49ers 2024 Mock v. Almost Final

1st Round: IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson Oregon 6'3" 328
As Brian Baldinger said, "if you don't have a good center, you don't have a good OL," and at 31 the Niners are in position to grab a potentially elite IOL. Whether it's Graham Barton, JPJ or Zach Frazier, the 49ers can finally solidify the RG spot and get their OC of the future to team with Purdy. My favorite of the bunch of JPJ who reminds me of Creed Humphrey (who I was begging the Niners to draft over Aaron Banks 3 years ago...). I know there will be temptation to grab an OT, but any OT that falls back here - whether its Mims, Guyton, Suamataia, Paul, etc. - is a huge project. Grab JPJ and don't look back.

2nd Round: Michael Hall Jr. Ohio St. 6'3" 290
Mark my words, Michael Hall Jr. will be the best DT from this class. The kid is a best. 4.75 40 at 299 lbs with 33 inch arms. He had the second highest pass rush win rate of any DT in the nation. The only reason he's projected in the 2nd/3rd round is because his production was up and down and he found himself banged up. The theme of this draft is re-solidify the trenches and MHJ does just that and gives the Niners a future stud DT to pair with Bosa.

TRADE: 49ers send Picks #94 and 124 for Pick ~#80

3rd Round: OT Roger Rosengarten Washington 6'5" 308
Here's where the Niners grab their RT. All the signs are pointing to Rosengarten who is an uber-athletic RT. He's a smooth operator who plays with an aggressive demeanor. While he's more advanced in pass pro, he's still learning how to be a great run blocker though his 4.92 speed gives him a ton of potential here. Why does he fall? Shorter arms (33.5") are a concern but he has the athletic traits to make up for it.

4th Round: LB Cedric Gray North Carolina 6'1" 234
Gray is a blur and play-making machine. He keys and fires and definitely has a game reminiscent of Dre Greenlaw. It sounds like he's been rising in recent weeks and the Niners may have to sacrifice a pick to get up to grab him but he's worth it. He's plug-and-play...

4th Round: TE Ben Sinnott Kansas St. 6'4" 251
Sinnott is - for my money - the most well-rounded TE in this class. He doesn't do any one spectacularly but he does everything well. He's an above average athlete who can be a dynamic pass catcher and is a willing blocker. Grab him and you may have your long-term successor to Kittle.

5th Round: S Tykee Smith Georgia 5'10" 201
I'd love Cole Bishop or Dadrion Taylor-Demerson but they'll almost surely both be gone. Tykee is a selfless player who did it all at Gerogia including as a special teams standout. He's got high-level traits (4.4 speed) and a knack for making key plays. He'll step in as a ST ace and also give some depth at FS.

6th Round: WR Ainias Smith Texas A&M 5'9" 190
The knock on Smith is his size and so-so speed (4.55) but watch him and he's an absolute dynamo with the ball in his hands who plays much faster than where he times. Plain and simple the guy is a football player.

6th Round: RB Kimani Vidal Troy 5'8" 213
Vidal is the definition of a "bowling ball." With a compact, incredibly sturdy frame, he has game-breaking (4.4) speed. He's the type of one-cut and go RB that Bobby Turner should love. He won't give you much wiggle or as a pass catcher, but he's a great change-of-pace option to introduce into the backfield.

7th Round: CB Willie Drew Virginia St. 6'0" 192
Drew is a tools-y CB from a small school who dominated division II. The Niners are deep at CB but he's someone worth stashing on the PS as he adjusts to the NFL.