Originally posted by Crown:
Why are so many pundits suddenly suggesting an RB or WR at #11?
Purdy needs help on OLine and D needs help or it doesn't matter what play makers you have - you wont be able to get them the ball or hold a lead.
On RB - CMC is getting up in age. His achilles tendinitis may never heal and is likely going to impact him the rest of his life. He's got knee and calf issues too. He's also expensive. Eli Mitchell is gone. Jordan Mason is gone. The depth is pretty much Guerendo, Taylor, Juice, and Abanikanda. Jeanty is likely high on their board and they like drafting according to their board.
On WR - Aiyuk is the X WR. Is he going to be ready to go at the start of the season? Doubtful. Will he lose a step? Probably. Jennings has been filling in at the X since the injury. They brought in Allen Robinson as depth, but he's likely to be suspended at the start of the season. Then they got Russell Gage (practice squad). Opposite of whoever is playing the X is a rotation of guys playing the Y/Z. Jennings, Pearsall, Cowing, Owens, Taylor, Hodgins. Drafting a WR would either allow them to fill the void from losing Deebo or give them flexibility with how to re-integrate Aiyuk back into the team (pair him up with young X-WR). Jennings is walking into the final year of his two-year extension and should have every opportunity to maximize his value. Do the 49ers extend him?
Looking at the various mock drafts, I haven't really been seeing Jeanty or a WR being mocked to the 49ers at 11. Picks have mainly been CB (Barron/Johnson), DT (Graham/Nolen/Harmon/Grant), Edge (Walker, Stewart), OT (Campbell/Membou/Simmons/Banks), and LB (Campbell). Of the 60 mocks from the last week I've looked at, only 2 had Jeanty (Parkins on Breakfast Ball-FS1, The Ringer) and 1 had Tet McMillan (Kerr on CBSSports.com). A strong preference to trade down into the 20s and draft a DT there (Nolen/Grant/Harmon).