The San Francisco 49ers draft was a very solid one in 2019. Many of the rookies selected have directly contributed to their 13-3 record and number one seed in the NFC. Now that the regular season has come and gone, we’re going to take a look at each pick, grade them and give a recap as to what they did to earn the said grade.
San Francisco 49ers Draft Grades for All Picks in 2019
Round 1 – Pick 2
Nick Bosa
Grade: A
2019 Recap: What a year it’s been for Nick Bosa. He performed like a seasoned veteran this year and has proven to be a massive addition to a very, very good defensive unit. Yes, he had nine sacks this season, but more impressive than that was the sheer number of quarterback pressures he had and the impact he had on games.
He had a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, an interception and hit the quarterback a staggering 25 times. He is a rookie Pro Bowl selection and led all defensive players in fan voting. He’s the anchor for years to come for the 49ers defense. He was also the winner of our defensive rookie of the year award winner.
Round 2 – Pick 36
Deebo Samuel
Grade: B+
Recap: When the 49ers drafted Deebo Samuel I’ll be honest, I was lukewarm on the idea. I felt there were more talented wide receivers in the draft available. I was really high on D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown, but in the end, I think we did better than that. Samuel is a very dynamic player and has been utilized in all facets of the game. He’s a sure-handed receiver, runs the sweep well and is a talented special teams player.
He had 57 catches on the season as well as 802 yards. Samuel caught three touchdown passes and ran for another three. He has tons of speed, is exceedingly elusive in the open field and possesses the ability to break tackles. He was a great selection in the second round and has proven to be a valuable asset for Jimmy Garoppolo on offense.
Round 3 – Pick 67
Jalen Hurd
Grade: I (Incomplete)
Recap: Hurd had a productive preseason and had fans looking forward to his possible production before a back injury sidelined him for the entire season. The 49ers took the large-bodied Baylor Bears wideout and it was met with some raised eyebrows. He is a big receiver, standing 6’5″ and weighing approximately 230 pounds.
In high school, he was a running back and was named the best high school player in the state of Tennessee. He transitioned from running back to wide receiver and was very productive. Hurd played college ball as a running back for Tennessee and was very good as a running back, earning second-team All-SEC honors his Freshman year and was named game MVP as a sophomore against Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. He suffered a concussion and asked to move to wideout. Tennessee declined, so he transferred to Baylor. It will be very interesting to see how he fits in next year once healthy. I expect he could be a major contributor.
Round 4 – Pick 110
Mitch Wishnowshy
Grade: D+
Recap: The 49ers definitely reached in taking a punter in the fourth round. Granted, the team had a need at this position, but this was seen as a considerable snafu and it turns out people were right. Mitch is an average punter, and not at all worth the value of a fourth-round pick. He was 22nd-best in punt average on the year and a very pedestrian 29th in the number of forced fair catches. Simply put, if you’re going to select a punter in the fourth round of the NFL draft, he has to be elite. Mitch Wishnowsky is not elite. He’s average at best.
Round 5 – Pick 148
Dre Greenlaw
Grade: B
Recap: Dre Greenlaw became a starter in Week 9 and played terrific to close the season. The rookie out of Arkansas was all over the field, finishing with 92 tackles on the season, good for second on the team. He also had a sack and the single biggest tackle of the season. He stopped Seattle’s Jacob Hollister inches short of the goal line as time expired to solidify the 49ers home field advantage and one seed. He’s an amazing player and the combination of Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and a healthy Kwon Alexander spell trouble for the rest of the league.
Round 6 – Pick 176
Kaden Smith
Grade: I (Incomplete) – C- for the NY Giants
Recap: Well, Kaden is the lone 49ers draft pick this season that didn’t wind up on the roster. He did, however, play well with the New York Giants, where he scored three touchdowns while hauling in 31 passes for 268 yards. He’s a talented player, but with George Kittle and the emergence of Ross Dwelley, he was a luxury that the 49ers simply couldn’t keep.
Round 6 – Pick 183
Justin Skule
Grade: C
Recap: Skule was seen as a bit of a project when he was selected out of Vanderbilt and few felt he’d be forced into the starting lineup this year. However, when both tackles went down to injury, he had to step up and he filled inadequately. It was nice to see him be able to at least hold the spot down, but we’re clearly in a much better position with him on the bench. He started eight games and gave up a team-high six sacks. He will continue to develop and could be a benefit in the years to come as the 49ers transition away from Joe Staley.
Round 6 – Pick 198
Tim Harris
Grade: I (Incomplete)
Recap: Tim Harris was a talented player at Virginia but the truth is told, he was often injured in college and those injuries carried over to his first year as a professional. He’s a big corner at 6’2″. He’s talented but we were unable to see that production on the field. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley was an undrafted free agent and played well. He has surpassed Harris on the depth chart and makes the oft-injured corner expendable.
