Tag: draft

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:

Georgia defensive back Tykee Smith goes No. 89 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2024 NFL draft

Smith will bring a diverse skill set to the Buccaneers, as he played both safety and Georgia’s nickel safety/linebacker hybrid role.

The Georgia Bulldogs had another defensive player come off the board in the 2024 NFL draft when defensive back Tykee Smith was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 89th pick.

Smith began his career at West Virginia, where he played for two years and was a freshman all-American in 2019 and second-team all-Big 12 in 2020. He recorded 111 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions over two years with the Mountaineers. He transferred to Georgia to follow Jahmile Addae, his position coach at WVU.

Smith struggled initially to fit into the Bulldogs system and then battled injuries during his first two years before putting it all together in his senior season with the Dawgs. Smith had 70 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and four interceptions from the star position for the Bulldogs.

Smith will bring a diverse skill set to the Buccaneers. He played both safety and Georgia’s nickel safety/linebacker hybrid role and can be moved to various positions across the defense. He joins a safety room featuring pro bowler Antoine Winfield and Jordan Whitehead in Tampa.

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-

Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter goes No. 42 overall to the Houston Texans in 2024 NFL draft

Lassiter will join a Texans cornerback room that includes Derek Stingley and former first-rounder Jeffrey Okudah. He will have a chance to compete for playing time right away in Houston under defensive-minded head coach DeMeco Ryans.

The first Georgia Bulldogs defensive player came off the board in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. Cornerback Kamari Lassiter was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 42nd pick.

Lassiter joined the Bulldogs as a four-star recruit in the class of 2021 from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He saw limited playing time as a freshman before starting during his final two seasons with the Bulldogs. Over the course of his career, Lassiter recorded 86 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, an interception and 14 passes defended.

Lassiter showcased his ability as a lockdown corner at Georgia, surrendering zero touchdowns on 39 targets a year ago according to PFF. He effectively locked down one side of the field for the Bulldogs and earned a great deal of praise from Kirby Smart for his leadership of the defense.

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Lassiter will join a Texans cornerback room that includes Derek Stingley and former first-rounder Jeffrey Okudah. He will have a chance to compete for playing time right away in Houston under defensive-minded head coach DeMeco Ryans.

Chargers mock draft roundup: Who Los Angeles is projected to take in Rounds 2-3

Analysts project what the Chargers will do with their picks on Day 2.

The Chargers came out of the first round with offensive tackle Joe Alt. After the selection, Los Angeles should have their focus on wide receiver, cornerback and the interior part of the defensive line.

General manager Joe Hortiz will have picks No. 37 and 69 to add more talent to the roster.

With that, here’s a glimpse at who L.A. could add on Friday based on what a few mock drafts are projecting.

CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso 

Round 2: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

Analysis: “Keon Coleman is a young wideout who plays a tick faster than his timed speed and flashes acrobatic catch skill.”

Round 3: LB Junior Colson, Michigan

NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein

Round 2: DT Braden Fiske, Florida State

Analysis: “Fiske is all gas and no brakes on every single snap, which is exactly what Jim Harbaugh is looking for.”

Round 3: WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky

Pro Football Focus’ John Kosko & Trevor Sikkema

Round 2: DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

Analysis: “The Chargers need to improve almost everywhere on defense. They find a versatile defensive lineman in Newton. He has some physical limitations due to his size and lack of natural flexibility, but his hand usage, pass-rush tools and block-shedding ability allow him to be very productive in any alignment from three-technique to five-technique.”

Round 3: RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas

“Brooks is an ideal blend of size, speed, strength and agility. Though limited in snap totals, he has good vision in both gap and zone run schemes. If he can get back to form following his torn ACL, he has all the goods to be a starting running back in the NFL.”

NBC Sports’ Eric Froton

Round 2: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Analysis: “A tweener who many scouts profile as a slot corner/safety in addition to having game-breaking punt return prowess, DeJean allowed a 38% catch rate with just 44 YAC on 20 receptions this season. The Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and member of the famed Bruce Feldman “Freaks List”, DeJean could be the Chargers’ new version of Eric Weddle.”

Round 3: WR Roman Wilson, Michigan

ESPN’s Steve Muench

Round 2: WR Ladd McConkey

Analysis: “The Chargers address their most pressing need at receiver after losing Mike Williams and Keenan Allen this offseason, snagging the No. 31 overall player on my board.”

Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame

Round 2: OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

Round 3: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler

Round 2: LB Junior Colson, Michigan

Round 3: RB Blake Corum, Michigan

Analysis: “Given the Chargers’ need for another running back and Jim Harbaugh’s affinity for Corum, this match feels almost too obvious.”

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar

Round 2: DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

Watch: The moment Ricky Pearsall finds out he is being drafted by the 49ers in the first round

Watch the emotional moment RIcky Pearsall gets his draft call from the 49ers.

At the end of the first round, the San Francisco 49ers finally got on the clock to make their highly-anticipated selection. With the No. 31 overall pick in the first round, the 49ers surprised many by drafting Florida pass catcher Ricky Pearsall. 

Although he wasn’t in the green room with Roger Goodell in Detroit, Michigan, the Florida Gators product was able to catch the call he got from the 49ers on camera.

The Florida Gators released a video of Pearsall finding out the 49ers were drafting him at No. 31 overall in the first round. After revealing the 49ers drafted him to his friends and family, the entire room went into a frenzied celebration.

Via @GatorsFB on Twitter:

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

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Brandon Aiyuk was a big fan of 49ers 1st-round draft pick

It turns out Brandon Aiyuk is still communicating with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch directly.

Before the draft got underway, Brandon Aiyuk’s name flooded the NFL rumor mill as the star wide receiver is heading into the final season of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

While the first round came and went with 32 picks on Thursday night in Detroit, Aiyuk wasn’t traded and remained a member of the 49ers.

With the No. 31 overall pick in the draft, the 49ers brought in Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Although the 49ers drafted another wide receiver, Aiyuk was a fan of John Lynch’s pick on Thursday night.

When speaking to members of the media on Thursday after making the 49ers’ first-round selection, Lynch told reporters he received a text message from Aiyuk after drafting Pearsall.

According to Lynch, Aiyuk texted, saying, “Fire pick. Can’t lie.

Via @NBCS49ers on Twitter:

Pearsall and Aiyuk shared the field together at Arizona State. Before the 49ers drafted Aiyuk in the first round of the 2020 draft, and prior to Pearsall transferring to Florida, the duo were teammates in Tempe during the 2019 season. At Arizona State, Aiyuk and Pearsall caught passes from 2024 No. 2 overall pick Jaden Daniels.

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

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Watch: All the highlights from new 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall

Watch all the highlights from the 49ers new WR Ricky Pearsall.

Following the first round of the NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers will be welcoming a new pass catcher to Santa Clara. With the No. 31 overall pick, John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall out of Florida with the second to last pick in the first round.

In his final season at Florida, Pearsall notched 65 catches for 965 yards to go along with four touchdowns. Pearsall tacked on two rushing scores. Pearsall ended his final campaign in Gainsville with 1027 yards from scrimmage.

Prior to transferring to Florida for his final two seasons, Pearsall played at Arizona State and was teammates with current 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Pearsall has a flurry of highlights from his time in Florida, including a reception that was in the catch-of-the-year conversation. Watch all the highlights from the newest member of the 49ers via YouTube:

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

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Rating 49ers first-round pick of Florida WR Ricky Pearsall

Rating the 49ers selection of Florida WR Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

After a long wait on Thursday night, the San Francisco 49ers have officially made their pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. While quarterbacks and offensive linemen flew off the board early, the 49ers stuck with the offensive trend of the first round by picking Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.

After three seasons at Arizona State, the 6-foot-1 wide receiver played his final two collegiate seasons at The Swamp with the Florida Gators. In his final year with the Gators, Pearsall recorded 65 receptions for 965 yards to go along with four touchdowns. Pearsall added two rushing touchdowns. The 23-year-old finished the season with 1027 yards form scrimmage.

Prior to being selected at the end of the first round, Pearsall was widely considered a day-two pick by different draft analysts. The Florida product will now slide into Kyle Shanahan’s offense as the 49ers attempt to make another run at the Super Bowl.

While the addition of Pearsall will likely only fuel trade speculation for the 49ers duo of Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, let’s dive into instant reactions and ratings from the Niners Wire crew.

Kyle Madson – Managing Editor: 

This feels like a reach for the 49ers with Pearsall ranked in the 40s of most major draft analysts’ boards. He was never a big-time producer in college with a career-high 65 catches for 965 yards last season. His high in TDs came in 2022 when he put up five for the Gators. However, he’s a good route runner and a fine athlete who lined up all over the field at Florida. Perhaps he winds up becoming a go-to target for quarterback Brock Purdy, but the pick overall feels lackluster, given some of the other talented players on the board.

Rating: 2.5 / 5 Stars

Tommy Call – Contributor 

Heading into the 2024 draft, Ricky Pearsall was one of my favorite players on the board. When watching Pearsall, the word smooth continues to stand out. Whether it’s his soft hands that seem to make every catch or his underrated footwork that helps him get open while he churns through nearly every route on the tree. It felt like there’s a chance Pearsall could quickly contribute out of the slot on day one moving the chains, with the potential to step outside with some versatility. The idea of a player with those types of traits is intriguing, especially in an offense being drawn up by Kyle Shanahan.

While all that is positive, I liked Pearsall and all of those traits because I thought they would likely be available on day two. This feels like a steep reach, especially with some of the players still on the board like Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cooper DeJean and Jer’Zhan Newton. If Pearsall was the guy, a trade-down feels like it could’ve been a better option.

Again, I like the player, maybe a lot more than others, but even with that being said, I am not a fan of the value.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars 

Instant analysis of the Chargers’ selection of Notre Dame OT Joe Alt at No. 5 overall

The Los Angeles Chargers selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the 5th overall pick, adding offensive line help at right tackle.

Turns out that last-minute scramble over the JC Latham tea leaves was all for naught.

Los Angeles stuck with their guns on Thursday, making Notre Dame’s Joe Alt the first tackle off the board after months of speculation that they’d select him with their first round selection. Alt will flip to the right side for the Chargers, a move he’s been preparing to make in the lead-up to the draft, likely for this very scenario.

An NFL legacy – his father John played 13 seasons for the Chiefs in the 80s and 90s – Alt’s athleticism as a former quarterback and tight end will be the calling cards for easing his transition to the right side. He said at the NFL Combine that his experience at tight end especially should help him, considering he has some familiarity with putting his hand in the dirt from that side of the formation.

An agile, finesse tackle with high-end recovery ability, Alt generates push in the run game in a different way than what was perhaps expected from a Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz draft selection. But his smoothness as a pass protector will quickly plaster over any potential concerns that he’s not a true mauler in the run game. Notre Dame ran a balanced offense while Alt was there, and he was a key reason why running back Audric Estime had such a productive season in 2023.

This pick likely forces Trey Pipkins, set to count $8.75 million against the salary cap, to the bench. Pipkins’ contract does not allow for cap savings in a trade until after June 1. Despite having two seasons left on his deal, the Chargers could also easily escape the contract following the 2024 season, saving $6.75 million against the 2025 cap if they were to release Pipkins.