It’s time for another mock draft now that the first wave of free agency has subsided.
San Francisco hasn’t been super active in making big splashes, but they’ve filled out their roster with depth at some key spots and opened the door to go a couple different routes in the first round.
Given what their roster looks like two or three years down the road it might still behoove them to identify an offensive tackle in the first round and do what they have to do to acquire them. That could help in 2024 and beyond.
However, offensive tackle isn’t the only spot where the 49ers could use a long-term, cost-controlled starter. And if they can’t find a trade partner in the draft they might be in a position where selecting the best player available is better than reaching for a player just to fill their biggest need. That’s how we operated in this mock draft, which ran through the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator.
Here’s a look at the selections:
Chicago Bears: Round 1, Pick 1 | QB Caleb Williams, USC
The bigger question for the Bears is what the heck do they do with Justin Fields?
Washington Commanders: Round 1, Pick 2 | QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
The Commanders have been veteran-heavy in free agency, which may be helpful for Daniels’ development as a franchise signal caller.
New England Patriots: Round 1, Pick 3 | QB Drake Maye, UNC
This is a layup for the Patriots, who appear poised to select whoever the best QB is that falls to them.
Round 1, Pick 4: Arizona Cardinals | WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Marquise Brown’s exit in free agency, the Rondale Moore trade and Arizona’s overall need for offensive playmakers all point to the Cardinals snagging the top wide receiver in this year’s class.
Round 1, Pick 5: Los Angeles Chargers | WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Mike Williams was a cap casualty, and the Chargers desperately need playmakers for Justin Herbert. They’ll sprint to the podium to take Odunze, who does everything a good receiver does and does it at a high level.
Round 1, Pick 6: New York Giants | WR Malik Nabers, LSU
The Giants will probably feel lucky to have Nabers fall to them. He’s extremely explosive, and some analysts have him as WR1 on their boards.
Round 1, Pick 7: Tennessee Titans | OL Joe Alt, Notre Dame
The Titans need to find a long-term answer at left tackle to keep Will Levis upright, and Alt is the very best OT prospect in a class that’s very deep at the position.
Round 1, Pick 8: Atlanta Falcons | DE Dallas Turner, Alabama
The Falcons’ offense looks ready to blow up this season with QB Kirk Cousins taking over under center. Now they can add perhaps the best defensive player in this year’s class with the No. 8 overall pick.
Round 1, Pick 9: Chicago Bears | CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Chicago’s offense is starting to come together, which allows them to go with the best player available here. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Arnold, a rangy, physical corner with great ball skills is atop their board.
Round 1, Pick 10: New York Jets | OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
The Jets have to protect Aaron Rodgers. If the Secret Service isn’t doing it, Fuaga certainly can. He’s one of the most pro-ready OL prospects in this draft and should be able to find a home at virtually any OL spot.
Round 1, Pick 11: Minnesota Vikings | QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan
It’ll be a battle between Sam Darnold and McCarthy for the starting job in Minnesota. McCarthy isn’t as highly touted as the other QB prospects in this class, but he might have the best landing spot.
Round 1, Pick 12: Denver Broncos | TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
QB is definitely an option here as well, but Bowers will give whoever starts under center in Denver a big-time pass-catching option who can take easy, short throws and turn them into explosive plays.
Round 1, Pick 13: Las Vegas Raiders | OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
Fashanu is a best-player-available selection for the Raiders. They have Kolton Miller at left tackle, but Fashanu has all the tools to either play right tackle or force Miller to move to the right side.
Round 1, Pick 14: New Orleans Saints | OL JC Latham, Alabama
The Saints should be able to pick a position to stick Latham and have a really high-quality player to keep Derek Carr clean and improve New Orleans’ run game.
Round 1, Pick 15: Indianapolis Colts | CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
There’s such a heavy run on offensive players early in the draft, and the Colts benefit by getting maybe the best CB in this year’s class. Mitchell is a big, physical CB with superb athleticism. Don’t be surprised if this is your Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Round 1, Pick 16: Seattle Seahawks | DE Jared Verse, Florida State
Speaking of getting lucky that good defensive players are falling in this year’s draft, the Seahawks finally get a quality edge who should immediately be a three-down player in the NFL.
Round 1, Pick 17: Jacksonville Jaguars | DL Byron Murphy, Texas
Jacksonville may have to pivot and go with a WR here after Calvin Ridley signed with the Titans, but Murphy would make a ton of sense alongside Josh Allen, Travon Walker and veteran Arik Armstead.
Round 1, Pick 18: Cincinnati Bengals | DE Laitatu Latu, UCLA
Naturally the Bengals wind up with a steady, high-motor edge rusher who is already extremely well-rounded. Latu should slot in immediately as a productive player in a very good Bengals defense.
Round 1, Pick 19: Los Angeles Rams | CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
The Rams have done a nice job adding secondary help this offseason, and DeJean gives them a versatile cornerback/safety who brings elite athleticism and return skills.
Round 1, Pick 20: Pittsburgh Steelers | OT Troy Fautanu, Washington
Fautanu is a player the 49ers might try and trade up for if he falls to this spot. Pittsburgh may not be willing to do business though since they need to protect Russell Wilson, and Fautanu projects as a stellar prospect at either guard or tackle.
Round 1, Pick 21: Miami Dolphins | OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
The Dolphins are all about speed, and Mims is an offensive lineman who shouldn’t have trouble keeping up. The only thing keeping him from going much higher is his lack of overall experience. Mims may be a project, but he has all the tools to be awesome.
Round 1, Pick 22: Philadelphia Eagles | WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Why not! Philadelphia could probably an injection of youth into its secondary, but Mitchell is a dynamic playmaker at WR who may just be a best-player-available choice for GM Howie Roseman.
Round 1, Pick 23: Minnesota Vikings | WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
The Vikings made a trade with the Texans to snag another pick in Round 1, and they use it wisely. Thomas is an outstanding WR prospect with excellent size and speed. He’ll fit in nicely with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Round 1, Pick 24: Dallas Cowboys | CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Dallas is all-in on adding to its defense. Wiggins has a pretty slight frame, but his athleticism and ball skills are enough to make him an enticing first-round pick.
Round 1, Pick 25: Green Bay Packers | OL Graham Barton, Duke
The Packers get some protection for QB Jordan Love with Barton, who may wind up starting at multiple spots on the OL in his career. This is another player the 49ers could consider a trade up for.
Round 1, Pick 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | OL Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
Yet another trade up candidate for the 49ers. The Bucs badly need OL help though and Guyton is a really good athlete who needs a little refinement. He has the size and athleticism to be a really good player down the road though.
Round 1, Pick 27: Arizona Cardinals | DL Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
Instead of adding more on offense, the Cardinals opt to help out a defense that probably outplayed its talent last season. Newton is a disruptor in the middle of the defensive line who has the potential to be a three-down player in the NFL.
Round 1, Pick 28: Buffalo Bills | OL Jackson Powers-Johnson
This is a really nice pickup for the Bills. Power-Johnson isn’t elite at anything, but he’s not particularly bad at anything either. He may not be a Pro Bowler, but he should be a starter at center or guard for a long time.
Round 1, Pick 29: Detroit Lions | DE Chop Robinson, Penn State
The Lions are betting on their coaching here. Robinson has dynamite athleticism and an elite first step off the line. He needs to develop some counters as a pass rusher, but his speed and bend around the edge make him a really good prospect that should help Detroit’s defense.
Round 1, Pick 30: Baltimore Ravens | CB Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri
Rakestraw is First-Team All-Name in this draft. Combining that with landing in Baltimore, which always churns out good players, and Rakestraw feels like a can’t miss prospect.
Round 1, Pick 31: San Francisco 49ers | CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
The 49ers forego their top need here and go with an instinctual, toolsy cornerback instead. McKinstry should step in and be a Day 1 starter in a secondary that still needs some long-term answers and depth at CB.
Round 1, Pick 32: Kansas City Chiefs | WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
Hooray. More weapons for Patrick Mahomes.
