The 49ers 2021 Opponents

 Home: Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, Packers, Vikings, Texans, Colts, Falcons

Away: Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, Bears, Lions, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles

Game 17: Bengals*

*Rapoport reported that plans are in place for a 17 game season with game 17 as an interconference matchup based on standings on a rotational basis, and Breer reported that divisional alignments have already been set with the NFC West facing the AFC North. That means the 49ers will face the Bengals in game 17 with the location to be determined. 

The 49ers schedule ranks as the 21st most difficult in the league, with them ranking 8th easiest in the NFC and the easiest in the NFC West. The 49ers home games rank as the 9th toughest in the NFL, with their road games ranked as 11th easiest in the NFL. 

To Trade Or Not To Trade

That is the question. How important is, Fred Warner to the 49ers defense? Should they pay the man or trade the man? I lean towards trading him, and I say that because they've got, Greenlaw. Reminds me of the Buckner/Armstead situation, and we all know how that turned out. Seems to me, Fred Warner is the most likely trade candidate unless, Ryans factors in as a first time DC. Not sure they'd get as high a 1st rounder as they did for, Buckner but I think they could get a team in the 20's to make a move for him. What say you?

Talking hats (of the salary cap kind) – can the 49ers build a 2021 Super Bowl roster?

 

By Scooter_McG

Based on projections of a cap of around $182M-$183M for 2021, the 49ers currently sit with around $13M-$14M in cap space. With 60+ players under contract, relative to a lot of teams this looks pretty good. However, the 49ers cap space comes with a price – a lot of 2019 and 2020 starters and key role players are off contract, including the likes of Richard Sherman, K’Wuan Williams, Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, Ahkello Witherspoon, Jaquiski Tartt, Marcell Harris, Solomon Thomas, Kerry Hyder, DJ Jones, Ronald Blair, Trent Williams, Daniel Brunskill, Ben Garland, Kyle Juszczyk, Kendrick Bourne and the two backup QBs – Mullens and Beathard. It’s a laundry list of players that have logged big minutes over the past two seasons, with some of these guys being key parts of the 2019 roster that went to the Super Bowl. Add in that teams usually need around $10M for rookies, that leaves around $3M-$4M in space for FAs.

No matter what the 49ers do, some of these players won’t be back. Sherman has been very open about it taking a miracle for him to be back. Trent Williams has been very philosophical about his first opportunity to test his value in free agency. While Kyle Juszczyk was very emotional in his end of season presser, acknowledging that his time with the 49ers may be coming to an end. Other players are all but certain to return, such as Moseley who is a RFA and Brunskill who is an ERFA.

So what can the 49ers do to free up cap space and help retain some of the key players, or replace guys they lose? The Ford contract situation has been discussed in this forum a fair bit already. His injury guarantee has thrown a bit of a wrench into things, making it far more complex regarding his release and realising cap savings. However, by converting his injury guarantee to signing bonus and designating him a post June 1 cut, the 49ers can save somewhere between $9M and $11M against the cap in 2021 (though some of the saving – his unguaranteed salary that shouldn’t be converted to bonus of I believe around $3M – wouldn’t come off the books until June 1).

Weston Richburg is all but guaranteed of being released. Unlike Ford he does not have any injury guarantee this year and cutting him would save $4.5M against the cap in 2021. If released as a post June 1 cut, it would be approximately $8M in cap savings in 2021.

But after that, there are fairly limited avenues available to the 49ers to generate sizeable cap relief. The only players that have significant salaries or roster bonuses that could be converted to signing bonus are JG, Jimmie Ward and Laken Tomlinson. You could potentially add Armstead, but with a massive spike in his cap hit already on the horizon from next year, that would seem a last resort.

Tomlinson is an interesting case, in that technically he has a contract until 2024, but his contract will void after this season and the extra years were added in his restructure last offseason for accounting purposes to spread the bonus out over five years and help free up much needed cap space for the 2020 season. The 49ers could take a similar tactic this offseason, and convert the bulk of his $4.5M salary to bonus and spread it out over four years. If $3.6M was converted to bonus (as a veteran his minimum salary would need to be ~$900K), this would provide $2.7M in cap relief. Alternatively they could offer him an actual extension (as opposed to voidable years), however, Tomlinson would be well within his rights to ask for a raise for any extension to his deal which may make things far trickier and result in no substantial cap savings.

The above moves could free up as much as around $20M in cap space for 2021.

The 49ers can take a similar approach to both JG and Ward. JG is due $24.1M in salary and Ward due $8.4M. Converting some or all of that to signing bonus and extending it over multiple years (through voidable years) could deliver substantial cap relief. For example, converting $20M of JG’s contract to signing bonus and adding two voidable years would result in a cap saving of $15M. For Ward, converting $7.5M to bonus and adding voidable years to spread the bonus over four years could save around $5.625M.

With the above moves, the 49ers could be in the vicinity of $55M under the 2021 salary cap, which would be plenty of space to sign rookies, re-sign key players, extend a guy like Fred Warner, and add replacements through FA to make a run at the Super Bowl in 2021. To be honest, they probably don’t need to rework all of those contracts to the extent outlined to be able to do this if the cap hits of the players they sign are also pushed out to future years.

Of course, what this would mean for future years is a different story, and one for another time.

4 Years

 February 26 Razor

According to offensive coaches, you cannot properly evaluate a quarterback until he's been in the same system 4 years. 2 years to master his offense, and 2 more to master the offensive contextual response to what the defenses are doing. Jimmy is around 1,000 pass attempts into his career. This would seem to indicate that we can expect to see improvement in the execution of the offense in 2021 by the distributor in chief, Jimmy Garoppolo. Which leads us to our question of the day. Will it be enough to win the division?

Lost In Translation

 “We have to in“We have to insulate ourselves better,” Lynch said. “We got to have better options if he’s not there.JJohn Lynch, "Being available is a big part of this thing. So we — probably as a stated goal — we have to insulate ourselves better. We’ve got to have better options if he’s not there."

Translation: Beathard and Mullens will not be back, and Josh Rosen and Josh Johnson are seen as 3rd options. We're going into the season with Jimmy as the starter but we're also drafting one who we hope will be the future. 

John Lynch, "We are seriously looking forward to kind of rebooting our team and making a run at this thing next year. And I believe we’ve got what it takes to compete for a championship.”

Translation: We'll be competitive this year but the plan is to set ourselves up for a run next year.

Is this the right approach or do you have a better plan to get the 49ers back to the Super Bowl?

Turselve said. “We got to have better options if he’s not there.”

I Got Your Back

February 24 Razor

Most expect the 49ers to sign, Trent Williams but in the event they're not able to do so, we'll take a look at the top OT's in the upcoming 2021 NFL draft. 

Rashawn Slater, Northwestern, 6'-3" 305 lbs. 2019 Consensus Honorable Mention All-Big 10, Northwestern Offensive Player Of The Week winner twice, finished the year with zero sacks given up, one qb hit, five hurries in 787 snaps

Missed one game in 2019 with undisclosed injury

Traits include, athletic ability, lateral mobility, versatility, durability, hand strength

Current grade 8

Potential grade 9

Does not possess the length you'd like from your OT but he's the best on the move blocker in a strong class. Struggles against top end power rushers, and has a tendency to play high, reducing strength, leverage with tight hips. Seems to recover quickly more often than not when initially beaten. Stays aware and takes good angles to seal off lb's. Tough, smart player that seems very coachable too. All-Pro guard potential with a chance to be a solid LT. 

Penei Sewell, Oregon, 6'-6" 325 lbs. First true sophomore to win Outland Trophy, unanimous First Team All-American, did not allow a sack in 13 games played and in 9 of those did not allow a pressure or hurry in 2019, sat out 2020

Missed significant time starting October 2018 with high ankle sprain

Traits include, length, fluid shuffle, recovery speed, nasty disposition, explosive 

Current grade 8

Potential grade 9.5

Franchise LT potential. Run blocks and pass blocks at a high level making him that rare unicorn. Hand placement and some little technique issues are very coachable. Aggressive player that explodes out of his stance in the run game. 

Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC, 6'-4" 315 lbs. Playing LG he was USC's 2019 Offensive Lineman Of The Year, Associated Press First Team All-Pac 12, 6 games at LT in 2020 earned him The Morris Trophy

Had a hammy injury but it didn't cost him a game to my knowledge 

Traits include, versatility, power, smarts, balance

Current grade 8

Potential grade 9

Excelled at two different positions, LG/LT in back to back years. Has good movement skills and shows the ability to block at the 2nd level in the run game. Can be beaten inside in pass pro due to over compensation against speed. Has a chance to be a solid LT but has All Pro potential at OG.

Jaylen Mayfield, MI, 6'-5" 319 lbs. 

Missed 3 games to a high ankle sprain

Traits include, run blocking punisher and finisher, moves well, powerful hand jolt 

Current grade 7.5

Potential grade 8.5

Only played 15 games. A little flat footed. Looks like a RT only. Should hit the ground running while developing in pass pro at the next level.

Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech, 6'-5" 314 lbs. 3 year starter First Team All-ACC and All American Second team, 6 QB hurries and zero sacks senior season

Missed a game early in college career due to injury

Traits include, length, balance, power, mobility

Current grade 8

Potential grade 9

Needs to work on keeping his feet moving and hand placement. Awareness can be hit or miss. I like his lower body flexibility. Good hip and leg drive. Looks like a starting RT that eventually could move to LT as he refines his game.

Teven Jenkins, OK St., 6'-6" 310 lbs. All Big-12 First Team, 3 year starter, opted out early this year due to injuries

Missed game(s) to an unspecified back injury

Traits include, power brauler, hands, aggressiveness

Current grade 7.5

Potential grade 8.5

Good movement to the 2nd level with solid athleticism. Technically refined enough to start at RT. Not a player who's going to be overpowered, but gets a little choppy with his feet around the edge in pass pro. 

General/Open Discussion Tuesday

 It was suggested by long time faithful, Undercenter that once a week we have a blank page to have an open discussion pertaining to football. We aim to please around here, so here you go!

Back To The Future by Razor

 Here's an excerpt from The Ringer in 2018:

For Shanahan, Garoppolo’s appeal was rooted in his mechanics. Most quarterbacks’ throwing motion involves an exaggerated follow-through that ends with the body leaning forward and the right foot lifting off the ground. Garoppolo’s release, meanwhile, features a stationary back foot; rather than forcefully stepping into throws, he creates torque with his upper body and hips. “All the great dropback quarterbacks, that, to me, is an absolute,” Shanahan says. “You’ve got to be able to play like that and throw like that.” As Shanahan explains the difference, he gets out of the chair in his office and mimics a violent twist involving his torso. He notes that by throwing from a stationary position, QBs are able to elude interior linemen who wreak havoc in a crumbling pocket. “Anyone who doesn’t throw like that, they’re going to blame the O-line all year,” Shanahan says. “I’m not going to name 100 quarterbacks who are like that, but their O-lines are always not good. The guys who can throw like this, when the O-line’s bad, as long as you have good people out on routes, you can get rid of it.”

I bring this up as the concern for the 49ers offensive line grows among the faithful. We know, Shanny values the OT and Center positions while the OG's not so much. Does this stem from his belief that it's the quarterback and his mechanics that can mitigate such weaknesses against interior pressure? I think it does. The bigger question to me is, does this philosophy disqualify all quarterbacks that do not possess the kind of mechanics he covets? Thus far, it would seem so.

Resign Trent Williams? Not so fast!

MidWestDynasty
February 21, 2021

If you haven't heard, the expected salary cap for the 2021 NFL season is at or a little higher than $180 million.  Because of this cap, the 49ers are going to have several choices to make to keep under the salary cap while also making sure the 2020 season was merely a blip in regards to the team's ability to be competitive in the difficult NFC West division and the league as a whole.  One vital decision the team needs to make is whether to resign LT Trent Williams.  If you take a gander at many arguments surrounding this decision, the overall consensus is the team should resign Williams.  However, I think this would be a big mistake by the 49ers, and here's why.

HIS AGE

By the time the 2021 regular season begins, Trent Williams will be 33 years old, so there is a valid question of how much he has left in the tank. 
Don't get me wrong; I would love to see Williams continue to play until he feels ready to hang up his cleats, but the reality is that offensive tackles tend to start to decline around his age due to the wear and tear they experience as a member of the offensive line.  Joe Mahoney of SB Nation wrote an article that covers this topic, and it can be read at https://www.milehighreport.com/2017/2/27/14724674/age-wall-for-offensive-tackles-nfl.  Williams could buck the trend by continuing to play at a high level, but the odds are stacked against him.

HIS INJURY HISTORY

This is a list of the known injuries or illnesses Williams has dealt with since he entered the league:

- Concussion
- Strained MCL
- Thigh
- Knee
- Cancerous growth on the head
- COVID-19
- Elbow
- Thumb

There is probably more to add to that list, but Williams has a penchant for playing through pain, which is essentially a double-edged sword.  On the one hand, it's good that he is not willing to pull himself off the field; on the other hand, doing so can open the player up to other injuries which can shorten his career or cause him to miss games which in turns results in leaving the blind side of the QB to a backup or a fill-in.  Yikes.

HIS ASKING PRICE

A while back, it was reported that Williams was wanting to test his value on the free-agent market after some contract discussions with the 49ers front office.  So what his value on the market?  Despite his age and injury history, Williams is considered to be one of the best LTs currently playing in the NFL, so there is a strong likelihood that he will be paid as such, and that alone could most likely eliminate any realistic chance the 49ers have at resigning Williams. 
Consider this:  According to spotrac.com, the highest average for a LT belongs to David Bakhtiari of the Green Bay Packers at $23 million.  If Williams wants around that or more, then the 49ers should move on from Williams because they are not going to be able to match or beat out the competition that may have more money to burn unless they make some big sacrifices.  Besides, if that occurs...

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS

It isn't the end of the world if the 49ers are unable to sign Williams.  The 49ers have some decent options available to replace Williams in the draft or free agency. 
For instance, in free agency, the team could sign Alejandra Villanueva, a linesman who isn't of the same caliber as Williams but has done fairly well at the position with the Steelers and is more of a stalwart at staying off the injury list than Williams has.
Or the team could draft a LT in the first or second round of the draft. The LT position has good depth at it this year, with prospects like Dillon Radunz and Christian Darrisaw being good options to take with the 12th pick and others like Alex Leatherwood or Liam Eichenberg being suitable second-round choices.
And then you have the trade avenue.  Orlando Brown Jr. of the Baltimore Ravens recently stated that he wants to remain at LT because that is where he feels the most comfortable at -and his play in 2020 easily backs up that boast-, but the problem is the Ravens already have a LT they just paid in Ronnie Stanley.  The only reason Brown was given a chance at the position after playing at RT for his first couple of seasons was due to a severe ankle injury Stanley sustained in the Week 8 match-up against the Steelers.  But because of that, the Ravens have a potential controversy brewing.
This is where the 49ers come into the equation because they could trade their first-round pick for this year and the next to the Ravens in exchange for Brown or Stanley. 
Of the two players, Brown is the better option of the two because he will be in the final year of his rookie contract, giving the 49ers the money needed to address other areas on the team; it will also put the 49ers in the position to pay him next off-season when the salary cap is expected to go up more.
That said, the 49ers also could not go wrong with acquiring Stanley who has excelled as a premiere pass blocking LT on a team primarily built to run the football.  Sound familiar?

THERE ARE OTHER AREAS TO ADDRESS

If the 49ers do meet the contract demands of Williams, the team faces a strong likelihood of not fielding a Super Bowl contender.  Yeah, that may sound overly dire, but how else can you describe a situation in regards to a team who needs a FB, C, LCB, RCB, NCB, slot receiver, edge rusher, and depth at WR and TE?  Oh, and the impending need to extend Warner; we can't forget about that, can we?  I don't think the 49ers will want to have a rookie playing at each of those positions, so unless the 49ers hit a home run digging through the bargain bins, there is no way the team could address even some of those needs while paying what Williams believes he is worth.

BONUS - THE DEE FORD CONUNDRUM

In recent weeks, there has been a growing dilemma of the 49ers having to pay Dee Ford $11.6 million if he is still on their roster by April due to a clause in his contract.  That is because there has been little to no indication Ford will be 100% healthy by then.  If that scenario comes to be, then there will be almost no chance of the 49ers retaining Williams.

CONCLUSION

There are several reasons why resigning Williams would be an error in decision-making.  They range from his age and health to their being cheaper options.  Then you have to factor in needing to fill other positional vacancies and keeping some key playmakers happy.  All in all, the 49ers would be better off in letting another team pay Williams his value.

Who's Got The Edge? Part III Sleepers Addition by Razor

 Today we round out our edge series with some small school prospects with some big time potential. Unheralded, these players may not have the name recognition among the, Kiper's and McShay's of the draft circle but I guarantee you they do among the NFL scouts. With that, let's take a peek at who we're sleeping on.

DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky, 6'-3" 228 lbs. Conference USA  Defensive Player Of The Year 2019 winner, 8 tackles, 3.5 for loss, a sack and a forced fumble against probably their toughest opponent on the 2020 schedule, Louisville

No known medical concerns

Traits include, speed, athleticism, length, hand strength, fluidity 

Current grade 7

Potential grade 9

The immediate concern right off the top is his size at only 228 lbs., but don't let that fool you. I'm not aware of him missing a game, and he's improved considerably this year setting the edge. Watching the tape he reminds me of Yannick Ngakoue lite. Technique is above average, tool kit includes, chop, cross-chop, arm over, swipe, club, rip and spin. Runs the arc with excellent cornering and able to flatten, bend. Good ankle flexion. He's a situational pass rusher until he proves otherwise, but I wouldn't bet against him making a name for himself at the next level.

Elerson Smith, Northern Iowa, 6'-6" 260 lbs. Sat out 2020

Traits include, long, lean, with a good combination of athleticism, lower body flexion, and play strength

Current grade 6

Potential grade 8

Not overly sudden or explosive but uses his length quite well. Has a ways to go to be effective against the run on the front side but is strong in backside pursuit. Not easily fooled, plays smart, with good leverage for his height. He's got some bend around the edge. Not an every down player yet, but has a high ceiling. Could be part of a strong rotational pass rush.

Vaughn Taylor, Morehead State, 6'-3" 245 lbs. 2019 Pioneer League 1st Team with 18 tackles for loss

No known medical concerns

Traits include, speed, quickness, power and technique 

Current grade 7

Potential grade 8

Gets off blocks pretty well. Good change of direction and pursuit. Has a nose for the football. Hips look a little stiff. I like his combination of speed, power and technique at the next level.

Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo, 6'-3" 250 lbs. 2019/2020 1st Team All-Mac, Had the highest pass rush win rate according to PFF in 2019

No known medical concerns

Traits include, length, good get off, balance, got some ability to bend the edge and dip without slowing down

Current grade 6

Potential grade 7

Not overly explosive or sudden but plays with good anchor against the run. Lots of his sacks come by way of effort instead of athleticism. Has a stab, rip-n-dip along with some other tools but he needs to expand his arsenal. If he can show consistent explosion to go along with his length and bend, he could carve out a role for himself. 

Alani Pututau, Adams State, 6'-2" 240 lbs. 2019 1st Team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

No known medical concerns

Traits include, speed and violent, quick big hands, great bend

Current grade 6

Potential grade 8

High motor player. Plays fast with good play recognition. Another situational pass rusher due to his size. Needs to show he can hold up against the bigger blocking OT's he'll face in the NFL. Overall he's a good athlete with a nice combination of speed, bend, lateral movement and balance. 

Raymond Johnson III, Georgia Southern, 6'-3" 270 lbs. All-Sun Belt Conference 1st Team 2nd Team All-American

No known medical concerns

Traits include, big, powerful, explosive

Current grade 6

Potential grade 7

The expression, disruption equals production applies to this player. He's extremely disruptive in the backfield. Plays with a monster like demeanor. Big enough to move inside. 

My 49ers Wishlist, or Something Like That by MidWestDynasty

 

That was fun, wasn’t it? Watching a team other than the 49ers beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. I mean what could be more fun than that, right?!

If you answered that sarcastic question with, “How about being in the Super Bowl and winning it,” then join the club.  (What? Did you expect me to tell you to give yourself some type of reward?)  That is how every member of the 49ers fandom feels right now.

Where some of us differ is in terms of where the 49ers are in terms of being a contender for the Super Bowl after this season. Some fans see the team as a competitor if they can keep key players healthy during the season, while others believe the team has some serious work to do before it can compete with the best that the NFC, and NFL in general, has to offer.  

For the record, I fall into the latter category.  

And how could I not? LT, C, LCB, RCB, NCB. These are just some of the positions the 49ers have legitimate questions or voids at, and I have not even delved into the issue regarding depth at some positions.

I feel like for the 49ers to get back to the Super Bowl and remain a contender, they need to set out a better roadmap than what they have done for the last few years. Sure, the roadmap Shanahan and Lynch are currently using helped them reach the big game during the 2019-2020 season, but it failed them during the 2020 season and has potentially set the team up to be only somewhat competitive going forward. 

I do not know what other fans may think, but I want my 49ers to be in the Super Bowl picture for as long as possible. 

To do this, I feel like they need a roadmap like the one I am laying out.

1. Stop handing out bad contracts

Dee Ford.

Kwon Alexander.

Arik Armstead.

Weston Richburg.

These are just some of the examples of bad contracts that have been handed out during the Shanahan and Lynch era, with the common thread being they have been given to players who have issues staying healthy or overvalued by the current regime. Each one of these contracts has come back to haunt the 49ers in some way, be it with cap constraints or underwhelming performance. If the 49ers genuinely want to remain contenders, then the team needs to be a lot smarter with whom they hand out contracts to.

2. Draft better in the first round

Let us face it; the 49ers have been relatively awful when it comes to their selections in the first round of the past four drafts. Other than the no-brainer selection of DE Nick Bosa and the smart move to trade up for WR Brandon Aiyuk, the team does not have a lot to show for their first-round selections. Solomon Thomas was overvalued, experienced a tragedy that affected his play on the field, and was largely miscast until this season with the result unknown since he was lost before the conclusion of the second regular-season game. 

After that, Reuben Foster was a malcontent disappointment, Mike McGlinchey a hot and cold RT who is weak against the pass rush, and the jury is still out on what exactly Javon Kinlaw brings to the table. Bad picks like these tend to set a team back, and the 49ers will fall into this trap if they keep misfiring on getting the right first-round prospect.

3. Take a risk unless it is not smart to do so

What do I mean by this? Let me show you.

Trade up for Reuben Foster = BAD CHOICE

Trade for Emmanuel Sanders = SMART MOVE

Sign a third-string RB to a top 5 deal = YOU’VE HAD TOO MUCH SO I AM CUTTING YOU OFF

Trading up in the third round to take Beathard in a draft that had Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson in it = I’M SORRY I HAD TO KNOCK YOU OUT AND TOSS YOU IN THAT STORAGE CLOSET, BUT IT WAS THE ONLY WAY

As you can see, Shanahan and Lynch have been rather bad when it comes to risk assessment. Going for a high-risk high reward player is all fine and dandy when it works out, but so far, their decision-making when it comes to this has left a lot to be desired. 

They seriously need to do better in this area.

4. Plan better

Knowing that almost the entire secondary was scheduled to hit the free-agent market, the 49ers resigned Jimmy Ward ….and no one else.

Knowing that Jimmy Garoppolo has struggled to stay healthy, the 49ers …. brought back Josh Rosen and Josh Johnson.

Knowing that they needed an RG, the 49ers …. had a competition mainly between Daniel Brunskill and Tom Compton.

I could go on, but it is too painful.  

So what are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree that the 49ers have more work to do? Do you have a roadmap you want to see the team follow? Let me know your thoughts down below.  

Who's Got The Edge? Part II by Razor

 We took a look at six of the top pass rushers yesterday. Today let's delve into the best of the rest, beginning with:

Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh, 6'-4" 260 lbs. 32" arms, Consensus All-American, 42 tackles in 2020. 13 of them for loss with 9 sacks in 11 games played.

No known medical concerns

Traits include, size, strong frame, twitch, explosion, first step, change of direction, nice tool box of moves including a wicked inside spin move

Current grade 7

Potential grade 8.5

I watched Jones at senior practices and the game. He's got some speed to power, plus he's got a nice inside counter he uses off of that. He finished the game with 4 qb pressures and 2 sacks. He sets the edge well against the run, can sometimes get caught in no mans land when the offense is wide open with jet sweeps, option and play action. Overall, if he can tune up some of the inconsistencies to his game and mental processing, the sky's the limit. I would use him initially as a situational pass rusher from the blindside. 

Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh, 6'-4" 260 lbs. 33 1/4" arms, Consensus All-American, 34 tackles in 2020. 14 of them for loss with 7.5 sacks in 9 games played.

Missed all of 2019 with an acl

Traits include, size, length, good anchor, tough to move in the run game, intelligent mental processor, technically sound, high effort

Current grade 6.5

Potential grade 7.5

Weaver isn't going to wow you with his athleticism, he doesn't possess any real elite traits but he's solid across the board. 2020 was his first year back from the acl. His ceiling isn't as high as his teammate but if he can refine his hand usage and get stronger in his lower body, he could be an immediate contributor.

Joe Tryon, Washington, 6'-5" 260 lbs. Did not play in 2020.

No known medical concerns

Traits include, size, length, varying pass rush to include stab, rip, club with good hand strength to push/pull and yank defenders out of his way, solid quicks off of stunts with some closing speed, good penetration. I noticed the Huskies occasionally would line him up at middle lb in like an amoeba type of attack.

Current grade 7

Potential grade 8

This dude is rocked up physically. Not sure he's got the bend to flatten to the qb. Bull rush could use work, and he looked to me like he's got a propensity to attack too quickly inside against the run versus outside contain. 

Carlos Basham, 6'-3 3/8" 280 lbs. Wake Forest, 5.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss while also forcing four fumbles. Opted out of teams bowl game.

Traits include, dense with natural leverage, got that gap integrity, uses his size well rushing the passer, he's got some tools to his game and seems to understand how to use both to his advantage

Current grade 6

Potential grade 6.5

Basham is a great name for a pass rusher, but unfortunately for me I don't see him as ever being that type of impact player. He's smart, has power and understands leverage but he does not possess that consistent burst, or suddenness and lacks the bend, and agility for much more at the next level.

Joseph Ossai, 6'-4" 250 lbs. Texas, consensus All-American, first player to match, Suh in a single game production of 12 tackles, 6 for loss and 3 sacks against the 6th ranked, Oklahoma St., garnering him the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week, and the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week.

Suffered a shoulder injury which forced him into a harness while playing through the injury.

Traits include, speed, explosion, violent hands, good bend, disruptive, motor runs hot, some versatility 

Current grade 7

Potential grade 9

Second best pure speed rusher after Ojulari in my opinion. Comes from a visa lottery family out of Nigeria only to discover football at the age of 10. His athletic talent is off the charts but he lacks the repertoire to plan, diagnose and counter moves once his initial move is stopped. He looks good dropping in coverage. His speed can be exploited against the run, and he lacks ideal size. For those reasons he's a situational pass rusher until he adds strength and refinement.

Who's Got The Edge? by Razor

 As we count down to the draft I thought we'd take a look at position groups. We'll start with pass rushers because that's where it all begins with the 49ers defensive scheme. Their two studs enter the season with big question marks. Ford may never play another down due to a back that's lost its sail, and Bosa is rehabbing from Wounded Knee. Counting on either to return to form this year would be foolish. Fortunately for the 49ers this draft, while not possessing top end elite talent; it does look deep in above average potential.

Jaelan Phillips, Miami, 6'-5" 265 lbs. 2020 AFCA 1st team honor winner/FWAA 2nd team honor winner

Known medical concerns begin with a brief retirement from a rash of injuries. One sprained ankle recovered only for the other one to take a crap, followed by a concussion. Hurt his wrist, got concussed again from an incident off the field. Retirement was then announced due to persistent headaches. 

Traits include, size, weight, length, build, highly athletic, heavy hands, quick 1st step, fake jab, understands attacking half man at the line, nice club, rip and swim, hip sinker and shoulder dip, flexible enough, especially for a man his size, very versatile.

Current grade 8

Potential grade 9

He'd fit in perfectly for this defense and Kocurek is probably drooling as I type. Question is, can the 49ers really afford to take a chance on another player with medical concerns after the tsunami of injuries suffered in 2020?

Azeez Ojulari, Georgia, 6'-3" 240 lbs. 2020 semi-finalist for Chuck Bednarik Award

Suffered acl injury in high school

Traits include, twitch, explosion, ankle flex, body bend

Current grade 8

Potential grade 9

He's the best pure speed rusher in this draft as far as I'm concerned. Size isn't what you'd like but he had little trouble setting the edge in the SEC for two years. I like him as a situational pass rusher early on as he develops strength and adds counter moves, especially inside maneuvers. 

Kwity Paye, Michigan, 6'-4" 270 lbs. A two time All Big-10 honoree, and he was voted team captain in 2020 by his teammates and coaches while also being an academic All Big-10 honoree.

Missed two games due to groin strain

Traits include, lower body explosion with some linear movement skill, hip flexible, has a good first step but he's not going to butter his bread by beating ot's up the arc

Current grade 8

Potential grade 9

I think he's more of what the 49ers hoped for when they drafted Thomas. Here's what Don Brown had to say when describing Paye, "Kwity is an unbelievable athlete. He plays tailback as well as a defensive end. He could play up and down on defense, which is another sign of his athleticism. I have worked with him personally. He is an outstanding pass rusher, and his size potential is off the charts. I anticipate him being an open side defensive end along with the potential to play in packages with his pass-rush ability. We are glad to have him here at Michigan."

Intangible: hard upbringing immigrant who got to this point in his career through discipline and work ethic, he plays for a better future for himself and his family and would be a welcome addition to the culture that has been cultivated by Lynch.

Gregory Rousseau, 6'-6" 265 lbs. Redshirted freshman year due to injury, 2019 ACC defensive rookie of the year, 2nd team FWAA

Ankle surgery ended his freshman year

Traits start with his length, tackle radius is off the charts, plays the flat in zone

Current grade 7

Potential grade 9

Boom or bust. Extremely raw with not a lot of experience. Sat out in 2020. Put up video game stats in 2019 but a lot of his wins came against og's. I don't see a lot of flexibility off the edge, lacking technique, tools, plan and instincts. He's another college player that's made a name for themselves on his natural gifts. He's a piece of clay, but hey, we've got a hell of a sculptor in Kocurek, right?

Quincy Roche, Miami 6'-4" 240 lbs. Had 137 tackles, 39.5 for a loss, 26 sacks, 6 passes defensed, and six forced fumbles at Temple, transferred, then put together 45 tackles, 14.5 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles at Miami. 

No known medicals

Traits, first step explosion, lateral quickness, short area burst, tool kit of moves, counters, plan

This is another situational speed rusher as far as I'm concerned. Although he's not a total liability against the run, he is on the smaller side. I think he's a smart, competitive, high ceiling player that could be one of those bargains on day 2.

Current grade 8

Potential grade 9

Jayson Oweh, Penn State, 6'-5" 250 lbs. Said to have ran a sub-4.4 time in the 40-yard dash and is among the team's strongest players.

Missed two games with an undisclosed injury

Traits, athletic specimen

Underdeveloped situational pass rusher that has untapped potential. Probably the most athletic freak in this class. Working with Kocurek and Bosa would give him a step towards that development.

Current grade 7

Potential grade 9

NFL, NFLPA Agree To Minimum Salary Cap by Razor

 The league minimum will be $180 million. I think the final number for the league year will be closer to $185 million. This bodes well for the 49ers who would like to bring back, Williams and Juice. If they can add, Verrett and sign, Mack; they can then hit the F/A bargain bin from the long list of pass rushers this year to strengthen their depth. The hardest job in the last 2 minutes of the game is rushing the passer.

Ford. Designed for rushing. Engineered to last? by Razor

 Sure didn't sound like it last we heard from, Lynch. You gotta assume this guy isn't gonna be passing his physical anytime soon, let alone by April Fools day. Lombardi laid it out succinctly and to sum it up, Ford will more than likely be on the team this year after again restructuring his contract to pay him his injury  guaranteed salary in the form of a signing bonus, with the idea of stretching out the cap pain over a few years. If they cut him post June 1, 2022, according to, Lombardi they'll save $6 million this year, and incur one last hit in 2023 before clearing him off the books. 

The 2nd Most Important Position by Razor

 The backup quarterback. We got a real good look in 2020 just how wise, Joe Gibbs was when he was quoted with that remark. Jimmy's inability to be available in these quarterback friendly times we play in means we need an upgrade. Now, some will argue that it should be a vet, a rookie draft pick or some kid off the street. Let's hear your arguments...or not. This will be an open forum for all things 49ers. NO POLITICS or you will be jettisoned without warning. Let's all enjoy our passion for the team together and discuss. Thank you.