Two offensive line prospects to think about on Day 3
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller held his final media conference call on Friday, April 19th, to answer any final questions about prospects, landing spots, and his prospect rankings. As the draft approaches, there will be big surprises, trades, and discussions about landing spots and draft positions for prospects.
Without potential 49er fits or a draft-day trade scenario for Brandon Aiyuk, no pre-draft discussion is complete, especially considering the deal Amon Ra-St. Brown just signed.
I asked Miller about it all recently, beginning with his fits outside of pick 31 for the 49ers.
If they don’t address the offensive line in the first round, the 49ers are a true best-player available team.
I look at guys like Blake Fisher from Notre Dame as a right tackle. You know, he started his career on the left side and got hurt. Joe Alt comes in and takes over, but he has shown that ability to be a really good right tackle, with very, very good athleticism and could eventually move back to the left side.
So if you’re starting to think about life after Trent Williams, well, Blake Fisher could play on the right side in the interim, and then, you look at targeting him as someone who could potentially move back to the left side.
I think it’s center, Tanor Bortolini from Wisconsin, who has great agility.
I mean, he absolutely dominated at the combine with three-cone time. It is the fastest three-cone time ever for a center prospect that fits what the 49ers need. I look at the right side of that offensive line, center out, you know, or all areas that if I’m in that front office, I would be trying to target areas that you have to get better at.
When asked about a potential draft day deal for Brandon Aiyuk (which I believe ends at pick 20 by Pittsburgh), Miller said this:
Yeah, I don’t have any inside information on that one. I think they are playing it pretty close to the vest.
I check his agent’s Twitter just like everyone else to see what they’re saying day by day. It does feel like that if you’re going to get a 2024 first-round pick, I think the Steelers are probably where that conversation starts. I would be shocked to see any other team in the top 20 get involved just based on how great this receiver class is. Yes, there’s the unknown with drafting a receiver, but there’s a huge price difference . As we were just discussing, I was going to want north of 25 million a year, probably drafting someone in the twenties is probably a bargain.
If you get Justin Jefferson-type production from them, or even, Chris Olave production is a great value if you can get someone in the twenties. I think Pittsburgh has been heavily rumored. I think you have to look at Buffalo in there as well. From a salary standpoint, I’m not entirely sure if they can make that work, but I think you have to consider them as another team that really needs a wide receiver.
With the potential of Brandon Aiyuk staying a 49er, there is a possibility of Deebo Samuel being on the move in the future. However, there was a report yesterday about Samuel being reassured of his place with the team. I asked Miller about a potential running mate for Aiyuk that can be drafted later in Washington receiver Jalen McMillan.
Yeah, that would be fantastic. You know, McMillan showed he has that vertical stretch ability.
He came up so big for them this past year time. So I would absolutely love that. He doesn’t quite fit the mold. It feels like, for a while, they were trying to go with these bullies at wide receiver, all these thicker bodies, even with Jauan Jennings. So he would be outside that mold, but he would also give them that vertical stretch opposite Aiyuk that I think they could definitely use.
For Miller’s full comments, click on the video below:
You must be logged in to post a comment Login