The media hates the 49ers draft. They have been given a D grade by most draft pundits due to their propensity for reaching for the guys they wanted. I don't think the draft was perfect. A couple of the picks were head scratchers (at least in terms of when they picked them) but I do think it was a good draft. I would give it a B grade.
Before we dive in I would like to note the media mostly hated the 49ers draft last year as well. Many giving them a C or C- grade. That draft has turned out very well as they drafted 4 guys are who are now starters and also got 2 rotational pieces. 6/8 ain't bad. The only guys that didn't make the roster were 6th and 7th round picks and one of them could be in the LB rotation this season. The other was released.
Here is a recap of their picks, why they did what they did and why the media hates the pick:
Pick 1- #11 Mykel Williams Edge- 49ers drafted the big Edge from Georgia because he is a plug and play starter opposite Nick Bosa and is the best Edge setter and run defender amongst Edge players in the draft. He has pass rush skill but struggles with a pass rush plan. He will work with Bosa on improving his pass rush game. The media hates the pick because they love Jalon Walker who was the consensus number two Edge/OLB after Abdul Carter, but Walker isn't as good a run defender and doesn't fit the 49ers wide 9 scheme well.
Pick 2- #43 Alfred Collins DT- 49ers drafted a huge run stuffer here out of Texas. He is the best DLineman in the entire draft at stopping the run. He is amazing at shedding double teams. He has limited pass rush upside but should be a day 1 starter on 1st and 2nd down. The media hates the pick because he was graded as a late 2nd rounder/early 3rd rounder but interior DLineman went off the board quicker than expected so it was very unlikely he would be there at 75.
Pick 3- #75 Nick Martin LB- 49ers drafted him to be a Dre Greenlaw clone. He even told them in their interview that's what he intended to be. Undersized, speed, tackling machine. Media hates the pick because it is a very big reach. Martin was a consensus 5th round pick and they took him in the early 3rd round. I am not sure why they reached so much here. He almost certainly would have been there at 100 if not even in the 4th round. That being said he was injured most of 2024 and likely would have been graded as a 3rd round pick based off off the 2023 tape.
Pick 4- #100 Upton Stout CB- 49ers drafted a small, speedy Nickel Corner here out of Western Kentucky. With Deomodore Lenoir moving permanently to outside corner the 49ers had a need for a Nickel and they got a really good one. Lenoir called him "my twin", so it is clear they want to have their cake and eat it too. Get a DeMo like player for nickel but also have DeMo for the the outside. Media hates this pick because it is another big reach. He was a consensus 5th round pick and they took him at the end of the third. I think they did it because they had a specific need at corner and Jacob Parrish, another guy they were targeting had come off the board.
Pick 5- #113 CJ West DT- Another huge run stuffer for the 49ers. Collins was the best available run stuffer at interior DLine and CJ West was probably 3. They want this team to be hard to run against like the old days. A bit of pass rush upside but will need to develop it to be a true 3 down player. Media doesn't hate this pick. Besides Williams and the guard in the 7th this might be the only player the 49ers drafted around where they should go.
Pick 6- #138 Jordan Watkins WR- Small, speedy vertical threat receiver. Another twin pick here. He will compete with Jacob Cowing who was drafted last year to play the same role and had some moments but struggled with his routes. One of them likely ends up on the practice squad and the other as WR5 and potential returner. Media doesn't like it because it is another big reach. I agree on this one. Not sure why they reached so much for a guy similar to one they already have on the roster. Ok maybe in the 6th or 7th but 4th seems kind of early. Would have preferred they drafted a true X to step in while Aiyuk is out and be Jennings insurance if he leaves in FA next year. But Kyle is gonna Kyle.
Pick 7- #147 Jordan James RB- Another twin. Jordan Mason clone here. I don't mind the pick but the RB class was deep so this seems like another reach. Media doesn't like it because RB class was deep so this was another reach.
Pick 8- #160 Marques Sigle S- Every year the 49ers seem to steal a guy in the later rounds. I think this might be that guy. They desperately needed a FS. They got a speedster here who is also a strong tackler. Media is indifferent to this pick. They really like the player but again it was a reach.
Pick 9- #227 Kurtis Rourke QB- Who doesn't need a Canadian QB? 49ers like this guy because of his size and processing ability. He was projected to be a 4th rounder prior to playing all last season on a bum ankle. They think they got a steal and future QB2 here. Media is indifferent to this pick. Similar to last one, they like the player but it was a slight reach.
Pick 10- #249 Connor Colby G- Another potential late round steal for the 49ers. Not the flashiest player but they love this guy because his traits fit their scheme to a T. Media doesn't hate this pick, they actually like it.
Pick 11- #252 Junior Bergen WR- This pick came out of nowhere but after hearing Kyle say he is coming in to compete for a spot as a returner, it makes sense. Unexpected but they are trying to fix the Special Teams which has been horrible for years and this kid had 8 punt returns TDs in college. That is not a typo- 8. Last pick, why not take a flyer on a guy who might make your ST dynamic. Media is indifferent, they like everyone else have no clue who this dude is. Haha
Get over to Predyx and buy some 49ers YES shares while they are still incredibly cheap. Or you could wait until the week before the Superbowl and pay 5x the current price.
Go Niners!
Sats for all,
GR