latimes.com photo: San Francisco 49ers first round second overall draft choice from Ohio State dawning the Buckeye liner inside his sportscoat — defensive end Nick Bosa.
By Joe Lami
SANTA CLARA — The 2019 NFL Draft has come and gone for the San Francisco 49ers and it can’t be more crucial for the Niners to hit a grand slam on most of their picks if they hope to turn it around. Finishing with the second-worst record in the league has given them the opportunity to strike gold.
Round 1, 2nd Overall Nick Bosa (EDGE, Ohio State)
Grade: B
With Kyler Murray selected first overall by the Cardinals, the Niners had their choice of the top defensive prospect in the draft. Unsurprisingly, they take Nick Bosa, who’s considered the top player in the draft.
Bosa only played three games this year for Ohio State before sitting the rest of the season with a core muscle injury. However, he was incredible his Junior season as a Buckeye, getting eight sacks in 14 games despite just starting in four.
This has the chance of being a home-run pick for the Niners, but there are a few red flags with Bosa. Aside from his troubling tweets, he comes from a football family that tends to look at it more as a business. His biggest comparable his is older brother Joey, who has been elite while on the field but has also had a lengthy injury history.
The injury trouble could just be the beginning and while it was a business decision to sit out his last year of school, what’s going to change now that he’s pro?
Round 2, 36th Overall Deebo Samuel (WR, South Carolina)
Grade: C
With their second selection, the Niners brought help to Jimmy Garoppolo with Samuel. Samuel comes from a very bad SEC team and was the only offense the Gamecocks really had. He scored a combined 12 TDs his senior season playing both as a wideout and returner. He was All-SEC as a returner and second-team as a receiver.
The slot receiver’s biggest knock is that he might need scheme to open him up but no one can do that better than Kyle Shanahan. He also has an injury past, dealing with hamstrings.
While the Niners needed a slot receiver, I would’ve preferred they take sure-hand receiver Hunter Renfroe (5th round to Oakland) in a later round. I think the need to shore up the offensive line or take a defensive back would have been more valuable at this position.
There were two offensive linemen that had first-round value available at this spot in Cody Ford (Guard, Oklahoma) and Greg Little (Tackle, Ole Miss) that I would have much higher on my draft board.
Greedy Williams was also available here, who is an electric DB from LSU. He can go up and catch any ball but he had issues with tackling. I think the tackling knock on him would’ve gone away with some mentorship from Richard Sherman.
Round 3, 67th Overall Jalen Hurd (WR, Baylor)
Grade: C
Tennessee five-star recruit running back out of high school was incredible for the Vols until he suffered a concussion. The concussion made him want to move position to receiver. Tennessee said no, so he transferred to Baylor.
At Baylor, he was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year catching 69 balls for 946 yards and four touchdowns.
This dude is athletic and fun to watch but he’s coming off a knee procedure and lacks experience at the position. He’s a boom or bust style player that will be a project for Shanahan.
Round 4, 110 Overall Mitch Wishnowsky (Punter, Utah)
Grade: D
Drafting purely for need after the departure of Pinion, taking a punter in the fourth round while still having great secondary pieces on the board makes zero sense. Wishnowsky, a converted Aussie Rules player, should be good though. The Niners took the best punter available, who won the Ray Guy Award in 2016 and was nominated in 2017 and 2018.
Oh yeah? Should I mention they traded up for this pick?
Round 5, 148th Overall Dre Greenlaw (Linebacker, Arkansas)
Grade D+
Dre Greenlaw is a small linebacker that started all four years for the Razorbacks. He was fairly good against the pass with two interceptions in nine games his senior season. He lost games due to injury battling an injured foot and high ankle sprain.
According to NFL.com he looks small and plays small and is valued as a low seventh-rounder to free agent pick-up. One NFC scout said, “Good athlete. Former safety. He runs well, but I don’t think he’s tough enough to trust him in a game. He better be really good on special teams unless he finds more dog inside him”.
Hunter Renfroe was selected with the next pick.
Round 6, 176th Overall Kaden Smith (Tight End, Stanford)
Grade: B
The Niners add Kaden Smith to George Kittle at Tight End. The Stanford connection and John Lynch strike again with this pick, but you can’t argue against Tight Ends out of Stanford.
This guy has great hands and can catch balls over the top, especially with inaccurate. He’s a one-hit wonder, but he does that one thing pretty well. Don’t expect great blocking out of him or even route running. He’s a vertical threat at the intermediate level.
Round 6, 183rd Overall Justin Skule (Tackle, Vanderbilt)
Grade: C+
Niners finally pick up the need they have at the O-Line. This guy is a bit of a gamble due to lack of athleticism and failing to play low enough. But the guy is a grinder that was always looking for extra work as a left tackle for 40 games in the SEC. If he can handle that conference well, he’s worth the risk at this part of the draft.
I don’t see him stacking up well at tackle, but he may be able to become a steady interior guy.
Round 6, 198th Overall Tim Harris (Cornerback, Virginia)
Grade: C-
The Niners traded up to take a stretch on an athletic corner from Virginia. Tim Harris is a double red-shirt due to injury-ridden seasons but still dominated his pro day; running, a 4.45 40, jumping a 39-vertical, and 11-7 broad jump.
According to NFL.com, there are concerns on his tape that he will most likely struggle in the show, not having enough football IQ to keep up. But the kid is athletic as hell and Shanahan and Lynch must see enough to think they can teach it. Another gamble pick.
Overall, the Niners did just okay. The main connection and problem between all of these players is they have an injury past. As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out this being the theme of the off-season. If all these players stay healthy, this could be a very good draft for the Niners, but that’s a risk they’re willing to take.
