Monday, April 21, 2025

The Final Mockdown


 Get your final predictions in, as we count down with OldCoach to draft day!




74 comments:

  1. I'm only going to predict the 49er #11 draft choice.
    CB Will Johnson. My reasoning: The team lost their top CB C. Ward. And, at the moment, the Rams own the West with Puka owning the 49ers secondary. Stopping Puka would cause a major cramp on the Rams offense. I usually go with building from the inside, out. But if the 49ers want to leapfrog the Rams going forward, Will Johnson could be That Guy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you're right you'll be a legend given they've never demonstrated putting a premium on the position.

      Delete
  2. Nah, the legend category belongs to you and Scooter. I'm just a guy trying to have a little fun with the draft.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree, Razor. But, I've always been the guy that goes off the beaten path.
    But, there are a few mocks that have the 49ers going with WJ.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most of those so called "mockers" put little time into knowing a regimes philosophy regarding positions and how they view them. They've been mocking DB's to San Francisco for years in the 1st round. I'd be willing to wager everything I had on this regime NOT drafting a DB in the top 15 ever.

      Delete
  4. I am with AES just going with the first Niner pick wherever it might be. It would be ridiculous for me to select by name, so I believe it's going to be a DL however if they think they found Williams replacement it wouldn't surprise me if they move up and go get him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They got nothing in the middle of their defense. They're number 1 priority is build front to back, inside out defensively. That's never gonna change.

      Delete
    2. I want their first five picks on defense if the talent pool can accommodate.

      Delete
    3. UC,
      If the 49ers draft Will Johnson there's no question that he is a D1S. Also, he would be a day one starter for any team that drafts him. He's that good.

      Delete
    4. TBH, Johnson reminds me of Witherspoon as far as his enthusiasm to tackle. He's also coming off a turf toe and shoulder injury. I don't think he's the scrappy kind of CB they prefer.

      Delete
    5. That's a fair assessment, Razor. But, I'm going to hang on the WJ branch for now.

      Delete
    6. I'm not trying to change your mind, just how I see him.

      Delete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. "One player who’s seen as a particular good fit for their attacking scheme, with Robert Saleh back aboard, is Ole Miss’s Walter Nolen.

    This would be a bit of a reach, but if they’re O.K. with the football makeup questions (he’s seen as a bit entitled but has done well in his meetings)" Albert Breer

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alright, I'll give two alternative guesses.

    Option 1:
    Kelvin Banks
    Landon Jackson
    Chris Paul Jr
    CJ West
    Aeneas Peebles
    David Walker
    Caleb Rogers
    Upton Stout
    LeQuint Allen
    Jordan Watkins
    Kain Medrano

    Option 2:
    Shemar Stewart
    TJ Sanders
    Charles Grant
    CJ West
    Dorian Strong
    RJ Harvey
    Caleb Rogers
    Nick Martin
    Tyler Baron
    Jordan Watkins
    Kain Medrano

    ReplyDelete
  8. Looks like Chris Simms read my posts from yesterday. Has the top 3 OTs gone by pick 7, and has every OL I mentioned bar Ersery going round 1. Makes sense - OTs typically fly off the board.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't think Chris Simms has ever gotten anything right regarding the 49ers.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nolen doesn't waste his speed and isn't late with his hands. His power creates advantages. I can't see them not giving him strong consideration at 11.

    ReplyDelete
  11. DL Coach on Mykel Williams

    “I think he will have a better career than Jalon or Abdul. He’s physical as f—. He played hurt this year — he didn’t care. Pullers come at him — he intends on f—ing them up. Guys I know at Georgia told me he’s gonna be better than Travon Walker, and I think Walker is a baller. Overall, I think he’s better than all of ’em.”

    ReplyDelete
  12. "Michigan CB Will Johnson has a knee issue that’s been flagged. It shouldn’t affect him in the short term, but teams are concerned it could impact his longevity." Albert Breer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's going to hurt his early draft potential.

      Delete
  13. OldCoach mock draft 2 of 3 no trades
    Rd1 Walter Nolen DT Ole Miss
    Rd2 James Pearce DE Tenn
    Rd3 Harlod Fannin TE B. Green
    Rd3 Joshua Farmer DT Fla St
    Rd4 Chris Paul LB Ole Miss
    Rd4 Cobee Bryant CB Kan
    Rd5 D.J. Giddens RB K St
    Rd5 Caleb Rogers OG Tex Tech
    Rd7 Jaylin Lane WR Vir Tech
    Rd7 Tim Smith DT Bama
    Rd7 Craig Woodson S Cal

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm just a little bit leery with only one OL. But, aside from that, that's a darn good looking draft, Coach.

      Delete
    2. I'll do my 3rd mock tomorrow or Wed. It will be a trade back which I believe is the most likely scenario from all I have been reading and seeing

      Delete
    3. OldCoach
      Your mock draft looks good. the only thing I'd change is Rd2
      James Pearce DE Tenn. Yetur Gross-Matos is the starting RDE.
      Pearce lacks play strength at the point of attack, depends too
      much on speed and is a tight-hipped, linear pass rusher with explosive take-off but a lack of bend to flatten at the top.
      IMO, it will take him at a minimum, a year in the gym and NFL coaching to be used as a pass rush specialist. But if I'm wrong, the team that drafts and develops him will have an all pro EDGE rusher.
      * If the 9ers draft EDGE Rd #2, IMHO, I see them drafting someone like Nic Scourton EDGE, Texas A&M

      Delete
    4. Scourton is a ball'r. Could he possibly drop to the 3rd rd?

      Delete
    5. AES
      "could he drop to the 3Rd Rd?
      Yes. But then again, someone could fall in love with him and take him in the 1st Rd. Or, he could fall to the 4th Rd....Luck of the draw. We'll know when draftsmas is over...lol

      Delete
  14. Generating some late buzz, Thomas Perry, OC/OG Middlebury College.

    ReplyDelete
  15. “The conversation I’ve been having in the league, is that these offensive tackles do not belong.”

    If you draft Will Campbell, “I promise you he’ll be a great guard. If things go well, he’ll be a solid starting left tackle. The problem is…it’s the 4th pick.”
    Todd McShay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why is his (Campbell's) name being singled out? Campbell's college tape says otherwise. Membou, Campbell, and Banks will be top picks for a reason. McShay, and his sources are entitled to their opinion. But, Membou and Campbell will be top ten draft picks.

      Delete
  16. A Deebo facsimile??

    "...Savion Williams, a 6-4, 222-pound former quarterback who ran a 4.48 40 in Indianapolis and rushed for 322 yards, averaging over six yards a carry, and ran for six touchdowns to go with 60 catches for 611 yards and six receiving TDs. Williams was 3-for-3 as a passer in 2024 for 22 yards and another touchdown." - Kyle Madison

    Intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like Brock doesn't want a Deebo facsimile. I think he wants Jaylin Noel. Speedy route runner that has no trouble separating.

      Delete
    2. Razor,
      I agree on Noel. As of today the 49ers have Jennings, Pearsall, Cowing, B.Aiyuk, D. Robinson, Trent Taylor and a couple other fringe wrs on the roster. If Terique Owens can show out in TC this could be a good corp. Noel could leapfrog Cowing in TC and make this group better.

      Delete
    3. Hodgins might make some noise too.

      Delete
  17. GM John Lynch announced Dustin Perry named 49ers vice president of health and performance. John Lynch heavily emphasizing the 49ers R+D department's influence on their drafting, which was a big theme last year, too (and 2024 yielded a very good draft for SF)

    ReplyDelete
  18. John Lynch on what traits 49ers look at with EDGE:

    “You’ve got to have the ability to set a firm edge… That’s something we covet… And then you look at, can they put pressure… threaten.”

    Walker and Green were never fits imho.

    ReplyDelete
  19. John Lynch said he's not anticipating a lot of trades in round 1 of the draft because everybody wants to trade down

    ReplyDelete
  20. Trent Williams is in the building for the start of the 49ers voluntary offseason program🔥

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lynch confirming my belief in their core philosophy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynch also made sure to point out they aim to pick BPA round 1, not based on need, because you can't go wrong picking good players.

      Delete
    2. I was more alluding to big DE's and setting the edge but I could see BPA taking a precedent with the departure of Peters, given we got a peak last year with Pearsall.

      Delete
    3. I think the "building consensus" aspect will also mean less players with character concerns get taken. Those guys tend to be guys that have both champions and detractors, and not a lot of consensus.

      Delete
    4. Yea, Williams is a pretty clean prospect. If he's there he's likely the pick and I understand his value over Nolen given the depth at the position. Unlike you, I don't put Nolen into "character" flag. I agree with Zierlein that immaturity is very different, and Suh came with the same concerns. I wouldn't completely rule out Nolen IF as Tony Pauline has been saying they plan to take Femi at 43. I do believe as I have from the beginning Nolen is higher on their board than any other iDL in the draft and will continue to believe that until proven otherwise.

      Delete
    5. I'm sure there are at least a few in the building that are championing Nolen. Including Kocurek.

      Delete
  22. Lynch on the importance of cohesion between different parts of the building:

    "When we've tailed off from not having consensus is maybe when we've made some of the [decisions] we wish we could have back."

    ReplyDelete
  23. Christian McCaffrey says he's working with "no restrictions" right now and the same plan will be in place for OTAs next month. McCaffrey is full-go

    ReplyDelete
  24. I strongly believe Shemar Stewart and Mykel Williams are firmly in the mix at pick 11. However, every time I watch them and Landon Jackson I can't help but wonder why Jackson isn't included in that company. In terms of athlete he's pretty much just as explosive as Stewart. He's also very strong and good at the point of attack. Plus run defender. And of the three, he has the best pass rush plan.

    On film, the only thing I'd say he's not as good at is fluidity compared to Williams. He's more of a jerky mover. But it's effective, so who cares?

    Anyway, just one of those things that I find a bit odd. I wouldn't be surprised to find in a few years that Jackson is the best pro out of the three. Though could easily say the same for any of the three - I can see the path to success for each. And I think the 49ers type D would be good for any of them.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Not convinced Stewart is in the mix given Lynch's comments about setting the edge and college production.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funnily enough I came away with the opposite thought. I thought what Lynch described was Stewart to a tee. And Williams, of course.

      Have to first and foremost set the edge against the run. Stewart definitely checks that box.

      Second have to be able to put pressure on and threaten the OT with speed and power (he likened it to a WR running their stem) - this is an area Stewart excels and I would say is above Williams on.

      And of note, as far as pass rush plan goes, Lynch then talked about this being where Kocurek comes in. I.e., it's OK if they don't have that right now - that can be coached up.

      Delete
    2. He didn't say it was "ok", in fact he shaped it as a concern. "Ample time to prove they could do it". I have to disagree on Stewart, he's not in the same league as Williams wrt to the run game and setting the edge.

      Delete
    3. You're referring to the follow up question. The original question Lynch answered as I said - in terms of pass rush plan (or repertoire) Lynch was clear that this is something they rely on Kocurek to teach.

      The follow up question was about traits vs production. He was very clear in answering that question that it's always a difficult balance between traits vs production. Again though, he made a point of outlining that the main thing they try and do is work out whether the player will produce in their system, even if they didn't have great production in college. He finished by saying at some point though they've had ample opportunity to produce in college so if they haven't you have to wonder why.

      Wrt to Stewart and Williams, neither guy had great production based on traditional stats. But Stewart definitely created a lot of pressures. When you take the entirety of Lynch's comments on edge players, Stewart absolutely fits what he said. Good edge setter, great get off with speed and power to create pressure and threaten the OT, needs help developing a pass rush plan, has the traits to fit the system and while didn't get sacks ge definitely produced in terms of pressures.

      Delete
    4. My main thought is Lynch did a great job of saying just enough that anyone that prefers Williams over Stewart will be convinced he's saying Williams is their guy, and anyone that prefers Stewart over Williams will be convinced he's saying Stewart is their guy.

      Personally I think he's telling us they like both guys. And also fits Femi and Landon Jackson.

      Delete
    5. According to Pro Football Focus, 140 draft-eligible, FBS-level edge defenders had at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities in 2024. Stewart ranked 52nd in pass-rush win rate.

      Delete
    6. The thing that needs to be kept in mind with guys like Stewart, Williams and Jackson and their pass rush metrics, and I've mentioned this before, all 3 spent a lot of time playing 4i.

      Delete
    7. I think Williams played a lot of 5i too didn't he?

      Delete
    8. Yep, all 3 did. Lots of playing over the OT for all 3.

      Delete
  26. Feels like Graham is slipping out of the top 6. How far could he fall?

    ReplyDelete
  27. 2 days until the draft

    ReplyDelete
  28. Almost home. Thanks, Coach.

    ReplyDelete
  29. For mine, Stewart's lack of production is a bigger red flag than Nolen's immaturity. We'll see where Lynch and his staff come down on this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You've previously talked up disruption equaling production.

      Delete
    2. Yep, I believe Pressure>Sacks. Always have.

      I'm concerned he's never had a season with below a 20% missed tackle rate. Looking at the tape he struggles to find the ball, breach his gap and react. I don't think his instincts are good.

      Delete
    3. Ah, there we agree. I don't think he knows what he's doing. I really do wonder what was going on at A&M, because all their guys look lost. Even Nolen did before going to Ole Miss.

      Delete
    4. And in terms of missed tackles, Stewart definitely struggles breaking down and changing direction.

      Delete
    5. I think it comes down to Williams has his warts, Stewart has his warts and Nolen has his warts. Pick your wart.

      Delete
  30. OldCoach 3rd of 3 mock drafts. Trade back mock
    $9ers trade their Rd 1 #11 pick to the L.A. Chargers for their Rd1 #22 pick, Rd2 #55, Rd 4 #125, Rd6 #181 and Rd 6 # 199
    Rd1 #22 Walter Nolen DT Ole Miss
    Rd2 #43 Josh Conerly OT Ore
    Rd2 #55 Landon Jackson DE Ark
    Rd3 # 75 Darius Alexander DT Toledo
    Rd3 # !00 Harlod Fannin TE B. Green
    Rd4 #113 Charles Grant OG Will and Mary
    Rd4 #125 Chris Paul LB Ole Miss
    Rd4 #138 Quincey Riley CB Louisville
    Rd5 #147 Devin Neal RB Kan
    Rd5 #160 Malachi Moore S Bama
    Rd6 #181 Cobee Bryant CB Kan
    Rd6 #191 J.J. Pegues DT Ole Miss
    Rd7 #227 Jackson Hawes TE G. Tech
    Rd7 #249 Andrew Armstrong WR Ark
    Rd7 #252 Tyler Batty DE BYU
    They are not on any of my 3 mocks but I really like Shemar Stewart and Jaylin Noel and would not be surprised if the 9ers choose either one. The last few drafts I have hit on maybe one pick each draft hopefully I can hit on a couple more this year

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice work coach. Stewart and Noel are Krueg's guys too.

      Delete
    2. Conerly and Grant could be mid season starters if not sooner. I'm a big fan of JJ Pegues. This kid was sometimes used as a goal-line lead blocker and ball carrier.
      Slam-dunk mock, Coach!

      Delete

On The Edge

 If Nick Bosa can get a modicum of consistent pressure from the opposite side he could end up having another Defensive Player of the Year aw...