March Mock Plan (V3)

Pre-Draft Assumptions -

Rodgers to PIT, Cousins to CLE, Wilson to NYG; Ward goes #1 overall to TEN, Sanders drops ala 2005 draft

NFL Draft -

Trade #1: SF trades #11 for DEN #20 and #51 - they trade up for Hampton, leapfrogging the Cowboys to get their RB of the future.

Trade #2: SF trades #20 for NYG #34 and #65 - they trade up for Sanders, leapfrogging the Steelers for their QB of the future.

R2: Donovan Jackson - T/G - Ohio St. (via NYG)
*Day 1 starter at LG with the potential to be our LT of the future. Experienced, good enough agility, but powerful and good technique, Jackson has all the makings to thrive in our zone blocking scheme as an immediate replacement to Banks.

R2: Carson Schwesinger - LB - UCLA
*High IQ, sideline to sideline speed, and strong tackler make him a perfect fit in our defense as Greenlaw's replacement. Team captain and also offers upside on special teams units.

R2: T.J. Sanders - DT - South Carolina (via DEN)
*Explosive first step, knows how to shed blockers to make plays in the backfield, and effective against the run and pass, Sanders projects as a natural 3 tech in our scheme and ideal fit in a wide 9.

R3: Bradyn Swinson - EDGE - LSU (via NYG)
*Not elite in any single area, but demonstrated strong effectiveness with tons of raw potential to be a upper tier pass rusher in the NFL. I love his initial burst off the line of scrimmage and the arcs he takes to get to the QB. He's a much better run defender than Floyd.

R3: Charles Grant - T/G - William and Mary
*With our immediate holes addressed, we look to invest in a future starter type selection. Grant is highly athletic and has an elite frame for our zone blocking scheme. Needs to go thru NFL condition and learn the ropes behind Williams and McKivitz, but no question he'll be a starter in '26.

R3: Darien Porter - CB - Iowa St. (comp)
*Saleh gets his new "Richard Sherman" type CB in a modernized form. Porter is an older prospect, but he projects as a high quality press / zone corner at the boundary. This creates opportunities for Lenior and Green to interchange between slot and outside based on ideal matchups.

R4: Jamaree Caldwell - NT - Oregon
*I like my fatties and I cannot lie. All joking aside, Caldwell reminds me a bit of DJ Jones. Strong run defense at the line of scrimmage that will plug holes, but upside with some sneaky pass rush. Ideal starter at our 0/1 tech position on defense.

R4: Damien Martinez - RB - Miami (comp)
*We have had a void for a bruising back, and we get one with Martinez. I love his power and his initial quickness at the line of scrimmage to find the open hole and avoid the first wave of defenders. He's not a pure outsize zone back, but we have those in CMC and Guerendo. Replaces Mason.

R5: Seth McLaughlin - C - Ohio St. (via CAR thru WAS)
*High IQ center with the right frame and size that Shanahan prefers. He's recovering from an ACL injury suffered in November, which knocks him to this slot in the 5th. He will likely start on PUP, essentially given a redshirt year.

R5: Jackson Hawes - TE - Georgia Tech (via MIN)
*Best blocking TE in the draft, Hawes has sneaky athletic ability that we look to untap in the NFL. The trio of Kittle/Ferrell/Hawes may be the best Kyle has had since joining the 49ers.

R7: LeQuint Allen - RB - Syracuse
*Effective 3rd down back as a pass protector with good combo of skills as a runner and pass catcher. Offers upside on special teams. Competes with Taylor for a RB spot on the active or PS.

R7: Antwane Wells Jr. - WR - Ole Miss (comp)
*Solid possession receiver that improves the depth in our unit. May make the active roster if he beats out Conley and Aiyuk starts out on PUP.

R7: Eddie Czaplicki - P - USC (comp)
*New STC means we will continue to see a reform in our ST skill positions. Wishnowsky is 33 years old with a back issue. I could see Czaplicki winning this competition out due to his leg and technique.

Post-Draft Transactions - won't count against '26 comp picks

UDFA Priority Positions: Willie Lampkin (OL/FB/TE), K, WR, S, CB, LB, and EDGE

Trade: Conditional 2026 for Bryce Huff - EDGE - Eagles

Budget Signing: Campbell - DT/DE - Dolphins, Simmons - SAM/EDGE - Giants, Wills - T - Browns, Beathard - QB - Jaguars

Extensions: Purdy, Kittle, Warner, Jennings

Projected Depth Chart -

QB: Purdy/Jones*/Beathard* [PS: Mordecai]
RB: CMC/Guerendo/Martinez*/Allen*
FB: Juice
TE: Kittle/Ferrell*/Hawes* [PS: Lampkin]

WR: Aiyuk/Robinson*
WR: Pearsall/Cowing
WR: Jennings [PS: Wells*]

LT: Williams/Grant*
LG: Jackson*/Zakelj
C: Bartch/Hennessy* [PUP: McLaughlin*]
RG: Puni
RT: McKivitz/Wills*

DE: Bosa/Huff*/Okuayinonu
DT: Campbell*/Caldwell*/Anderson
DT: Sanders*/Givens
DE: Matos/Swinson*

LB: Warner/Winters/Bethune
LB: Schwesinger*/Simmons*

CB: Porter*/Luter
NB: Lenior/T. Brown*
FS: J. Brown/Pinnock*
SS: Mustapha/Grant*/Odum
CB: Green/Avery

ST: Moody/Czaplicki*/Weeks*

Assumed cuts/trades: Wishnowsky, Burford, Brendel, Jackson, Beal, Elliott [~$12M in cap savings]

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
Wow, trading out of the first round seems a little extreme to me. There will be some good players on both lines available in the 20's (Nolen or Zabel?) and edge rushers like Ezeiruaku. I like the Jackson pick instead of his injured teammate in Simmons as the potential LT of the future. Let someone else take the risk. Drafting a punter or kicker isn't anything I would want to see the Niners do based on our recent history. I would take another LB, S, or an EDGE rusher instead. Nice mock overall.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, extreme, but the talent available is so good on days 2 and 3 that I think it's worth it vs. drafting Nolen (boom or bust) or Zabel (I have reservations on his outlook at the NFL). Hence, why I think Jackson is the safer pick with a more establish floor.

And the punter pick is one of the last picks in the entire NFL draft. So it's not like I drafting it in the 3rd round