Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Riley Nowakowski FB/TE Indiana


6' 1" 249 lbs.  Technique, strain and block finish are better than several of the offensive lineman who will be drafted ahead of him.

49 comments:

  1. I predict we'll see 16 WR's drafted in the top 75 which might be a record.

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    1. Which is kinda weird to me. I don't think the group is as good as that.

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    2. You think the way the wr market has exploded might be a factor? I think 12 wr's went in last year's top 75.

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    3. Yeah could be. But man, I hate forcing picks on a position just because you can't afford one at market price.

      In this group I don't see a slam dunk top 10 guy, but I do see 3 mid 1st rounders and a few late 1st/ early 2nd guys. After that, a lot of intriguing guys that should go from late 2nd through 4th.

      Best value in the 25 to 50 range I think will be at other position groups.

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  2. Akheem Mesidor might qualify for AARP, but he's got the deepest pass rushing bag in the draft.🧳

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    1. As he should. Problem with him is he's already pretty much maxed out. Good player, but what you get is what he already is.

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    2. Hard to block when you don't know what he's gonna do and that's solidly all over his tape.

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    3. I think he'll be good. As I said though, I doubt he's got a lot of improvement left in him. And by the time his second contract is due he'll be almost 30.

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    4. His age will allow him to slide from top 15 into the mid-20's.

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    5. Not just his age. His history of foot issues has to be factored as well.

      I just can't get on board with drafting him in round 1.

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    6. If his medicals don't check out, then he'll slide mid-2nd round.

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  3. Does Seattle have a defensive dynasty on the horizon? All those defensive led dynasties like the Ravens, and the Bears dynasty. Hard to build championship dynasties based primarily on defense.

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  4. Right now, Seattle is a better overall team than the 49ers. And that is my main concern. Where the 49ers go from here is vital because imo, the Rams may be the only team in the division to give Seattle a title run.

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  5. I'm leaning towards Omar Cooper Jr. in Round 2 and iDL/Edge at 27.

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    1. Possibly CB in Round 3 and then start hitting iOL/OT in Round 4. Round 5 has Ryan Nowakoski's name all over it. He's this year's version of Jackson Hawes.

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    2. I have Cooper as an early round 2 guy, so getting him late round 2 would be great.

      What are your thoughts on Dillon Thieneman as a possibility at 27? I think he's going to be an excellent player.

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    3. He's a really good prospect and has a lot of the traits we need. I want to see how smart he is on the chalkboard.

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    4. Interesting. Everything I have seen and read about him suggests he's an incredibly high IQ player and film junkie.

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    5. Same. I like to trust just as much as the next guy, but verification makes me feel more comfortable.

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    6. Too important of a pick to not make sure and the way they value the safety position, he'll need to knock their socks off Scooter. Like McGlinchey did.😂

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    7. Oh for sure. I'm not convinced the 49ers would go this route in the 1st round.

      But I will keep banging the drum about the need to add blue chip talent, and he's one guy I think is a blue chipper that could be available at 27.

      The only reason I think he's a possibility is because Morris had Jessie Bates and drafted Xavier Watts. I think Morris values the position, in particular a center fielder, more than the 49ers traditionally have under Shanahan.

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    8. I loved Watts when he was here at Notre Dame. A true ballhawk, but I was confident they wouldn't target him as high as they needed to get him.

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    9. Perhaps Morris changes their minds at Safety. Got to take that into consideration as well.

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  6. Tackles on run plays for 1st round EDGEs:
    1. Keldric Faulk (53 since 2024)
    2. Rueben Bain (47)
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    3. Arvell Reese (37 while mostly at LB)
    4. Akheem Mesidor (34)
    5. Cashius Howell (32)
    6. David Bailey (24)

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  7. I like C. Howell if he's on the board for the 49ers. At 6' 2" 248 lbs, the measureables are a little small for an Edge. But that's when I look at the player's production and Howell has the receipts. He has 4.5 40 speed that could potentially mimic what KC had in a healthy Dee Ford.

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    1. If I'm Lynch, I'd take Mesidor at 27 if he happens to still be on the board. As far as best PURE pass rusher, there isn't anyone better.

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    2. AES, I agree, I've outlined previously he'd be a great fit providing a speed rush presence they haven't had since Ford.

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    3. Morris could use Howell on defense the way Shanahan used Deebo on offense. My only hope is that he drops to the 2nd and the 49ers can make a trade to snatch him up. I'm a little queasy at taking him in the 1st rd, but wouldn't be mad if they did.

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  8. NFC West O-line rankings...

    Seahawks pass-block win rate: #12
    Seahawks run-block win rate: #8

    Rams pass-block win rate: #5
    Rams run-block win rate: #2

    49ers pass-block win rate: #10
    49ers run-block win rate: #13

    Cardinals pass-block win rate: #21
    Cardinals run-block win rate: #15

    Adding a player like Nowakowski and a starting caliber LG could bump that run-block win rate back to where it needs to be.

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    1. I need to look into Nowakowski it seems. If he can be an H-back for now and FB of the future, sounds like a good fit.

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  9. We might have our NB in Stout but I think Lynch MUST add a Ferrari at Safety.

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    1. Yeah, this is why I've brought up Thieneman.

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    2. I need to see Thieneman's 3-Cone and the backpedal drills.

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    3. To what end? Film surely more important.

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    4. Of course. I just want to see how agile he is and how quickly he changes direction. Looking for smooth transitions. Just part of filling in areas of concern that come up on tape.

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    5. Fair enough. On film he seems perfectly fine in this regard imo. With his speed, processing ability and tackling reliability at the back end he's got the traits to be a real difference maker.

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    6. They really liked him here at Purdue.

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  10. Brock Purdy ranked 6th with an 85.4 grade.

    Stafford 91.9
    Burrow 91.8
    Allen 90.5
    Love 88.8
    Prescott 86.9

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  11. LSU WR Barion Brown 4.28 speed

    + Fastest player at Senior Bowl
    + Elite burst off LOS
    + Agility/vision YAC

    Late Round 4

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  12. One guy I think could induce Shanahan to trade up is Jordyn Tyson. If he starts sliding in the teens, wouldn't shock me at all if Lynch is convinced to start making calls.

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    1. Another guy that needs his medicals evaluated to determine if and how much he'd slide.

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    2. For sure. But the way he plays, the naturally coordinated athlete he is, I can see Shanahan falling in love.

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    3. Have you checked out Mario Carver, WR, Texas A&M? 5-foot-9, 165 lbs., but he is an explosive receiver with dangerous speed. He had 59 catches for 917 yards and four touchdowns last year.

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    4. No - I don't believe he declared for the draft...?

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    5. No, they signed him to another year, but he probably will be a 1st rounder next year barring injury.

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  13. Keyron Crawford (6’4 251) Auburn

    + 27.0% win rate on true pass sets during the 2025 season
    + Pursuit speed
    + High effort pass rusher
    + 43 pressures in 2025
    + Versatility to play linebacker and on the edge
    + First step quickness

    - 24.4% missed tackle rate in 2025
    - Arm length (32”)
    - Expanding his pass rush arsenal

    Draft projection: 3rd/4th round

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  14. The Seahawks lost the yards per play battle only twice all season...

    vs 49ers Week 1
    vs Rams in NFC title game

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  15. Michael Dickson had what must be the best punting performance in Super Bowl history:

    7 punts, 47.9 average yardage
    3 downed inside the 6-yard line

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Riley Nowakowski FB/TE Indiana

6' 1" 249 lbs.   T echnique, strain and block finish are better than several of the offensive lineman who will be drafted ahead of ...