49ers 2024 Mock Draft: Will SF make OL a priority?

Apr 22, 2024, 9:00 AM | Updated: 9:39 am

TUCSON, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 30: Offensive lineman Jordan Morgan #77 of the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost time for the 2024 NFL Draft! But with excitement in the air, many are wondering: What will the 49ers do this year?

The San Francisco 49ers hold ten draft picks in this week’s draft, enough to replenish the depth chart after a mass exodus of players this offseason. Or, could general manager John Lynch package some selections together for a can’t-miss prospect? SF has optionality this year, as they have in many years prior.

Below are the projected picks the 49ers will have in the upcoming draft:

Round 1, No. 31
Round 2, No. 63
Round 3, No. 94
Round 4, No. 124 (via Dallas Cowboys)
Round 4, No. 132 (compensatory)
Round 4, No. 135
Round 5, No. 176 (compensatory)
Round 6, No. 211 (compensatory)
Round 6, No. 215 (compensatory)
Round 7, No. 251

With that being said, let’s take a crack at selecting the 49ers’ 2024 draft class, this time with no trades involved.

Round 1, No. 31: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona

Other Options: OL Tyler Guyton, OL Cody Barton, DE Chop Robinson

I still feel as strongly as I did last week that the 49ers will address their offensive line in the first round. Here’s whats’ replayed in our 2024 NFL Mock Draft:

If there’s one area the 49ers need to address: It’s the offensive line, especially the right side.

That was the biggest concern for SF prior to last season, and then it reared its’ ugly head in the Super Bowl as Brock Purdy scrambled for his life. 2024 is a time to change that, and Jordan Morgan is the man tasked to do so.

Making his first All-American in 2023, Morgan has blossomed for Arizona the last two years. He’s played 22 games in that timeframe, mainly at tackle. He’s quite versatile as well, able to slide inside to guard when needed. That versatility makes him very intriguing for coach Chris Foerster and the 49ers.

As long as he is still on the board at this spot, this feels like the pick for SF (at least conventional).

The feeling is still the same at this time, the Red & Gold make an investment f0r their O-Line of the future.

#Arizona star Jordan Morgan shares his pitch to teams on why they should draft him if they are looking for OL help. #NFLDraft2024 #nfl #BearDown pic.twitter.com/MKVSgzAJGq

— Taylor Bisciotti (@TaylorBisciotti) April 14, 2024

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

Other Options: OL Christian Haynes, WR Malachi Corley, WR Xavier Legette

The 49ers have a few different avenues here, but ultimately, they choose to continue beefing up the defensive line.

Did you know: The Red & Gold have spent their first pick on a DL in four of the last seven drafts under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. This time around, they do it with their second pick.

Brandon Dorlus has all the qualities that the 49ers look for. He can stop the run, get into the backfield, and play multiple positions across the line-of-scrimmage. The Oregon Duck demonstrated that in college with 108 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He also played in all 14 games last season.

His 40-yard-dash and 10-yard split also show enough fluidity to be productive in the NFL.

It may take a little work, but the next Arik Armstead could be taken in this spot.

Brandon Dorlus casually stunting over 2 gaps to get in the quarterback’s face pic.twitter.com/Ywio7LZyBu

— Matt (@CoachMinich) April 22, 2024

Round 3, No. 94: Roger Rosengarten, OL, Washington

Other Options: EDGE Bralen Trice, OL Mason McCormick, EDGE Javon Solomon

SF could use this pick to add a wideout, but they need OLs more (And the WRs they liked already got picked)

Rosengarten, 21, has all the makings of a good tackle in the NFL. His size (6’5″, 308 lbs) and speed (4.92 40-time) are NFL-level already. His burst will need to be worked on, but with the right coaching and conditioning, he could be a key starter in the near future.

The 49ers have made it known their interest in the Washington Huskie after video emerged of Lynch and brass at the university’s Pro Day. That should open the door for him to be selected by the Niners, on top of the production.

Rosengarten somehow drops to the end of third round and the 49ers are delighted.

Dawgs 🤝@49ers

Welcome GM @JohnLynch49ers & OL Coach Chris Foerster 🔥#BeAPro pic.twitter.com/lOv0LJRv0f

— Washington Football (@UW_Football) April 13, 2024

Round 4, No. 124 (via Cowboys): Malik Washington, WR, Virginia

Other Options: TE Cade Stover, TE Ben Sinnott, CB Jarrien Jones

At long last, the 49ers take a wide receiver.

Malik Washington may be smaller in stature (5’8″), but he’s lighting in a bottle when he has the rock. The fifth-year wideout exploded in his lone season at West Virginia, putting up a whopping 110 catches. He also had 1,426 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to go along with that.

Simply put: He was one of the best wideouts in the ACC last season.

Similar to Zay Flowers, Washington can be used in variety of roles. That’s something the 49ers covet with its’ pass catchers. The optionality of his play style in Kyle Shanahan’s offense will be fun to maximize for years to come.

Additionally, the 49ers are thin at the position. After Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings, that’s a lot left to be desired.

Washington should fill that void for SF.

I have been wanting the 49ers to prioritize a prototypical “short” slot WR and last Demario Douglas was my guy

This year, I really like Malik Washington to fill that role — great hands, very twitchy and could be day 1 returner pic.twitter.com/7YtvTrrqMx

— Brad (@Graham_SFN) April 17, 2024

Round 4, No. 132: Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian

Other Options: WR Jacob Cowing, EDGE Brennan Jackson, DL Mekhi Wingo

You can never have enough pass rushers of you’re the 49ers!

The most well-rounded Dorlus allows this pick to occur, taking a gamble on Houston Christian’s Jalyx Hunt.

The FCS product may be new to the defensive line, but he adjusted quickly. In two years at Houston Christian, Hunt produced 133 tackles, 20.5 TFLs and 13.5 sacks.

He also flies off the edge, running a 4.64 40-time.

He’ll need to bulk up a bit to play traditional DE in the NFL, but the more OLB frame gives SF a different dimension off the edge.

Sure, it may take a few years. But Kris Kocurek loves a project.

Jalyx Hunt has the 2nd highest athletic score of any edge rusher in this class. But I was surprised by the technical refinement for a player who was a safety 2 years ago. Can win with a speed-chop/double swipe/cross-chop & creates lift + displacement with speed to power. Needs to… pic.twitter.com/pDNFzIViYp

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) April 17, 2024

Round 4, No. 135: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami (FL)

Other Options: S Cole Bishop, RB Audric Estimé, EDGE Mohamed Kamara

With the 49ers final pick of the fourth, they get a Tashaun Gipson replacement in Kamren Kinchens.

The versatile safety has all the intangibles to play the position at the next level, except speed. Kinchens’ 4.65 40-time will ween suitors off of him in the earlier rounds. That’s fine for SF, not always looking for the fastest guy on the backend of the defense (Talanoa Hufanga ran a 4.61).

What Kinchens does bring, however, is a do-it-all safety like “Gip”.

The Florida native was a beast at Miami, racking up 162 tackles, 11 interceptions, 15 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a sack. Kinchens is just as comfortable rushing off the edge, as he is ball-hawking the quarterback into a mistake.

His whole thing is cutting out the mental errors, something the 49ers can help with in spades.

Adding anther young safety may rise a few eyebrows, but Hufanga is coming back from a mid-season ACL tear. Snagging a backup (or potential starter) is something Lynch has been interested in all offseason.

Kamren Kinchens: 11 INTs Since 2022

🙌 Most by any Safety in College Football pic.twitter.com/TIc7VSwWgw

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 15, 2024

Round 5, No. 176: Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State

Other Options: EDGE Gabriel Murphy, TE Jaheim Bell, WR Anthony Gould

Remember what I said a round ago about safety prospects not needing to be overly fast. Well, that’s not the case for cornerbacks.

Mississippi State’s Decamerion Richardson can fly, clocking a 4.34 40-time at the combine. His blistering speed and measurables (6’2″, 188 lbs) allow scouts to see the potential to be an NFL-caliber CB. On top of that, his production in the run game is appealing, with 177 tackles in four seasons.

Despite that, Richardson has a few downfalls, including no INTs in college. He’s a bit lanky and will ned to add a bit of weight in his frame for press coverage in the NFL. Not to mention grow as a lockdown corner entirely.

But that’s what the 49ers’ secondary coaches are here for. For now, Richardson can tackle in the open field, a skill that could keep him on the 53-man roster as a special-teams player.

Decamerion Richardson is expected to be a mid-round draft pick. The 49ers are obviously very interested in further bolstering their CB room. Richardson has the 6-2 height and 4.3 speed to fit SF's scheme well on the outside https://t.co/Bc7S5wTsrR

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) April 15, 2024

Round 6, No. 211: AJ Barner, TE, Michigan

Other Options: HB Issac Guerendo, CB Dwight McGlothern, EDGE Jalen Green

No tight ends in the third round! Never again.

All jokes aside, SF addressing bigger needs earlier in the draft should allow the to take a TE if they want to later. And they probably will, but it has to be a blocking-minded guy.

How ’bout the TE that was in the best run offense in college last season?

Barner’s stats won’t wow (610 yard and five scores in college), but his ability to block is the key here. He’s spent a large part of his Ann Arbor days doing so as the in-line Y TE, creating lanes for running back Blake Corum and Co. That’s very appealing to the 49ers, a team devoid of much production past George Kittle.

Pass-catching production can be left to the other young TEs on the roster. SF needs more willing blockers at the spot, especially one like Barner who competes at 100% always.

“McCarthy was asked which Michigan player was poised to make a bigger impact at the next level than people expected, and he cited tight end AJ Barner. Michigan's offense relied more on Barner's blocking than receiving, but McCarthy believes…Barner will make an impact in both…” https://t.co/BngvLDiVdQ

— Tracy Sandler (@TracyFGSN) April 22, 2024

Round 6, No. 215: Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice

Other Options: WR Tahj Washington, S Sione Vaki, OL Jarrett Kingston

Nepotism hire? Nah. Luke McCaffrey is good.

The Rice wideout finds his way to the 49ers, just like his brothers and father before him. But that’s only partly the reason he’s being selected here, a willing and reliable wideout in every facet of the game. He also has spent time at QB and RB, the latter being more prevalent at Rice.

McCaffrey amassed 2,659 scrimmage yards and 26 non-throwing TDs in his five years of college. He has soft hands, can run good routes and makes catches that appear unlikely on a routine basis. The 23-year-old also tested extremely well, posting a 4.46 40-time. While it’s not game-breaking speed, it’s enough to warrant a career as a possession wideout in the NFL.

SF needs more reliable hands out there, especially if Samuel or Aiyuk go down to injury.

Luke will fit right in with his brother and the rest of the locker room. That’s if he falls this far.

That Luke McCaffrey had nearly 1,000 receiving yards in '23 and yet still might only be at mid-ascent at his new position makes him one of the draft's most intriguing prospects

On what the youngest McCaffrey son has been doing to accelerate his growth…https://t.co/pIIBpCcIud

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) April 19, 2024

Round 7, No. 251: Michael Barrett, LB, Michigan OR Sam Hartman QB, Notre Dame

Other Options: LB Marist Liufau, QB Kedon Slovis, OL Drake Nugent

The 49ers will use their final selection to add a depth piece somewhere. Maybe it’s at linebacker, maybe it’s another gunslinger for training camp? Either way, it’s another piece of the roster that should spent a large majority of next season on the practice squad.