For as much talk about the San Francisco 49ers reaching, there wasn’t enough about which players they should have taken instead of the ones they did. We’ll do that today.
The NFL Draft has come and gone. Sometimes, it’s not about who you drafted, but who you passed up. It’s the beauty of hindsight. Everybody looks smart once you know how the players turned out. We’ll do it a week removed from the NFL Draft so we can revisit these answers this time next year.
You can use any round, or do multiple if you please. You are the general manager, after all. The only rule is that you can’t make any trades.
Which player should the 49ers have drafted?
My answer: Instead of Kaelon Black, I would’ve selected Boston College offensive tackle Jude Bowry. During the pre-draft process, I noted that Bowry was a preseason first-round candidate. We’d be banking on that talent and his athleticism to potentially contribute as a starter this year and be Trent Williams’ eventual replacement down the line.
Then, instead of Carver Willis and Ephesians Prysock, I would’ve snagged Arizona State CB Keith Abney and Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson–two players who went in the fifth round.
And in the fifth round, I would’ve selected Zakee Wheatley, a safety from Penn State, over Jaden Dugger, because I feel like Wheatley has a better opportunity of beating out the players in front of him as opposed to Dugger, and I’m still getting value and help on special teams.
So, I’m swapping multiple picks by addressing the secondary without sacrificing too much. How about you? What would you have changed?
