What might the 49ers look like in a complete re-draft of every NFL player? It turns out they wouldn’t look a lot different.
ESPN did a four-round fantasy-style snake draft that included every player in the league. Each writer had to pick one defensive player, one offensive player, a quarterback and a wild card. Nick Wagoner, who selected for the 49ers, wound up building a team that’s similar in style to San Francisco’s actual club.
ESPN’s Mike Clay gave the draft a ‘Tier 1’ grade thanks to the strong defensive front. Here are Wagoner’s picks and our own grade for each selection:
Round 1, Pick 31: TE George Kittle, 49ers
Getting arguably the best non-quarterback in football with the 31st selection is a steal. Quarterbacks dominated the first round with 20 going in the first 32 picks. Kittle, a fifth-round pick in 2017, is still an excellent value late in the first round considering his production over the last two seasons. In 30 games, he’s posted 173 catches, 2,430 yards and 10 touchdowns. Kittle is also the best blocking tight end in the league. His value to an offense can’t really be overstated, and getting a player like him 31st overall is a bargain.
Grade: A+