49ers mock draft: Packaging picks to move up for an impact offensive lineman (2024)

Look at the San Francisco 49ers roster and figure out a way for a good chunk of a 10-player draft class to make the team’s 53-man cutdown.

It’s not easy.

That’s one of the challenges the 49ers face entering the NFL Draft. The team remains loaded with talent. Meanwhile, the front office used free agency to insulate the roster’s floor at some potentially problematic spots, so there’s an opportunity to swing big now.

In fact, it might be necessary to swing big if the 49ers want to follow the most efficient path forward. The draft is inherently a crapshoot, but the 49ers must simultaneously thread a needle to fit their new crop of players into the framework of the roster. And that means that a consolidation of picks to trade up — assuming there’s a mid-first-round prospect the 49ers are enamored with — makes a lot of sense.

This mock draft will operate in that reality. The 49ers are trading picks No. 31 (first round), 94 (third round), 135 (compensatory fourth round) and next year’s second-round selection to the Cincinnati Bengals for pick No. 18 in the upcoming draft.

That’d be the price of doing business, according to this model. And it’d set the 49ers up with an eight-pick collection starting in the middle of the first round. Let’s get to work.

Round 1, No. 18 (from Bengals): Troy Fautanu, OL,Washington

So, what makes Fautanu worth the big investment of trading up? It starts with his multi-positional value. The 49ers have faced a bevy of questions regarding their offensive line, which regressed significantly in pass protection in 2023. Left tackle Trent Williams will be 36 this season. Left guard Aaron Banks is in the final year of his rookie contract. Right guard Jon Feliciano has indicated that he plans to retire after this season. Other positions, including center and right tackle, can all benefit from upgrades — especially in pass protection.

Fautanu can theoretically plug all of those holes. He played primarily left tackle at Washington, but also saw action at left guard and packs the physical profile of a player who can potentially contribute at all five positions. Quality adaptability stands to immediately help a 49ers team facing so many question marks of various shapes and sizes up front.

Many evaluators believe that Fautanu, given his 6-3 height, will be better suited for guard at the NFL level. But his 35-inch arms stack up well against pro tackles, so there’s a best-of-both-worlds dynamic at play here since Fautanu boasts the short-area quickness of a more compact guard with the arm length of an exterior offensive lineman.

In “The Beast”, Dane Brugler writes that Fautanu “locks on and mauls defenders in the run game, turning bodies with sheer strength as a base blocker.” If Kyle Shanahan and company agree, this is a player they’ll covet. There’s an added bonus of picking Fautanu here: The 49ers can make sure the Los Angeles Rams, who’ve been stocking up on offensive linemen, can’t nab him at No. 19.

Round 2, No. 63: Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon

Versatility is also the theme of this second pick. Dorlus played across the entire defensive line for the Ducks. He can be an exceptionally athletic interior rusher at the NFL level. The 49ers have sought to develop such players for sub-package work. Think Arden Key and Charles Omenihu.

Oregon DL Brandon Dorlus had a 30 visit with 49ers. Played across the entire line for the Ducks. Kocurek might see him as the type of exceptionally athletic interior rusher that he covets.

Dorlus batted down 8 passes last season alone — good indicator of his feel for the game pic.twitter.com/H1kyY34MCi

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) April 10, 2024

Dorlus batted down 13 passes in college. He also reached nearly 21 miles per hour on the GPS tracker at 283 pounds. So there’d be immediate potential value on special teams, possibly within the context of the new kickoff rules that will more closely emulate standard scrimmage plays.

Either way, the 49ers must constantly work to replenish their defensive line, which has long been a primary engine of this unit. A longer-term outlook is needed along the interior, where Maliek Collins — Arik Armstead’s replacement — is only under contract for two seasons.

Round 4, No. 124: Caedan Wallace, RT, Penn State

This is the pick the 49ers received from the Dallas Cowboys for quarterback Trey Lance, so it might follow them around for some time if they don’t get it right. This also seems to be the sweet spot for a more developmentally oriented selection for the front, especially if the 49ers swing for an immediate impact lineman earlier.

The 49ers tacked a year onto right tackle Colton McKivitz’s contract last month, so they now have at least insurance at that position through 2025. But McKivitz allowed 59 pressures and nine sacks last season, so they can certainly take a swing at raising the ceiling here. Wallace started at right tackle for four seasons at Penn State and it seems his athleticism would represent great value in the middle rounds.

Round 4, No. 132: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon

Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Issac Yiadom project to be the 49ers’ top three cornerbacks in 2024. All three have deals that expire after the season, so it’d be wise to pump more talent into this pipeline.

Jackson started just one year for the Ducks after transferring from Alabama, but he notched 12 pass breakups and three interceptions. He’s 6-3, the same height as former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, so there’s press-man potential here for a defense looking to recommit to its roots.

Round 5, No. 176: Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee

There’s a high chance Wright is off the board before this. Brugler has a third-round grade on him, so perhaps this is unrealistic. But weirder things have happened in the draft, and my pick of Wright in the fifth round is meant to be illustrative of the 49ers’ strategy: They shouldn’t draft a running back any higher than here.

So if Wright — with his 4.38 speed and ability to break through contact — is available in the fifth round, the 49ers should pounce. Elijah Mitchell is entering the final season of his rookie contract, so the position is looking for replenishment. And Wright might fit the 49ers’ scheme as well as Mitchell. If Wright isn’t available, perhaps Memphis running Blake Watson would be a good lower-round target.

Round 6, No. 211: Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois

Reiman posted a 4.64 40-yard dash at 271 pounds, which is eye-opening. There is no tight end with George Kittle’s 4.5 speed to be found in this draft, but the 49ers are simply looking for a complementary weapon at the position.

draft fast tight ends https://t.co/NuLtqTSST3 pic.twitter.com/jRvdDIzKon

— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) April 8, 2024

Reiman has already developed into a good blocker, which is mandatory. And though he’s relatively inexperienced as a receiver, there’s enough movement ability here to project him as a player who can develop in that regard.

Round 6, No. 215: Sione Vaki, S, Utah

The 49ers still have an obvious 53-man opening at safety. We know they’ve hosted two veterans, Rayshawn Jenkins and Julian Blackmon, on free-agent visits (both players have since signed with other teams). We also know that star Justin Simmons remains a free agent and that 49ers general manager John Lynch hasn’t ruled out re-signing Tashaun Gipson Sr.

Even if the 49ers do fortify the position with another veteran, a lower-round investment in a rookie seems to be a logical play. Keep in mind that Talanoa Hufanga, recovering from a torn ACL, is entering the final season of his rookie contract. Vaki’s energetic style might remind some of Hufanga’s college tape. Vaki has visited the 49ers and Lynch has a good track record evaluating safeties.

Round 7, No. 251: Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State

At 5-8, he’s small, but Gould’s 4.39 speed stands out. The end of the draft could be a good spot for the 49ers to take a chance on a gadget weapon, especially since they lost Ray-Ray McCloud III in free agency. And yes, Gould has punt return experience. He led the FBS at 18.3 yards per return in 2022. This could maximize Gould’s chances of making the 53-man roster because the 49ers have a hole at punt returner.

The 49ers could also draft the next Brock Purdy with their final pick of the draft. Never say never.

(Top photo of Troy Fautanu: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)