A trade back from the No. 31 overall pick in this year’s draft has always seemed like a good idea for the 49ers, but their acquisition of the No. 13 overall pick in a trade with the Colts makes a trade back from 31 even more likely. That’s the exact route they take in the Draft Wire’s latest three-round mock, only a good value pick forces them to forego some of their biggest needs.
Their first pick in the mock lands them Oklahoma star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Lamb is an after-the-catch monster who could turn into a nightmare cover for defenses in a Kyle Shanahan offense that often generates so much space for receivers.
Lamb measured in at 6-2, 189 pounds, and had two monster years as a sophomore and junior for the Sooners. He posted 65 catches for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns in his second year. His third year was even better with 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns on 62 catches. He averaged a whopping 19 yards per reception during his three-year college career.
A big-time receiver with the 13th pick makes a lot of sense for San Francisco. Whether they like Lamb will depend on whether they see enough on tape to determine he can get open against an NFL defense in an NFL offense. What comes next for the 49ers is a little more head-scratching.
They wind up doing business again with the Colts, who trade up from No. 31 in exchange for the pick Nos. 34 and 122. That’s good value for San Francisco where they move back only three spots while picking up a much-needed Day 3 pick. They’d like to add a third-rounder instead, but that’ll likely require a bidding war for the No. 31 choice.
The pick at No. 34 is where things get interesting. San Francisco takes LSU safety Grant Delpit – a do-everything playmaker who was often sent to the 49ers in mocks before they re-signed Jimmie Ward.
Ward’s past injury issues make it impossible to rule out bringing in additional safety depth, but Tarvarius Moore’s presence makes it difficult to believe the 49ers would prioritize that spot over some of their other more glaring needs.
Delpit at No. 34 is great value, and perhaps in this scenario they’re just taking the best player available and figuring the rest out later. Having too many good players is better than the alternative, and Delpit would be ready to start at either safety spot in the 49ers’ defense right away.
However, Michigan offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz is available at No. 34 and fills a more immediate need for the 49ers. So do players like Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet, TCU corner Jeff Gladney, and TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, all of whom were available with the 34th pick.
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the 49ers move back again from No. 34 to try and scoop up some more mid-round picks before filling out their draft class. If they think Delpit can help them though, they won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a good value pick for a potential long-term starter.
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