49ers 2024 Rookie Report: Where does the 2024 Draft Class stand entering Week 7?

The San Francisco 49ers seem to be back on track, entering Week 7 at 3-3 and tied for first in the NFC West. While a large majority of the credit will go to the superstars on the roster, the rookies have been holding up their end of the bargain as well.

The 49ers’ 2024 Draft Class has the makings to be one of the best under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. Starting out the 2024 NFL Draft with 11 selections, the Red & Gold made eight picks by the end of the three-day event. That included three players in the fourth round, and five Day 3 picks total. Lynch seems to have found the sweet spot this year, with almost all rookies playing valuable minutes in the regular season.

And the craziest anecdote: Their first selection, Ricky Pearsall, hasn’t played a meaningful down of NFL football yet.

With that being said, here’s how each one of the 49ers’ 2024 rookies stacks up through the first six weeks of the 2024 regular season.

WR Ricky Pearsall (Round 1, 31st Overall):

Stats: N/A

Grade: TBD

As previously stated, the 49ers’ first selection of 2024 hasn’t played in the regular season yet.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has been on the Non-Football Injury list since the start of September. The Arizona native was a victim of an attempted armed robbery on Aug. 31st, suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. Thankfully, Pearsall was able to walk away from the incident with no major vital organs or bones struck, discharged from the hospital 24 hours later.

Now six weeks removed, the rookie wideout is back at practice this week.

Him suiting up Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs is still unclear at this time. The 49ers have no need to rush him back into the fold, despite Pearsall’s persistence to make his NFL debut.

Should he be active on Sunday, it will be a momentous event for the team, already feeling the energy from having Pearsall’s swagger back on the practice field.

“I look at it as a blessing, anything could of went gone wrong. But God was with him in that situation,” fellow WR Deebo Samuel said about his teammate Wednesday.

“Love Ricky. Love everything he’s about,” linebacker Fred Warner added. “Now that he’s back I’m so excited for him to get his opportunity at some point.”

Pearsall will need to show Shanahan and the coaching staff that he’s ready for the spotlight during the practice week. But given how much the 49ers are already banged up (including WR Jauan Jennings), an NFL debut is a possibility in Week 7.

Good to see Ricky Pearsall catching passes at #49ers practice pic.twitter.com/NG2Ma90I85

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 16, 2024

CB Renardo Green (Round 2, 64th Overall):

Stats: 166 total snaps, six tackles, two pass defenses, one interception

Grade: B+

It may have taken a little more time than many expected, but Renardo Green is starting to show his class.

The second-rounder out of Florida State put in his best performance Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks. Handed 91% of the defensive snaps with Charvarius Ward sidelined, Green showed up in his place. The rookie noticed two pass break-ups, six combined tackles and the first interception of his young NFL career. He also boasts a 67.7 Pro Football Focus grade.

Green’s play in the fourth quarter arguably swung the game back to SF. The rookie corner undercut a slant pass from quarterback Geno Smith, returning it for 20 yards into the Seahawks’ redzone.

The 49ers would go on to score a touchdown, making it a two-score lead once more.

With the play of Green, the 49ers’ record could be below .500 on the year.

Still, he has a lot to learn, specifically in zone coverage. The Florida native is a bit of a one-trick pony in that he excels at man-to-man solely, albeit he’s pretty damn good at it.

Should he continue to grow in the 49ers’ system (and all signs point to that being the case), Lynch & Co. may have a lockdown CB in a few years.

Renardo Green jumps the route for the PICK.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/nnOk1vN8Q8

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024

OL Dominick Puni (Round 3, 86th Overall):

Stats: 437 total snaps, 78.3 PFF grade

Grade: A

The steal of the draft for the 49ers.

Rookie right guard Dominick Puni has been a revelation for the Red & Gold, literally called a “godsend” by All-Pro Trent Williams.

Through six weeks, the third-rounder ranks ninth out of all NFL guards on PFF (78.3). He has yet to allow a sack or QB hit as a rookie. Keep in mind, he’s never played the position before, a tackle by trade.

Injuries to Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford forced the Kansas Jayhawks into the starting role during training camp, and he hasn’t looked back.

And considering the 49ers’ woes on the interior cost them Super Bowl LVIII, finding a diamond in the rough like Puni is surreal to say the least.

He’s stellar in the run game and the pass game, he adapts quickly, loves to do film study, and welcomes advice and criticism from those around him in the locker room.

Dominick Puni is exactly the player the 49ers hoped he would be, and he’s only in Year 1.

49ers rookie RG Dominick Puni is PFF’s 9th highest-graded guard in the NFL pic.twitter.com/VPlzc1Mfrk

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) October 15, 2024

S Malik Mustapha (Round 4, 124th Overall)

Stats: 228 total snaps, 13 tackles, one INT, two pass defenses

Grade: A-

The first of the 49ers’ fourth-round picks has been the best so far.

Like Puni, Malik Mustapha has been thrown into the fire due to injuries. While his ride has been a bit bumpy along the way, he’s slowly figuring out all facets of the NFL game.

The UCF alum was off to a hot start in Week 6, recording two tackles, one tackle for loss, two passes defended and his first INT of his career. Sadly, he forced off the field after only 20 snaps due to an ankle injury.

While tests have come back with little concern, it was still a bummer as Mustapha was putting together a strong showing in his second career start.

It’ll be interesting to see how he develops over the course of 2024, especially with fellow S Talanoa Hufanga back on IR. He isn’t perfect by any means, but he has the skillset to be an elite safety in the NFL.

First it was Hufanga in 2021, then Ji’Ayir Brown two years later and now Mustapha in 2024. John Lynch knows how to pick ’em.

Malik Mustapha intercepts the overthrow!#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/rdGA4XQXgM

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024

RB Isaac Guerendo (Round 4, 129th Overall)

Stats: 105 total snaps, 140 rushing yards, 55 kick-return yards, two tackles

Grade: B-

This is a tough one, mainly because how do you critique a player who was already behind the eight-ball this season?

Guerendo suffered a serious hamstring strain on the first day of 49ers training camp, missing the entire preseason. Those snaps are valuable for a young running back, especially given SF’s track record with mid-round ballcarriers in recent years.

Even still, the 49ers saw enough to keep him on the 53-man roster. That decision finally paid off in Week 6, via a 76-yard rush to ice the win for SF.

Want to see a murder on live television?

Watch what Guerendo’s speed does to the safety’s angle. pic.twitter.com/Q2RL92TsvN

— Analytics of Dynasty (@McNamaraDynasty) October 11, 2024

You can’t teach 4.33 speed; One of the many reasons the 49ers were enamored with him in the first place.

Now past from his biggest NFL moment thus far, he has to build off that play. Prior to the game-clinching run, he had nine carries for 24 yards against Seattle. His longest rush: Four yards.

Oof.

The Louisville alum is still a raw prospect. His vision needs some coaching, and is one of the main reasons he’s seen the majority of his playing time on special teams.

This is why Guerendo isn’t going to be the number 2 back for a while. He’s not ready.

Have to be more patient pressing the OZ and trust Trent is going to open that hole. pic.twitter.com/jFK8Iizjaw

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 16, 2024

But, with injury comes opportunity. Guerendo seized the moment with Jordan Mason sidelined, let’s see if he can use that as the building block to something more down the line.

WR Jacob Cowing (Round 4, 135th Overall)

Stats: 24 total snaps, 43 punt-return yards

Grade: C

An electric athlete with the ball in his hands. But there’s one problem: He hasn’t gotten the rock much this point.

Jacob Cowing has not recorded his first NFL reception through the first six weeks. In fact, he’s only played five offensive snaps. Most of the Arizona native’s play has come on special teams as the punt returner. That hasn’t amounted to much either.

Stuck behind at least four wideouts currently better than him, Cowing’s opportunities have come few and far between. Should an injury arise moving forward, that could change.

Shanahan hopes rookie receiver Jacob Cowing soon becomes a consistent option in the passing game pic.twitter.com/jzWWvSjJm1

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) September 25, 2024

OL Jarrett Kingston (Round 6, 215th Overall)

Stats: N/A

Grade: D

The worst of all the 49ers’ 2024 selections, simply because he didn’t make the roster.

Jarrett Kingston had impressive moments in preseason play, but it was not enough to earn him a spot on the 53-man roster. And before SF could put him on there practice squad, he was poached by the Carolina Panthers.

Since then, he hasn’t played a down of football in the NFL.

A reach at the time for the 49ers, and now a wasted draft pick.

LB Tatum Bethune (Round 7, 251st Overall)

Stats: 76 total snaps, two tackles, one fumble recovery

Grade: B

The 49ers used their final pick to add a young leader to the linebacker room. While he doesn’t possess the athletic numbers of an elite prospect, he works his tail off on every play.

Tatum Bethune was a surprise keeper on the team’s 53-man roster, given his status and positional need. But as the 49ers’ LBs have dwindled, his role has only increased.

The Florida State alum has been a stopper on special teams, playing the majority of the snaps there each week. Week 6 saw Bethune record his first fumble recovery on a kick return. He also had one tackle in the contest.

While the stats won’t say it, the eye test does: The kid has something to him. The 49ers have handed him “Mike” LB duties in practice, something it doesn’t take lightly.

While it remains to be seen what his development will be, the Florida native should have some opportunities in his rookie season.

.@49ers rookies camevto play and made the biggest plays of the night to defeat @Seahawks Hats off to Puni, Guerendo, Bethune, Mustapha, and Green. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/mJ1ZEcR7it

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 11, 2024

San Francisco 49ers 2024 Schedule:

Regular Season

• Sunday, October 20th vs. Kansas City Chiefs [SB LVIII Rematch]– 1:25 pm PDT
• Sunday, October 27th vs. Dallas Cowboys [SNF] – 5:20 pm PDT
• Week 9 Bye Week
• Sunday, November 10th @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 10 am PDT
• Sunday, November 17th vs. Seattle Seahawks – 1:05 pm PDT

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