2023 Draft Prospect Watch List and Discussion

we should do a collaborative mock for draft week

Robert Beal Jr. anyone?

Originally posted by 49erKing:
Robert Beal Jr. anyone?

Pretty polarizing player. Fits a 3-4 better as on outside rush linebacker, but could be a designated pass rusher in a 4-3. Will be 24 when the season starts and still doesnt have much game experience. Athletically you see the 40, the wingspan, the broadjump all through the roof, but then his bench is in the 4th percentile for linebackers. Hes going to get manhandled by NFL O lineman. His vert, shuttle, 3 cone are all poor. Looks like a straight line speed guy without power. On tape he doesnt really have a go to move. If he was a special teams beast, then youd feel more confident with a 4th round grade, guaranteed to make the roster that way and then we can work on moves and strength, but as is he's more 6/7th round to me.

Originally posted by scooterhd:

Originally posted by 49erKing:
Robert Beal Jr. anyone?

Pretty polarizing player. Fits a 3-4 better as on outside rush linebacker, but could be a designated pass rusher in a 4-3. Will be 24 when the season starts and still doesnt have much game experience. Athletically you see the 40, the wingspan, the broadjump all through the roof, but then his bench is in the 4th percentile for linebackers. Hes going to get manhandled by NFL O lineman. His vert, shuttle, 3 cone are all poor. Looks like a straight line speed guy without power. On tape he doesnt really have a go to move. If he was a special teams beast, then youd feel more confident with a 4th round grade, guaranteed to make the roster that way and then we can work on moves and strength, but as is he's more 6/7th round to me.

Agree w/that 6th to 7th round spot.. if we take him, it's for the special team and hope that he can develop into a 3rd down rusher..

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
I think he would be a backup at TE and FB and the heir apparent to Juice. He would make the roster for sure if they draft him.

How we he make the roster? They aren't carrying two FBs and who's he beating out at TE? He's not a TE. He a FB in the NFL. Don't waste picks on future FBs. Gross

Originally posted by krizay:

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
My biggest question going into the draft would be this............. which Illinois safety would you pick if both Sydney Brown and Jartavius Martin are available in the late third? I think both of them have the requisite skill set to be a good to great safety in the Niners system. What do you think?

Should have picked the one last year (Kerby Joseph) instead of TDP but I digress.

Agreed and I would take Martin over Brown.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by krizay:

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
My biggest question going into the draft would be this............. which Illinois safety would you pick if both Sydney Brown and Jartavius Martin are available in the late third? I think both of them have the requisite skill set to be a good to great safety in the Niners system. What do you think?

Should have picked the one last year (Kerby Joseph) instead of TDP but I digress.

Agreed and I would talk Martin over Brown.

I'm taking Brown all day over Martin and I love Martin.

Hufunga and Brown at safety would be insane.

Originally posted by Waterbear:
I'm taking Brown all day over Martin and I love Martin.

Hufunga and Brown at safety would be insane.

Told ya this draft especially in the top half stinks

Originally posted by Waterbear:
I'm taking Brown all day over Martin and I love Martin.

Hufunga and Brown at safety would be insane.

my issue with Brown is if you look past the highlights there's issues in space and at tackling. Like them both, and I think their roles are different here anyway. Martin imo is more of a nickel then a true safety.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Told ya this draft especially in the top half stinks

Most teams have fewer than 20 prospects with first-round grades in the 2023 NFL Draft class. So who are some of the names you haven't seen often in mock drafts that will fill out the back half of Round 1 on Thursday night? My annual list: https://t.co/0XdGUEeOej

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 25, 2023

But shouldn't we wait until they play more than 0 snaps before we say they stink or say it's a s**t draft?

Originally posted by krizay:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Told ya this draft especially in the top half stinks

Most teams have fewer than 20 prospects with first-round grades in the 2023 NFL Draft class. So who are some of the names you haven't seen often in mock drafts that will fill out the back half of Round 1 on Thursday night? My annual list: https://t.co/0XdGUEeOej

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 25, 2023

But shouldn't we wait until they play more than 0 snaps before we say they stink or say it's a s**t draft?

So scouts and draft evaluation doesn't matter at all? Not every draft is equal. It's why they have draft grades on every prospect….There are years where the prospects across the board aren't the same as others. As of TODAY it doesn't look like an impactful draft, especially in the top couple rounds. Good for us, I don't think they're gonna be missing out on a top of blue chippers and the overall tiers isn't as drastic as other years rd to rd.

Almost time.

--- Pre Draft Player Connections Update ---

POS - Volume Count | TDN Top 160 Count
ER - 23 | 11
WR - 35 | 9
S - 32 | 8
CB - 26 | 7
T - 15 | 5
RB - 18 | 4
QB - 11 | 3
LB - 18 | 2
DT - 18 | 2
TE - 17 | 2
IOL - 11 | 1
PK - 5 | 0
P - 1 | 0

Can anyone find NFL.com's Predict the Pick? I usually like filling one out, and I can't find it this year.

Some of these names have been mentioned heavily, others not so much. This isnt necessarily my wish list, but more players that should be available to us that just look like 49ers. Guys that I think have, or should have, the attention of the front office and fit our scheme well. Mostly 4-5th round types.

RB Izzy Abanikanda
Based on recent draft history I think its more likely the 49ers go with a big body if bringing in another RB, but instead of another failed experiment, Izzy fits the scheme perfect. Such a good one cut back, great feel for navigating tight spaces, turns his hips to run through small gaps but keeps the upper body on plane and gashing through the lane. Hes that Mostert/Tevin Coleman back in this class. But faster and bigger. Pitt ran a similar zone scheme, so Izzy might be a plug and play talent the way Mitchell was.

RB Hunter Luepke
We might be a year or two ahead of needing to look at this position, but if you were looking for a Juice-Lite in this class, Luepke is it. Needs to work on his blocking, but hes got good hands, can run routes, and shown he can be a good power runner. A definite chess piece on the offensive side that few coaches have the ability to use to their advantage.

TE Brenton Strange
While I think Shanahan is salivating over Darnell Washington, hes going to be out of reach, and so Strange could be the consolation prize. Solid inline TE with some HB potential, which we've seen from Dwelley in the past. Watching highlight packages, you'll fall in love with some of the flex TEs in this class, but watch film and you will appreciates Strange's contributions in the run game as a blocker. Hes got really good leg drive and understands sealing off zones. 23 reps on the bench, hes a strong dude. For a TE2 or package inline blocking TE, hes got pretty good athletic measurables and isnt an easy tackle. He's got some YAC ability and KS can plan some slip block plays to get him out in open space.

OG Chandler Zavala
Former soccer player and has good feet. Elite in pass pro and has all the measurables. Never allowed a sack and only 8 pressures in 400+ snaps. I think his move game is underrated. Has good body control and looks comfortable pulling and getting to the second level. Inexperienced, but didnt show it at the Shrine Bowl. Sounds like a high character kid and a student of the game. Doesnt have the tackle/guard versatility of some other players and that could hurt his value since the 9ers probably want depth at both, but if your looking for a future RG in this class, Zavala has the power and athleticism to fit the scheme.

DT Nesta Jade Silvera
Has some traits similar to Khalia Davis. Really a great short area athlete. His initial quickness into the guard power drives people back and throws off the blocking scheme. Not going to be a 3 down player or stat guy, but can muddy up running lanes and just sort of a low center of gravity wrecking ball. On film hes probably got the most knockpack, jolting burst. Really showed that well at the Senior Bowl. Good depth piece that just has some different traits from Armstead/Hargrave/Kinlaw.

DE Mike Morris
Morris is going to slide in the draft because his combine was so poor. But the tape is there as one of the better run stopping edge players. Hes got great length and sets the edge hard. Hes got great push and pull strength and sheds blocks really well. Really good hands and usually wins there first. At 6'6 275, hes too much to handle for TEs. Has some abilities to get him on the field quickly on running downs. The fans may want a sack artist, but I think the 9ers see Drake taking the role and expect more sacks from the DT position with the addition of Hargraves. So a smart, heady player with traits that can translate quickly will be valued. And he still has a solid power rush, some bend to get around the edge, and a really good inside counter.

DE Yaya Diaby
In some ways the tape on Diaby is lackluster, but Louisville was playing in a 3 man front with Diaby often playing DT. He shed weight for the combine and lit up the athletic testing, but he was playing at 275-280. I think the 49ers like that on him. On tape you see a alot of double teams, alot of stalled out rushes against interior lineman, but the agility and lateral quickness are there. I think bulking back up and getting him on the edge, and you are going to see a really good run defender in the wide 9. And then hes going to be excellent in twists and stunts because of his DT experience and speed. Has all the physical tools to be coached up as a pass rusher.

CB Terell Smith
We need more height, size, arm length at the boundary corner position. Wilks plays alot of nickel with lighter boxes so corners need to step up the physicality. Smith plays the run game like safety and is excellent in run support or sniffing out screens. Might actually project out to a FS if CB doesnt work. Love that versatility for a team that needs both. But this guy is an ascending talent with all of the physical tools. Solid on tape in man or zone. Wilks is an aggressive play caller and is not afraid to bring the heat off the corner. Smith works well at the line of scrimmage and is a great blitzer. Can play press corner as well. Should really fit Wilks scheme. Could bloom into a Charles Tillman type.