Category: Latest 49ers news

Grading the 49ers third round pick: Kansas OL Dominick Puni

Grading the 49ers selection of Kansas OL Dominick Puni in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

After moving back in the second round, the San Francisco did the opposite in the third round, moving up from No. 94 to No. 86 on day two of the draft. The 49ers traded No. 94 overall pick, and the No. 132 overall pick (Round 4) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the 86th selection.

Following a trade-up, the 49ers selected Kansas Jayhawk offensive lineman Dominick Puni at No. 86 overall. While playing for Central Missouri and Kansas in college, Puni bounced around to different positions at the offensive line, including guard and tackle.

The 6-foot-5, 313 lb offensive lineman earned First-team All-Big 12 conference honors last season in Lawerence. According to Pro Football Focus, Puni earned an 80.6 grade last season while not allowing a single sack on 342 pass-blocking snaps.

Following the 49ers third-round selection, the Niners Wire team linked up to stamp grades on the pick.

Kyle Madson – Managing Editor: 

This is a nice pick for the 49ers because Puni could theoretically answer a bunch of different questions on San Francisco’s offensive line. He projects as a guard and he could be in the mix to offer an upgrade at right guard. He played a ton of tackle in college though which gives the 49ers reason to believe he might be able to compete as an upgrade over right tackle Colton McKivitz. If he doesn’t beat out any of them, he’s a versatile depth piece who could develop into a long-term starter a la Aaron Banks. San Francisco didn’t reach to fill their biggest need, and instead traded up in Round 3 by giving up just their third-round pick and one of their trio of fourth-round picks. Nice work by John Lynch and Co.

Grade: B+

Tommy Call – Contributor: 

Heading into the draft, the offensive line felt like the biggest position group of need. And I saw group, because you could make the argument guard, tackle and even center could be addressed in the draft. However, through two rounds, the 49ers didn’t look at the offensive line.

Yet, finally, in round two, the 49ers answered the call of many fans and drafted an offensive lineman. And not just any offensive lineman; a player that has proven experience at multiple positions on the offensive line, essentially filling that need across the position group. Dominick Puni thrived at offensive tackle for the Jayhawks last season, not allowing a single sack. Yet before shifting to tackle, Puni played guard in Kansas. Puni could instantly compete at multiple positions for the Niners on the offensive line while he continues to develop.

Grade: A

 

Instant analysis: Dominick Puni an intriguing, versatile OL option for 49ers

The 49ers waited to address their biggest need in the draft. Their patience was rewarded with a prospect who could solve multiple problems for them:

The 49ers waited until the back half of Day 2 to address their biggest need in the NFL draft. San Francisco needed some offensive line help, and they traded up to No. 86 in Round 3 to snag Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni who could be an answer to multiple questions up front for the 49ers.

Adding OL help was never a surefire need for the 49ers. Colton McKivitz is serviceable and it looks like Jon Feliciano will have the inside track to the starting right guard spot. Upgrades at either spot would be helpful though. Depth is also something the 49ers needed more of on the offensive line. Puni could theoretically check any of those boxes.

He primarily played left tackle in college with 27 of his 43 starts coming there, 13 of which came with Kansas last season. He also played right tackle some with three starts there for Central Missouri where he spent his first four college seasons. Prior to switching to tackle with the Jayhawks though, Puni started all 12 games for them at left guard in 2022.

Chances are the 49ers view him as a guard and he’ll compete at right guard with Feliciano and Spencer Burford. It’s not out of the question though that they give him some reps at right tackle to see if he can provide competition for McKivitz and OL Brandon Parker.

The 49ers could have reached earlier in the draft for an offensive lineman, but chose instead to add depth at wide receiver and cornerback. They still wound up with a quality prospect who could offer solutions at multiple positions for them.

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Watch: All the highlights from 49ers new CB Renardo Green

Get to know the newest member of the 49ers with all the highlights from Florida State CB Renardo Green.

After landing a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers shifted to the defensive side of the ball in the second round on Friday night.

With the No. 64 overall pick, the 49ers added Florida State cornerback Renardo Green in the second round. Green earned a second-team All-ACC bid with the Seminoles in 2023. The 6-foot-0 cornerback picked up 13 pass breakups in his final season in Tallahassee, which was good enough for sixth in all of college football. Green also notched one interception last season.

Most of Green’s impressive highlight reel came in a primetime matchup against LSU and their first-round duo of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Both Tiger wide receivers went in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Via @OurSF49ers on Twitter:

Get to know the newest member of the 49ers with all of his highlights via YouTube:

49ers trade up in Round 3, select Kansas OL Dominick Puni

The 49ers traded up! This time they add offensive line help.

After trading down in Round 2, the 49ers traded up in Round 3 to take Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni at No. 86 overall.

San Francisco sent the 94th overall pick, and the 132nd overall pick (one of their three Round 4 choices) to the Eagles in exchange for the 86th selection.

Puni spent most of his college career at tackle, but most draft analysts believe he’ll kick inside to guard as a pro. He has the size to play either at 6-5, 313 pounds. The 49ers would be happy for him to become a starter at either spot.

He played in 47 games with 43 starts across six college seasons. Puni began his college career at with four seasons at Central Missouri before transferring to Kansas where he started all 25 games he played. He started 12 games at left guard in 2022 before jumping out to left tackle and starting all 13 games in 2023.

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49ers draft pick CB Renardo Green shut down No. 6 overall pick WR Malik Nabers in college matchup

49ers draft pick Renardo Green dominated the No. 6 overall pick WR Malik Nabers in a head-to-head matchup.

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers went well before Florida State cornerback Renardo Green. The Giants selected Nabers No. 6 overall while the 49ers took Green off the board 58 picks later at No. 64 overall. Nabers might’ve been the better prospect, but nobody would know that based on their head-to-head matchup.

Florida State and LSU faced off to open the 2023 college season. The Seminoles dominated the game 45-24 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Part of the reason Florida State dominated was because of Green’s effectiveness in taking Nabers out of the game.

The No. 6 overall pick was targeted five times when guarded by Green and caught two passes for 20 yards per Pro Football Focus. Green managed an interception on one of the throws to Nabers, meaning he finished with just one fewer catch than Nabers on balls thrown the wide receiver’s way.

If Green continues stepping up in big games like that as a pro he could wind up being one of the steals of the draft as the final pick in Round 2.

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Instant analysis: Can CB Renardo Green start right away for 49ers?

Can 49ers second-round pick CB Renardo Green win the starting job in Year 1?

The 49ers went away from the public consensus for the second time in this year’s draft when they took Florida State CB Renardo Green with the 64th overall pick after a trade back with the Chiefs.

Green doesn’t have all the physical tools we’ve come to recognize as hallmarks of an early-round CB prospect. He’s 6-0, 191 pounds and ran a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash. He doesn’t have particularly long arms and his athletic measurables don’t show anything extraordinary about the way he moves.

What jumps out with Green though is how hard he plays. He’s constantly around the ball and he has a physical style that the 49ers surely love. His 14 pass breakups despite his lack of elite size and athleticism are indicative of just how tight he plays in coverage.

Ask No. 6 overall pick Malik Nabers about him. This breakdown on Green from Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar and NFL film guru Greg Cosell is very good:

Penalties are a pretty significant issue as a result of that playing style though which could wind up hurting Green in the pros. He has to learn how to stay aggressive without getting too handsy on receivers. That’s something that can come with coaching though.

If he can play as an effective press-man corner in the NFL the way he did in college he should be the frontrunner to start on the side opposite Charvarius Ward next season. There’ll be some competition though with Ambry Thomas, Darrell Luter Jr., Samuel Womack, Rock Ya-Sin and Isaac Yiadom all vying for that starting job.

If Green’s athleticism doesn’t allow him to hang against NFL receivers though he could be relegated to special teams duty and the 49ers will be on the hunt for another starting CB next offseason.

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Grading 49ers second round pick: Florida State CB Renardo Green

Grading the 49ers selection of Florida State CB Renardo Green in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

After there was a flurry of trades to start the second round, the San Francisco 49ers got involved with a trade at the end of the second round on Friday night. The 49ers traded the No. 63 overall selection to the Kansas City Chiefs to move back just one spot in the second round.

When they officially came on the clock in the second round, the 49ers addressed the defensive side of the ball for the first time in the draft. With the No. 64 overall pick, the 49ers selected Florida State defensive back Renardo Green.

The 6-foot-0, 186 lbs cornerback played five seasons with Florida State. In his final season with the Seminoles, Green tallied 43 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Green also recorded 13 pass deflections and one interception.

Following the 49ers latest addition, the Niners Wire team dished out grades and their initial reactions to the pick in the second round.

Kyle Madson – Managing Editor: 

This is a head-scratcher. Green doesn’t have a ton of high-end traits, but his compete level is really high which surely endeared him to the 49ers. The bottom line is this club has too many long-term needs to throw away picks, so they can’t afford to have Green waste away as a reserve. Green is probably best suited as a press-man corner which will help his case in working into a starting job, but he’s far from a sure thing to line up across from Charvarius Ward on Day 1.”

Grade: B

Tommy Call – Contributing Writer: 

With the 49ers additions in free agency, their roster looked relatively set in the secondary. However, most of their defensive back depth chart is band-aided together with veterans. Renardo Green provided a mix of youth and potential while also having some traits that should be able to play right away.

Playing corner, Green is a willing tackler who can play on the boundary, recording over 148 tackles in his career at Florida State, including seven tackles for loss. With Green should be able to get reps as an outside corner right away as a press guy with some physicality.

While I like the potential of Green, I don’t think the 49ers addressed a need in the second round. Now, heading into round three, the offensive line feels like it needs some attention.

Grade: B-

49ers trade down with Chiefs in Round 2 of the NFL draft, pick CB Renardo Green

The #49ers traded down in the second round and picked a cornerback.

The 49ers traded back one spot from the No. 63 pick in this year’s draft and selected Florida State cornerback Renardo Green with the final pick in the second round.

They sent pick Nos. 63 and 211 in the sixth round to the Chiefs in exchange for No. 64 and No. 173 in the fifth round.

San Francisco maintains its 10 picks in this year’s draft and slides up into the fifth round while moving back just one spot in the second round.

Green is an interesting prospect who measured in at 6-foot, 191 pounds at Florida State’s Pro Day. His athleticism doesn’t jump of the screen, but his hard-nosed playing style does. It’s clear why the 49ers liked him despite his lack of top-end physical tools.

In five seasons Green played 52 games with 32 starts. He put up 148 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, while notching 23 pass breakups and just one interception.

He figures to compete for a starting outside CB job right away.

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Report: Patriots, Bills considered ‘highly unlikely’ to trade for Deebo Samuel

Two teams at the top of the second round are reportedly “highly unlikely” to trade for 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel.

As soon as the San Francisco 49ers made the decision to select Florida Gators pass catcher Ricky Pearsall in a surprise pick at the end of the first round on Thursday night, all eyes turned to Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.

With Aiyuk entering the final year of his contract with the 49ers, the 26-year-old wide receiver’s name has been engulfed in trade rumors. On Thursday, different reports and buzz indicated both Aiyuk and Samuel had been involved in trade chatter.

With the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots sitting at the top of the second round with a need at receiver, both AFC East teams have been linked to a potential trade with the 49ers. However, with the start of the second round approaching, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported the Patriots and Bills are considered “highly unlikely” to trade for Samuel.

Via @Schultz_Report on Twitter:

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Texans QB CJ Stroud devastated by 49ers selection of Ricky Pearsall

Texans QB CJ Stroud was in disbelief when the 49ers picked Ricky Pearsall No. 31 overall. He wanted Pearsall BAD.

While some scratched their heads over the 49ers selection of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud was devastated.

On Bleacher Report’s live NFL draft show Stroud had a pretty intense negative reaction when it was announced the 49ers would take Pearsall with the 31st overall selection. Stroud’s Texans didn’t have a first-round pick, and although they tried trading up, they continue holding the 42nd choice as their first selection in the 2024 draft.

After he composed himself, Stroud offered some thoughts.

“What? How? How is he even on their radar?” Stroud said. “I’m happy for him though. He wanted to go in the first round so he could get some more money. I talked to him a couple times, man. Congrats, bro. That’s big time. Bro, he’s a beast. Especially in that offense, man. Kyle’s gonna dial it up for him. That’s why I felt like he was gonna fit in our system so well.”

Throughout the reading of Pearsall’s player bio and stats, Stroud rattled off some exclamations of shock, disbelief and disappointment. At one point he compared Pearsall to Texans WR Tank Dell who put together a terrific rookie campaign with 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. Dell and Stroud played under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who cut his teeth as an offensive assistant under 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

If Stroud is correct and Pearsall breaks out in Year 1 the way Dell did, the head-scratching on why the 49ers took him in Round 1 will stop, and San Francisco will be set at receiver for the foreseeable future.

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