Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Sunday, April 28th, 2024
Silver: 49ers’ draft approach made it clear: Their ‘Last Dance’ could get ugly (paywall)
“Having an abundance of weapons is an NFL luxury that also carries a potential downside — there’s only one ball, and production and money are inextricably linked. When a team is winning, a lot of that tension tends to be glossed over. However, if things start going poorly, the situation can degenerate quickly.
For the 49ers in 2024, the potential for implosion will be real.
The very qualities that make Samuel a special player — his passion, his fury, his maniacal pride — also make this a high-risk situation. How will it all play out? If you think you know the answer to that in advance, you’re delusional.
As for those who might know? Well, I ran this by two former Shanahan assistants with a much better understanding of the dynamics and got two very different answers.
“Deebo is not a guy you keep around if you know he’s leaving,” one coach said. “The locker room will suffer.”
The other coach strongly disagreed, insisting, “He is good either way. Deebo is a G.”
Barrows: 49ers 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: An influx of speed and muscle (paywall)
“In an ideal world, Puni will help shore up the offensive line (perhaps as a roving sixth man to begin before earning a starting role), Pearsall will add another element to the passing attack with his slippery burst, Green and Mustapha will fortify the secondary and Guerendo and Cowing will add explosive depth — which can be huge for a team’s special teams efficiency. The final two picks, Kingston and Bethune, can most realistically be projected to the practice squad — although the 49ers might know better than anyone that late-round picks can deliver a pleasant surprise.
Of course, no one expects a hit rate of 100 percent. That’s why the 49ers worked so hard to seal holes and raise the floor of their roster in free agency. That approach enabled them to take a swing for the ceiling in this draft. It’s time to see what these prospects can accomplish.”
Hutchinson: 49ers Draft Takeaways: Purdy got some help, and SF values versatility
“Pearsall is an outstanding receiving prospect. Complain about age if you want. The 49ers want a polished prospect and he is that. Front offices around the league groaned in frustration when they took him. He has incredible route-running craft, footwork, and elite athleticism to playmake in year one. And if Samuel gets hurt, as he often does, the 49ers won’t miss a step, and will actually be better against man coverage, a main cause of their Super Bowl loss.
Cowing is a bit more of a head-scratcher, but the 49ers have long been obsessed with a speedster who can stretch the field. They didn’t get that from Danny Gray. Cowing has high-level college production, can compete as a punt returner, play in the slot, and played a ton of games. Speed is something that was highlighted by Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch with Cowing, and for Guerendo.
He’s fast, and offers you more depth at wide receiver, especially going forward, if/when Jauan Jennings leaves in free agency next year. That said, if he didn’t make the roster, that wouldn’t shock me, though it’s more likely Danny Gray misses the cut.”
Hutchinson: Draft Grade: 49ers draft elite athlete at OL in 6th round
“Having quickly watched some of his film against Notre Dame and Utah (at right guard, and right tackle, respectively), he shows quickness off the ball. He fires his hands a bit too early, leaving him susceptible to using his leverage against him. However, he has top-tier strength and lower half movement, so when he stays locked on assignments, he can reclaim that advantage and drive. He can switch off on assignments vey well.
Given his strength and athleticism, you really want to see him pull and deliver punishment a lot more. He seems slightly hesitant to do that. When he gets locked in and drives, he can finish. But you want him to have that mentality consistently. He just looks like his waiting for someone to say, “Sure, pancake me!” That’s not how it works. Go deal damage. Maybe that’s intentional, given his short arms, to not over-extend himself, but it’s frustrating at times on tape.”
San Francisco 49ers 2024 NFL draft picks: Selection analysis
“With each of their first three picks, the Niners have filled their biggest needs, with Puni perhaps filling the most important on the offensive line. Puni played left guard and left tackle in college and was one of three FBS left tackles not to allow a sack with a minimum of 700 snaps at the position last season.”
Hutchinson: Draft Grade: 49ers use Trey Lance pick, take flashy safety Malik Mustapha
“It seems like any time there’s a screen or an outside zone run, Mustapha comes downhill like he was shot out of a cannon. He might be undersized height-wise at 5 feet, 10 1/8 inches, but he has a sturdy frame at 209 pounds, and contains elite athleticism and instincts that allow him to range over and make plays on deep balls.
His coverage has the most question marks, but coverage is notoriously difficult to evaluate for college safeties, and Mustapha flashes more than enough intelligence and athleticism to grow into a quality, well-rounded safety.”
Hutchinson: Draft Grade: 49ers take speedster WR Jacob Cowing
“That said, San Francisco clearly thinks Cowing has the upside to be a genuine, starting slot receiver, and stretch the field in a way that they have looked for since the the days of Marquise Goodwin. They have dreamed of a legitimate vertical, speedster, and aside from Goodwin’s first year in 2017. Maybe, possibly, Cowing could be that, the phoenix rising from the ashes of Danny Gray’s fruitless selection.”
Draft Grade: 49ers trade 2 picks, move up for elite athlete RB Isaac Guerendo
“Despite that limited production, he profiles as a great fit for whatever the 49ers want to run, especially outside zone. He ran a 99.6th percentile 40-yard dash with a 90.6th percentile 10-yard split. HE had a 41.5-inch vertical, and tested elite in everywhere but the bench press, where he was mediocre, at 17 reps. He is a 99th percentile athlete at the running back position, per relative athletic scores.”
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