Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft is upon us. With no 4th or 7th round picks, the 49ers are still well equipped with three 5th round picks and a 6th round pick to fill out their 4 remaining roster spots. I expect them to target some pass rush help, and a wr. Let's take a look at the best of the rest:
OT James Hudson
G Deonte Brown
OT Dan Moore G Trey Smith DT Daviyon Nixon LB Jabril Cox CB Shaun Wade DT Marvin Wilson DT Jay Tufele WR Tylan Wallace WR Amon-Ra St. Brown DT Tommy Togiai TE Brevin Jordan OT Stone Forsythe
CB Robert Rochell LB Garret Wallow DE Rashad Weaver DT Tyler Shelvin
Live Blog
12;00: We began the morning with donuts and coffee, while we ordered Volcano Pizza, Italian beef sammy, salad and our lucky 49ers draft jar filled with M&M peanuts
12:07: The commissioner dressed casual opens up Day 3 of the draft.
2:25: The first of three money round 5 picks, #155-Jaylon Moore OT/OG, Western MI
Zierlein:Overview
Athletic tackle/guard prospect who is at his best when he's allowed to play on the move and utilize his athletic ability to create angle advantages in space. He's fluid and consistent on play-side climb-ups to seal the linebacker and has the potential to help create back-side tracks for one-cut runners. He has huge hands and adequate length but needs to win early with those hands or he can be overtaken by stronger defenders. If Moore can eliminate his leaning, he has the technique and traits to be competitive as a blocker. He might need to prove he can offer tackle/guard roster flexibility in order to garner and maintain a backup role.
Originally recruited by Western Michigan as a TE, Jaylon Moore played 1,129 pass blocking snaps at tackle, allowing just 28 QB pressures. Similar to Aaron Banks, he also graded higher run blocking on zone plays (80.4) vs. gap (58.3).
3:05: The second of three money round 5 picks, #172-Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon Ducks
Zierlein overview:
Compact corner with short arms, but often makes up for it with a high degree of physicality. His tight hips prevent fluid transitions from off-man or mirror-and-match techniques and he lacks the chase speed to make up the necessary ground quickly. His toughness and physicality can be rewarded in bump-and-run and zone coverages where he can bang on receivers in the first 5 yards and bully the catch-point underneath. He needs to improve his eye discipline, as well as his poise when his back is to the football or he'll be flagged time and again. His frame and run-support toughness could have teams eyeing him as a zone nickel, but a move to safety could be in consideration, too.
3:33: The third of three money round 5 picks, #180-Talanoa Hufanga, S, USC
Zierlein overview:Safety with add-on potential who can come into the box and give his defense an additional linebacker look thanks to his strength and urgency near the line of scrimmage. He can handle zone-cover duties and matchups on in-line tight ends, but lacks the burst and top-end speed to be asked to handle a more expansive role on the back end. He pursues the run with patience and leverage, but will need to quicken his pace some or he could find that NFL speed defeats his angles to the perimeter. He plays with a pro demeanor and toughness, but the medical checks could be his biggest obstacle this draft season. He has box safety and nickel/dime linebacker potential.
4:15: 49ers put a bow on their 2021 draft with their last pick in the 6th round, #194-Elijah Mitchell, RB, Lousiana
That's a wrap on the 49ers draft. Let's take a look:
1. Trey Lance QB
2. Aaron Banks RG
3. Trey Sermon RB
4. Ambry Thomas CB
5. Jaylon Moore OT
6. Deommodore Lenoir CB
7. Talanoa Hufanga S
8. Elijah Mitchell RB
Thanks everyone for participating. Have a wonderful evening, and watch for some more of Scooters, "How they fit" series on all our draft picks.
Niners should trade up for Amon-Ra St. Brown. Great slot receiver opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI am meh about the Niners' third round choices. Trey Sermon may serve as a bigger back for the Niners, but I thought there were better "gadget" backs to help in the run and pass game available (Michael Carter, Demetric Felton). I thought Ambry Thomas was going to be available in the late 4th, even maybe the 5th. And I had a preference for Shakur Brown at CB.
As an aside, Spencer Brown OT (if it is the one from Northern Iowa) was picked in the 3rd round.
Duly noted on Brown, Pot. Thanks.
DeleteTurns out that the Niners were angling for Adebo but he went about 10 picks earlier to the Saints. Thomas is a good consolation pick.
ReplyDeleteYea, I liked his film. Peters liked him a lot.
DeleteLost out on Dalman.
ReplyDeleteRams?
DeleteMack's successor at Atlanta. Went earlier than I thought he would.
DeleteGood pick by Jerry's grandson.
ReplyDeleteWell, then went St. Brown and Dalman. The hope for the Niners coming out of Day 3:
ReplyDelete1. Center
2. Receiver; preferably slot but the depth behind Samuel and Aiyuk needs work also.
3. Big body edge.
Brunskill might be their plan at backup center, plus they have that Canadian kid on the practice squad too that's supposed to have some center skill.
DeleteGarland is still available.
DeleteNiners picked up 5th year option on McGlinchey.
ReplyDeleteWith Banks lined up next to him he'll have a pro bowl year.
DeleteIf Cade Johnson wr is still on the board that's who I'm going with.
ReplyDeleteSnowden edge is another possibility.
ReplyDeleteI was going to guess it might be a WR or DE, but they just might go BPA
ReplyDeleteAnother guard?! hmm.....
ReplyDeleteFrom Brugler's Beast:
ReplyDeleteJAYLON MOORE | Western Michigan 6041 | 311 lbs. |
STRENGTHS: Wide-based blocker with balanced pass-sets…short, controlled steps in his lateral slide…quick out of his stance to cross-face defensive linemen from the
back side…flexible lower half to patiently sit in his stance…strikes with physical hands and locks out, using his grip strength to annoy defenders…plays with composure
vs. secondary moves, not panicking in his reset…efficient climber/puller and stays off the ground…worked hard in the weight room to fill out his frame…didn’t gripe
about changing positions, going from tight end to defensive end to offensive tackle over his first two seasons in Kalamazoo…stayed durable and started all 32 games
at left tackle the last three seasons.
WEAKNESSES: Lacks ideal length, allowing long-armed rushers to get into his frame…relies more on angles, not power…lacks the overwhelming strength to create
significant movement at the point-of-attack…not a people-mover in the run game with little push inline… guilty of oversetting outside, opening inside pass rush
lanes…his hands will occasionally wander…didn’t face top-tier pass rushers consistently…doesn’t have a scheme-diverse skill set…lacks functional experience at right
tackle or guard.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Western Michigan, Moore was the left tackle in head coach Tim Lester’s zone scheme. He went from tight end to defensive end to
offensive tackle early in his career at Kalamazoo and took over the left tackle duties from Chukwuma Okorafor (third-rounder in the 2018 NFL Draft to the Pittsburgh
Steelers), finishing his career with 32 straight starts. Moore displays coordinated movement patterns in pass protection, staying wide and working hard to keep his
blocks centered. He won’t be a great fit for every scheme, but he is efficient on the move, executing stretch runs and picking off linebackers at the second level.
Overall, Moore doesn’t play with the power to consistently move defenders off the ball, but he plays with the balance and poise to push for NFL starting reps. He
would best fit in a zone-based NFL offense.
GRADE: 3rd-4th Round
Good value and I like the emphasis on IOL.
DeleteThey now have a few young linemen to sort out for backup roles.
DeleteMoore vs. Coleman for the backup swing ot
DeleteBanks vs. Brunskill and McKivitz for the starting rg
Thanks, Mood. Sounds promising.
DeleteThis from CBS:
ReplyDeleteStout, power blocker who projects inside in the NFL. Good anchoring capabilities. Good short-area quickness for his size but doesn't look like the normal SF blocker. (Chris Trapasso)
Jones doesn't either, so perhaps they're changing their prototype somewhat. Drafting an RB in the 3rd, as you know, was also unusual.
PFF: 7 sacks allowed in his career.
ReplyDeleteShi Smith maybe coming up? - fill the nd at slot..... #1 on bpa per ESPN.
ReplyDeleteHappy with drafting the OL........ I guess RB made sense w Mostert only signed for 1, but giving up the two 4's -> hope he is worth it.
Well.... Lenir, ranked 30th best CB and they're at #14 ranked CB in the draft........ guess they liked him!
ReplyDeleteGotta be wr with this next pick.
ReplyDeleteI see Lenoir as a safety possibility.
ReplyDeleteHufanga appears to be a box Safety...... Tartt's replacement, potentially. I like that they have addressed the secondary. Ideally, w the DL depth moving forward, Hurst plays well and can earn an extension.. we'll see about Key.
DeleteIf Sherman comes back it'll help the rookies as well.
Delete194 remaining pick.......... WR? ;)
ReplyDeleteI think they should.
DeleteOn Hufanga:
ReplyDelete"You don't think he should be able to make so many plays, but there he is all time near the ball. The injuries are a concern, though, and I think it pushes him down to the third day." -- Scouting director for NFC team
Brugler:
ReplyDelete"TALANOA HUFANGA | USC 6003 | 199 lbs. | JR.
STRENGTHS: Quick to diagnose run/pass and see plays unfold…instinctive and active, but won’t chase the cheese…hungry pursuit skills and finds the quickest route
from A to B…settles and widens his feet to be a face-up tackler…strong hands to wrap, grapple and ground ball carriers or poke the ball out…stays square laterally and
navigates traffic near the line of scrimmage…able to shake blockers as a blitzer…finds his landmarks in short zone coverage and returns his eyes to the
backfield…outstanding football character with the team-first mentality that endears himself to coaches…consistently plays through pain…outstanding production
when on the field, averaging 8.5 tackles per game in his 24 games at the college level.
WEAKNESSES: Not an elite speed player…doesn’t have the range to handle single-high or man-cover responsibilities at the pro level…average play strength and will
find himself hung up on blocks, allowing outside runs…put some confounding missed tackles on tape (12 missed tackles the last two seasons), mostly due to
breakdowns in his timing or technique…medicals could be a deal-breaker; suffered a season-ending broken right collarbone (October 2018) and then suffered the
same injury (March 2019) during spring practice, requiring surgery to have a steel-plate installed; dislocated his right shoulder (October 2019) and missed two games,
requiring surgery after the season; sat out one game due to a concussion (September 2019).
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at USC, Hufanga played strong safety in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s 4-2-5 scheme, seeing most of his time near the box.
Injuries plagued his first two seasons, but he stayed healthy in 2020 and was the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 10.3 tackles per game and leading
the team with four interceptions. The quarterback of the defense at USC, Hufanga uses his vision to pick up on offensive cues and has the balance and body control to
make plays. However, he has tweener traits and projects best near the line of scrimmage, lacking the range for man-cover or downfield work against NFL offenses.
Overall, Hufanga is tough, instinctive and quick to recognize play design, but the durability of his right shoulder is a strong concern and he lacks elite play speed
for a safety. He projects as a short-zone, subpackage defender if he can stay healthy.
GRADE: 4th-5th Round"
Another RB???? I thought the conventional wisdom was that Shanny could get RBs from UDFAs?
ReplyDeleteThis is the new Shanny .... I guess
DeleteHa! Indeed, the new Shanny has seen the light of:
DeleteAthletic instinctual qb
Iol priority
rb priority
Wilson-type with KR experience. May end up in PS.
ReplyDeleteBrugler:
"ELIJAH MITCHELL | Louisiana 5102 | 201 lbs. | SR.
STRENGTHS: Above average athleticism to make quick lateral cuts…decisive runner who trusts the blocking scheme…flashes a burst through the line of scrimmage
and into the second level…gets going downhill and runs tough to keep his feet going through arm tackles…gets skinny to hug the lane and squeeze through
gaps…natural hands and focus, catching the ball like a wide receiver outside his frame…only four career fumbles on 576 offensive touches…has some kick-return
experience, averaging 16.4 yards per return (5/82/0)…finished his career No. 6 on the school’s all-time rushing list (3,267 rushing yards), averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
WEAKNESSES: Runs upright and narrow, allowing tacklers under his pads…impatient reads and late to anticipate developing run lanes…his decision-making at the line
of scrimmage runs hot-cold…more of a one-speed runner who doesn’t shift gears to keep pursuit off-balance…lacks lower-body fluidity and requires an extra step or
two in his gear down to cut back…needs to better set up his open-field moves at the second level…can be grounded by shoestring tackles…inconsistent pass pro
technique as a blocker…was kept fresh by Louisiana’s deep rotation of backs…missed the final seven games as a freshman due to a Lisfranc fracture to his left foot
(October 2017), which required two surgeries.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Louisiana, Mitchell was the team’s leading rusher in head coach Billy Napier’s offense. He benefited from a deep backfield,
accounting for only 33.7% of the team’s rushing attempts the last two seasons, but he was consistently productive and is one of only five players in school history to
reach 40 career rushing touchdowns. Mitchell runs with terrific effort every time he touches the ball, slashing through gaps and flashing a burst to clear the first
wave. While he attacks the line of scrimmage with a head of steam, he would benefit from improved patience and timing. Overall, Mitchell is an upright, angular
runner and lacks creativity, but he runs on a fast track with toughness and reliable pass-catching traits. He projects as a possible NFL backup.
GRADE: 6th Round"
Mostert goes down and there shouldn't be any drop off:
ReplyDeleteMatt Barrows
@mattbarrows
·
11m
New #49ers RB Elijah Mitchell ran a 4.33-second 40 at his pro day, averaged 6.2 yards a carry at Louisiana.
It seems like the team is planning to sign a FA veteran WR
ReplyDeleteWho?
DeleteJust a thought based on not having selected one. I can't remember, but does the team have anyone to replace Bourne (let's assume the status of Hurd is unkonwn).
DeletePotential UFA: Dax Milne, BYU. Slower slot receiver, but can find holes in zones and solid route runner.
DeleteBourne was a udfa so they must have a couple already lined up.
DeleteSermon/Mitchell should be 2022's starting running back tandem.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteNext Gen Stats
@NextGenStats
· 17m
Elijah Mitchell is one of only two running backs in this year's draft class who earned a 99 athleticism score.
The other? Travis Etienne, who was drafted in the first round.
This draft is based on me having trust in Lynch, Shanahan, and the scouting department. I understand the picks, but they appear to be about very specific needs, which a team can do when they feel they only have 5-6 spots open on their 53-man roster. But I do feel there were some players they picked that they could have gotten later, or who didn't quite match up with the scheme the Niners necessarily run.
ReplyDelete1. Trey Lance: Unabashed love for this pick. Definitely the choice for me (as well as others here) given Lawrence and Wilson were going to be gone.
2. Aaron Banks: Thought there were higher ranked guards on the board and better fits; Wyatt Davis for example. Even if you wanted more power as opposed to an outside zone blocker, Quinn Meinerz was still on the board (though I guess Banks has shown more potential for zone blocking compared to Meinerz). My suspicion is that the team was looking for the power and size to fix the weakness in pass blocking that usually comes with smaller, outside zone blockers that has encumbered the Niners the last couple years. In such context, understandable. I think both Banks and Moore is going to be about improving the pass blocking, and teaching up the outside zone run blocking that is the staple of the line we currently have.
3. Trey Sermon: I agree with most people this is about getting a bigger running back to deal with goal line, short yardage situations. And the Niners don't seem to be scared of upright running backs (i.e., Mostert). It seems the Niners were interested in replacing the Tevin Coleman role, as opposed to the Jerick McKinnon role (which I was interested in replacing, with interest in Demetric Felton, Michael Carter, and Elijah Mitchell (whom the Niners did end up getting). But I am concerned with taking two running backs, giving us seven in camp, and not adding to the wide receiver position. After all, the Niners would keep 4 most likely; Mostert, Wilson, Gallman, Sermon, and Mitchell is 5 for example. Seems Sermon duplicates Gallman for this year, and there is nothing that stops a good running back being available in the 3rd/4th round this year (running backs can step in quicker than receivers, who we can give this year to groom).
3. Ambry Thomas: Previously noted my preference for others. But not upset over the pick; the scouts had their preference.
5. Jaylon Moore: I suspect he was brought in due to positional flexibility (Tackle and Guard). I think his arms are too short for left tackle, but I think he is better than Skule as a reserve (I agree that he will compete with Coleman as the swing backup for this year). I believe his best position will be the backup to Tomlinson to compete with McKivitz as a potential replacement at Left Guard.
5. Deommodore Lenoir: Like this pick, but thought he could have been available in the 7th round.
5. Talanoa Hufanga: Jacquiski Tartt replacement. Solely an "in the box" safety for run defense purposes, or as a small weakside backer in base (think what the Niners were trying to do with Flanigan-Flowers). But too slow for coverage on slot receivers.
6. ELijah Mitchell: The McKinnon replacement. Understandable, and good value in the 7th round. Again, the question is more why we needed 7 running backs in camp (Hasty and Walters being the others). Sanu hasn't shown much in the last two years, Jennings and Hurd are bigger slots, and I guess they believe James can be the smaller slot.
"next year," not "this year" in regard to the comment about Sermon.
DeleteHi all, late to the Day 3 party - only 7:30am here! Thanks razor for running the live draft blogs for Days 2 and 3.
ReplyDeleteThe 49ers draft definitely didn't go as I expected days 2 and 3, but I love the clarity and clear direction they have taken. Focused.
The team struggled keeping the QB clean last year. Also struggled running the ball at times. The interior of the OL was clearly a weakness. So the team made Williams and Mack a priority in FA, and drafted Banks and Moore to compete at OG (Moore likely a swing OG/OT). Both Banks and Moore are big humans, excellent pass protectors and played on units that excelled running the ball.
And health at QB and RB have been an issue. So what did they do? Made QB and RB a priority. Lance, JG and Sudfeld is now a very good QB room, while the RB room is loaded with the additions of Gallman, Sermon and Mitchell. Sermon and Mitchell are bigger backs that are also explosive, and could be the 1-2 punch for the 49ers from 2022.
DB was the area most lacking depth after FA. And also had a lot of guys on 1 year deals. So they added Thomas and Lenoir, two CBs I quite like (had both in my last mock). Both guys are sticky, feisty coverage guys that QBs didn't have much success against in college. And Hufanga will provide nice depth as a S/LB hybrid and STs demon, similar to Harris.
Not what I expected, but hapoy with what they did.
And as razor mentioned, I will be continuing my "Examining the fit" series for the draft class in the coming days.
DeleteThis is the first time in over 15 years of following the PD draft that I’ve used a different site.
ReplyDeleteYou and Razor have done a great job!
Looking forward to more reports in the coming days.
Thanks AES, appreciate it!
Delete