Originally posted by miked1978:
Originally posted by adrianlesnar:
Honestly, the way the class is shaping up, WR might be BPA when we pick in the first.
Yeah this WR class looks deep. not so much for true left tackles. Edge would be another position i'd strongly consider in the first.
Given Shanahan's edict that guys that get drafted in the early rounds need to project into at least competing with current starters, I think they will draft one of the following three positions:
WR - Jennings may leave (although I think they extend him), Pearsall needs to be consistently healthy, Aiyuk is done here, etc.
EDGE - Bosa's injury has really exposed this team's lack of pass rushers. I think Mykel will develop into a Pro-Bowl level DE, but he may never have the ability to consistently get the QB. They desperately need to add guys who can go get it.
DT - Collins is developing well and will really start to shine when he has more talent around him. Kalia Davis has quietly taken a huge step forward and figures to be a big part of the rotation. Other than that, no one else has really stood out or shown any major indicators of future success.
Major Ifs:
S - If they can get their hands on Caleb Downs, I think they sprint to the podium. I have seen the range for him anywhere from top 5 to late teens, so if he falls past 10 I think Lynch needs to be on the phone immediately. He is a day 1 starter and a future leader of a defense in this league. Mustapha is a great downfield safety, providing some fantastic hits when he is coming forward in the run game, but he has been abused in the pass game this year. He is still progressing as a player, but that's a big hole in his game. Brown has been challenged this year and has had some good games, but I think his ceiling is ST/serviceable backup. He just doesn't have the closing speed or instincts to be a standout. Downs has incredible range and instincts and has quietly made passing on OSU virtually impossible this year. Teams aren't even trying to push the ball deep or down the middle on them because they are scared of him. Downs might have the biggest impact of any rookie we could draft.
OT - There seem to be a bunch of guys in the conversation for the 1st round at this position, but no plug and play day 1 starters outside of maybe Mauigoa. Still, there is talent there and Shanahan/Lynch have consistently shown that they trust their own assessments of players over popular opinion, so they might see something in a guy and decide to invest. This might be the move if Trent Williams decides to hang it up or announces his impending retirement after next season. While the fans have been screaming for early round investment on the OL, I still think they will look for a later round guy and supplement with bargain basement vets.