With the 2015 NFL Draft behind us, the Last Word On Sports NFL department continues its draft review series here. Today, the San Francisco 49ers are the focus. Here’s who they selected:
1st Round, 17th Overall: DE Arik Armstead (Oregon)
2nd Round, 46th Overall: SS Jaquiski Tartt (Samford)
3rd Round, 79th Overall: OLB Eli Harold (Virginia)
4th Round, 117th Overall: TE Blake Bell (Oklahoma)
4th Round, 126th Overall: RB Mike Davis (South Carolina)
4th Round, 132nd Overall: WR DeAndre Smelter (Georgia Tech)
5th Round, 165th Overall: P Bradley Pinion (Clemson)
6th Round, 190th Overall: OG Ian Silberman (Boston College)
7th Round, 244th Overall: OG Trenton Brown (Florida)
7th Round, 254th Overall: TE Rory ‘Busta’ Anderson (South Carolina)
49ers 2015 Draft Grade: 5/10
San Francisco 49ers 2015 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Outside linebacker Eli Harold is the best player joining the 49ers roster from the 2015 NFL draft. The 49ers hope that first round defensive tackle Arik Armstead will be the best pick, but in terms of playing right away and being the best player right now, Harold gets the nod. He was everywhere on the Virginia defense and is apparently eager to learn from the 49er veterans already. Unfortunately, the 49ers already have a lot of depth at outside linebacker with Aldon Smith, Dan Skuta, Ahmad Brooks and even Aaron Lynch. How much time will Harold see in 2015? If Brooks get released–some pundits think he will–then he could see a lot of time. He has the talent to be a difference maker as a pass rusher on a suddenly shaky 49er defense.
The Head-Scratcher: Reaching in the second round for strong safety Jaquiski Tartt was a definite head-scratcher. The 49ers took Eric Reid in the first round in 2013, Jimmie Ward in the first round in 2014 and now Tartt in the second round in 2015. If you ask me, that is a lot of safeties. The 49ers had so many other pressing needs, including cornerback, defensive line, and linebacker. Basically, the whole defense besides safeties needed help. And guess what? They took a safety from an FCS school. If Tartt can convert to corner somehow and be a physical presence, then it’s great pick. If he can’t, I just don’t see how Tartt fits into the equation.
The Surprise: Taking punter Bradley Pinion in the fifth round was a wake-up call for many 49er fans. Andy Lee has been the punter for over a decade and is a significant part of the 49er organization. Is his job now on the line suddenly after a successful tenure? Pinion is a great kickoff specialist who mentioned he hits 65-yard field goals, so maybe Phil Dawson will be a free agent soon? Who knows? The competition come preseason will be interesting to follow.
The Steal: I like two guys here: Eli Harold and Mike Davis. I think Harold has second-round talent and could be one of the best picks in this draft if he can sort through the crowd at outside linebacker for the 49ers. On the other hand, Mike Davis is a stud who dominated at South Carolina when he was healthy. This guy was a freight train, and I think he could be a very solid backup running back behind current starter Carlos Hyde. I think the 49ers will pound the ball more in between the tackles this year, giving Davis carries he wouldn’t have seen if he were on the team last year. If Davis can stay healthy, I could see him being rotated in frequently at running back.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt has the chance to turns heads in camp. FCS players rarely have NFL expectations and even though he was taken in the second round, nobody has exactly written “star” on this guy’s future. Tartt already claimed he doesn’t expect to start and is preparing for the learning curve from college to the NFL. Tartt would be a big addition in the nickel coverage package, especially against the Seattle Seahawks newly-acquired tight end Jimmy Graham.
The Rest: Tight end Blake Bell was a reach in the fourth round, as he was a pure potential pick. It will be interesting to see if the former quarterback can make the transition to tight end in the NFL. Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter has potential, but he tore his ACL and likely won’t have an impact in 2015. The 49ers added offensive line depth at the end of the draft with guards Trenton Brown and Ian Silberman. Silberman, a tackle in college, was third-team All-ACC after transferring from Florida, but he is expected to move inside to guard. He’s an underrated player who will provide depth along the interior line. Trenton Brown is another big body, but neither of these players will see the field in 2015. Lastly, tight end Rory Anderson was a depth pick who will probably be behind Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald and now Blake Bell.
The Bottom Line: The 49ers had huge needs at the defensive line, linebacker, cornerback and wide receiver positions. The team left the draft having filled one of those (Armstead at defensive end) and instead drafted another safety and outside linebacker. Hopefully for the 49ers, they will have some surprising studs who will outperform their expectations in 2015.
Check out our other draft reviews here.
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