchey is no lt

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by Waterbear:
Only two edge rushers?! That's not enough lol.

Seriously need to start scouting these guys because I will definitely start making mocks earlier this year. I watched a little of Ferrel and he didnt seem very flash but he was consistently productive. Hope we suck enough for Bosa!

How many did you expect? The effort spent on the O line is disappointing here.

oh, I was kidding BTW. lol