2020 49ers Draft Grade & Analysis

Originally posted by RocketMan:
Niners just killed it. Seemingly. We never know what draftees will actually do. But the plan and execution - flawless. Got a probowl LT by highway robbery. Got the nearest possible replacement for Defo at 1/8 of the salary and much younger, with similar upside when Defo came out. Got their guy at WR, knowing the Eagles and then the Packers might go WR, using draft capital they had just acquired. These were arguably the three biggest areas of need, outside RG, which you don't want to use a first round pick on generally. Kinlaw and Aiyuk were also BPA on their board when the picks were made. Value and need. To complain about this draft is nitpicking. I think Kinlaw will be the better pro than Derrick Brown. Love his character, just from listening to him. Sitting out a year probably will add to Trent's longevity. By December, he will be back to form, ready for playoff run.

I agree they had a great draft. I think one of the greatest drafts the 49ers have had were the '86 draft that landed them two super bowls a couple of years after that draft. I can see this draft up there with the '79 draft and the '86 draft.

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
If you include the TW trade, I don't know why anyone wouldn't, the grade is an A or A+

This

BIG TIME!

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Given that 95% of all draft grades 'really' range from A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, on JUST the players themselves (not including team needs), I'd say B on just talent alone and A- on scheme fit. B+

Volume is low: C+
Top team needs: C+ (no pass rush, pass protection or pass defense)

uhhh Kinlaw and Trent Williams?

Bingo!

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
We got 7 guys and if we have 4 slots available i will be amazed. But that is what made this draft so unique....7 PICKS total. Sounds like a jerry jones deal from yrs past . Point is we can't have more than 4-5 slots open unless we are improving some of our 2nd tier or rotational players, and GM John made a real improvement last yr with increasing talent in the rotational or subs players.

Even then we got snakebit in the SB, not having Dee, DJ Jones, Blair and Richburg. If all those guys had really top flite substitutes, who knows how the SB would have gone.. Our OL got killed in the SB , mainly right thru Center and also RG. Laken didn't cover himself in glory either. Even Joe had some misses in Pass pro, and some of that it's just being 36 yrs old/young. Sad to see him go, but TW will be a heckuva replacement. Nobody can be Joe , tho.

The only thing we really didn't get was a good cover Corner, (nor an OG who could snap the ball)...but we sure filled in the other slots. McKivitz will be really interesting to see how he does. And we got a real bad boy in Shaune, but a lot of really good testimonials as to how good he is. Overall, we sure seemed to fill in the slots we needed, but i would have liked an OT to play OG for a couple yrs from rounds 2 -3.

"But we had no picks there !" Yeah, i know, just sayin'

The nut crusher was the TW deal which i still believe was done by handshake (over the phone) BEFORE the draft ever started. I just don't believe GM/HC made a gamble that big without having it in the works before the first pick was made. Also, Riverboat Ron Rivera is NOT Danny Snyder. He is a smart guy, a football guy and didn't want an all pro LT not seeing any field time for the second yr in a row. And TW had a legit beef. Also little Danny Snyder is a horse's patoot and TW wasn't playing for him. Rivera got something out of nothing.

We , OTOH, got a ton(TW) out of not very much. So that is part of draft also, draft day. Trades. And it was a pistol .

Of course, like everyone else , can't wait for Javon and Aiyuc to show their stuff, but good Lord, their film is un-fricking-believable. Liked the McKivitz, TE, and WR picks also. Man i hope our WR makes the team because he is one mean son of a gun on football field. Also NEON DEION is high on him as his son plays at Tenn and he has seen him a lot. McKivitz was a total unknown adn just early film on him looks intriguing,

Overall it was quality over quantity, and this isn't 2017 anymore when KS and JL had to start all over. Now they have a SB team and were looking for particular parts. I think they did a bang up job. But, as Thl posted, ask me in 5 yrs. or in Javon's case and Aiyuc's case , later this yr.

EXCELLENT post!

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Given that 95% of all draft grades 'really' range from A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, on JUST the players themselves (not including team needs), I'd say B on just talent alone and A- on scheme fit. B+

Volume is low: C+
Top team needs: C+ (no pass rush, pass protection or pass defense)

uhhh Kinlaw and Trent Williams?

nope dont count. pass rush == DE/EDGE and Trent is a breakeven replacement for JOE.

needs of the team were not addressed.

If you think the pass rush only comes from DEs then good for you.

This Kinlaw had 6 sacks in 2019, he'll bring good pass rush from the interior DL.

Trent is a better OT than Joe was, and I love Staley, I mean I am so upset he had to retire, but he had to do what was best for his body and family, so Williams is an upgrade, and younger.

Truth!

Originally posted by NCommand:
Or Wirfs. If we acquired some 2-4th round picks and that player is pegged to be a starter (usually picked 1-3 rounds), absolutely. A 4th-7th is not expected to start unless you're insanely thin.

For 2020 Wirfs is not an upgrade on Brunskill. Brunskill has proven he can pass protect in the NFL. Wirfs couldn't even prove he could pass protect in college.

Wirfs might be better in 2-3 years but he wasn't going to start here in 2020.

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

A+, getting Kinlaw and Aiyuk was great but the icing on the cake was Trent Williams, I don't care that they passed on a IOL and CB, we can't fill every need in 1 offseason, we got a solid blocking TE, and a developmental OL who can compete at RG, likely is inactive for the season as the 9th OL.

Amen.. plus were able to move Goodwin and Breida when it's obvious they are not part of the future. A 5th this year and a future third for Williams, are you kidding me! That was a steal by JL!

My quick take on the draft:

Round 1a Kinlaw (grade A-) Niners stay true to their philosophy of building team in the trenches first. Best potential DeFo replacement in the draft. Knee tendinitis is a concern
Round 1b Aiyuk (grade B) Didn't like the trade up at the time and will be forever judged vs Lamb. Still, best scheme fit of all the WR's and ST ability is a bonus.
Round 5 McKivitz (grade B) OT who looks to convert to OG in the pros. Another scheme fit that has to be coached up a bit to be successful.
Round 6 Woerner (grade C) Knew the Niners were looking for a blocking TE. Just wish they got one with more receiving ability. Still, TE/FB/ST hybrid should make the squad and get snaps.
Round 7 Jennings (grade A-) - Great value pick in the 7th round. Big slot who can make contested catches, generate YAC, run block and play ST. Got some disciplinary issues in his past.

If the Niners had waited instead of trading up late in round 1, they could have traded back at pick 31 to add a CB or an Edge rusher as well as a decent WR. That would have been a better use of their draft capital IMO.

Overall grade B+
Overall grade with Williams trade included - A

I graded the draft an "A" because the FO got the personnel they were after, according to them. And, these draftees are fits for the scheme(s) that are run on offense and defense. As noted earlier, Kinlaw's knee(s) are of some concern; the young WR from ASU is a Deebo clone (defenses are going to be tired as hell)! The OLineman should provide good guard play. And the guy I'm looking forward to seeing on the field is the 7th round pick. His tackle breaking ability is going to be very exciting. Then the Trent Williams pick up should keep Jimmy Gangsta upright and could make this offense literally unstoppable!!! Anyway, looking forward to seeing these guys on the field.

And the fat trimming was necessary. Really glad and have a lot of respect for GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shannahan + the rest of the 49ers FO

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:

My quick take on the draft:

Round 1a Kinlaw (grade A-) Niners stay true to their philosophy of building team in the trenches first. Best potential DeFo replacement in the draft. Knee tendinitis is a concern
Round 1b Aiyuk (grade B) Didn't like the trade up at the time and will be forever judged vs Lamb. Still, best scheme fit of all the WR's and ST ability is a bonus.
Round 5 McKivitz (grade B) OT who looks to convert to OG in the pros. Another scheme fit that has to be coached up a bit to be successful.
Round 6 Woerner (grade C) Knew the Niners were looking for a blocking TE. Just wish they got one with more receiving ability. Still, TE/FB/ST hybrid should make the squad and get snaps.
Round 7 Jennings (grade A-) - Great value pick in the 7th round. Big slot who can make contested catches, generate YAC, run block and play ST. Got some disciplinary issues in his past.

If the Niners had waited instead of trading up late in round 1, they could have traded back at pick 31 to add a CB or an Edge rusher as well as a decent WR. That would have been a better use of their draft capital IMO.

Overall grade B+
Overall grade with Williams trade included - A

Why do you think Aiyuk will be forever compared to lamb? Then I guess we will forever have to compare Kinlaw to Blacklock. And see which combo was better.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Huh? SF lost Joe before the draft, SF was at that point starting Coleman or Skule at LT they then traded a 5th and what is more than likely a late 3rd for one of the best LTs in football. That is a MASSIVE upgraded.

So by that thinking Buck isn't a pass rusher either lol you don't think IDL doesn't affect the pass?

This x1000

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

A+, getting Solomon and Foster was great...

FTFY

Originally posted by Izyniner:

Why do you think Aiyuk will be forever compared to lamb? Then I guess we will forever have to compare Kinlaw to Blacklock. And see which combo was better.

And Wirfs and Buckner to Kinlaw and TW to Staley and Aiyuk to Sanders... LOL.

On paper they get an A-. Three impact players from the draft, Kinlaw, Aiyuk, and Trent (how you use your draft picks is not just on acquiring from the college ranks). Plus some possible contributors. Then they created some cap space when they traded away players. They got something, instead of just releasing them. Which is something, when you see a lot of other teams just letting go of players that had more value.

As you know though, the game isn't played on paper. Just look at the Rams and Browns.

So here's hoping.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by NCommand:
That's an acquisition for draft capital. Nothing to do with the players drafted and grades. That's why I suggesting there needs to be a full Acquisition thread. Cover every acquisition from free agency, trades, trades for draft capital, trades to alleviate cap space, drafted players, UDFA's, etc. Lots of lumping everything together in here for a draft grade thread.

When you use draft picks from this draft on draft day, I don't see how you can't "lump" that into a draft breakdown? Nothing about it was pre-draft.

Does Dee Ford count for you too?

sure why not? They used draft capital from this draft to get him.