The 49ers have set themselves up for success now, and for the future.
The Faithful had a lot of questions going into the 2021 NFL Draft but the main topic of discussion, who were the 49ers going to take number three overall?
When the 49ers made the trade to move up to #3, a firestorm followed of who the potential QB would be that Kyle Shanahan would hitch his wagon to that will wind up defining the young coaches career.
Being on the frontlines with the Faithful, we understood how stressful it was at times when we were constantly told by the most credible of sources that Mac Jones was a "lock" to be the pick for over a month. The Faithful stood up and let their voices heard and the rally cry was #AnyoneButMac -- fast forward and the fanbase got what they wanted at the top of the draft.
After making an early splash in round one, the team had plenty of additional draft capital to bolster the roster heading into the 2021 season.
Pick 3 - NDSU QB Trey Lance
After the longest pre-draft month that any of us have ever experienced, the 49ers' landed on their QB of the future, NDSU QB Trey Lance.
Trey Lance was the youngest QB selected of the "big 5" quarterbacks at the age of 20. For comparison sake of other notable 49ers' players and what their ages where when they were drafted by the team, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel were 24 years old at the time they were selected.
The reason why his age is important in the grand scheme of things, the arrow is absolutely pointing up for the young signal caller. Lance is not a finished product yet and will continue to learn, grow physically and mentally as he acclimates to life as an NFL QB.
As it stands now, Lance is an extremely talented QB who could make a big impact as a rookie. However, he will need to beat out veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo in camp in order to get on the field as a rookie.
Pick 48 - Notre Dame G Aaron Banks
The 49ers put together a trade with the Raiders that allowed them to move back a few spots and select Notre Dame Guard and Bay Area native. The 6'6" 320 lbs guard is absolutely massive but he moves much better than his measurable's would have you thinking.
Since I have had time to jump into the tape, Aaron Banks is quickly becoming one of my favorite prospects from this draft class.
Consistency in football players is something that is a necessity in order to be successful. When watching Banks, he is consistently winning reps. It is rare to see a lapse on tape which is a rare trait by any offensive lineman. The size and mobility combined with his great feet could have him being one of the best picks in the entire draft when we look back in a couple years.
Pick 88 - Ohio State RB Trey Sermon
The 49ers executed another trade which landed them one of their "sexier" picks in the draft. Sermon exploded onto the scene with his 331 yards and 2 TD against Northwestern. He was an Oklahoma transfer and found himself behind starting running back Master Teague for the majority of the season. But when Sermon got his opportunity, he took full advantage of it.
Sermon was able to showcase his ability run with physicality and agility. His size forces DBs to go low to attempt to tackle him but his athletic ability allows him to hop right over defenders. His size allows him to run right through you. His speed allows him to out run you.
He has strong vision and one-cut ability at the line of scrimmage as well as a knack for finding the correct running lanes which should translate well to the outside-zone scheme the Kyle Shanahan implements.
Pick 102 - Michigan CB Ambry Thomas
Kyle Shanahan added the first defender of the night in Ambry Thomas. The Michigan DB was an opt-out in 2020 so he did not have a ton of pre-draft hype. However, the 49ers did watch him up close and personal at the Senior Bowl this year.
Former Cowboys' WR Dez Bryant added some spice to his name when he tweeted that the Cowboys should have drafted the cornerback. As someone who is a big fan of rivalries, that was music to my ears.
Ambry brings a versatile bag of tricks with him to the Bay. He was used on all three phases of the game for the Michigan Wolverine - playing offense, defense, and special teams as a returner. On tape he looks to be a great athlete and someone with a solid floor to build a strong foundation upon for the young CB.
Pick 155 - Western Michigan OL Jaylon Moore
The 49ers shocked some when they selected their second offensive lineman in this class. Fans shouldn't be shocked as to why Kyle Shanahan took the agile Jaylon Moore out of Western Michigan.
The theme with Niners offensive lineman that they drafted was that they both move extremely well for their size. Offensive lineman need to have good movement skills to be able to play in the zone scheme, as picking up athletic linebackers is a necessity.
Moore offers the great flexibility of being able to play both guard and tackle, making him a great candidate for the swing tackle position and eventual starter when the time is right.
Pick 177 - Oregon CB Deommodore Lenior
John Lynch & Co. opted to go with their 2nd corner of the draft out of Oregon. When watching Lenior on tape, my first impression is that of a guy who would fill in perfectly behind K'Waun Williams in the slot corner role.
Another guy with great movement skills is added to the roster in a position that needed more depth. He has clean hips and a natural ability to play press-man. Allows shows ability to play well in zone/off coverage.
Will Likely be a special team contributor in year one for the 49ers.
Pick 180 - USC DB/OLB Talanoa Hufanga
Talanoa is quickly becoming a fan favorite amongst the Faithful without even taking a snap yet.
With strong Polynesian roots, Hufanga plays with a certain type of energy that is infectious. Kyle Shanahan called Hufanga an "old school bas ass" when discussing the rookie as a player.
After watching Hufanga play at USC, that statement holds true, he's a bad ass football player. I see him as a guy who will patrol the box and stay close to the line of scrimmage. His skillset allows him to be a factor in the run game and lock down the short to intermediate parts of the field.
Hufanga appears to be the perfect mold of the new style "hybrid LB" that the 49ers perfected with Fred Warner.
Pick 194 - Lousisana-Lafayette RB Elijah Mitchell
This pick made me especially happy as Elijah Mitchell became a "my guy" after being in Mobile to take in the Senior Bowl this year, clearly the 49ers' personnel staff felt the same way.
Mitchell has next-level speed, running a 4.33 40-yard dash time. However, he is much more than just a burner, he's a complete back who can do it all when his number is called.
He has the ability to patiently find running lanes and hit them with great burst. Mitchell has a one-cut and go running style, similarly to what we have grown fond of with Raheem Mostert. I believe Mitchell will make it very difficult for the 49ers when they are cutting down to the final 53-man roster as I see have him having a real shot at making the roster.
Undrafted Free Agent Signings
UDFA List
- UAB WR Austin Watkins Jr
- Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard
- Louisiana Monroe TE Josh Pederson
- Kansas LB Elijah Sullivan
Not the deepest haul of Undrafted free agents but they made the ones they got count.
Austin Watkins Jr. is another "my guy" based on his performance at the Senior Bowl and the Niners landed a guy who has a real shot at the final 53.
Justin Hilliard was an UDFA that got a good amount of money in the grand scheme of UDFA contracts. This is typically an indicator of the demand on a specific UDFA. Hilliard is a good player but is often injured but could make the team if he stays healthy.
The son of Super Bowl winning Head Coach Doug Pederson,
Josh Pederson is the next name to join George Kittle's tight-end room. Pederson is actually a pretty athletic receiving threat but is likely headed for the practice squad due to the current depth on the team.
The Niners grab another athletic LB out of Kansas in
Elijah Mitchell. The team continues to add a very specific type of player to the LB room. We will see if Mitchell can crack that final roster, likely a practice squad guy.
tas LB Elijah Sullivan
¡Viva México!
Signed - Mexico OL Alfredo Gutierrez
The 49ers weren't done adding OL depth as the brought in a monster from south of the border. Based on what I have found, Alfredo is approx. 6'9" 320 LBS+ which is absolutely massive even for NFL standards.
Alfredo is apart of the NFL International program and caught the eyes of the 49ers' when he participated in Florida's Pro Day. As you'd expect, his tape shows him absolutely demolishing defenders but level of talent is of course much different than in the states. It will be interesting to see how he translates to the NFL game.
