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There is an annual debate over whether a team should draft for need or take the best available player. As an Alabama grad, I have often mused, especially during the Nick Saban era, about what kinds of drafts teams could have had if they had taken the best Alabama player available (who had a draft grade for that round). Surely perennial losers such as the Jets would have fared much better than they actually did.<\/p>\n
What could the Niners have done?<\/p>\n
In 2017, during his first draft as general manager, John Lynch selected defensive tackle Solomon Thomas<\/a>. Alabama’s defensive tackle Jonathan Allen<\/a> and cornerback Marlon Humphrey<\/a> were available. The former has been to the Pro Bowl, and though pundits would have roundly condemned taking a cornerback that high, Humphrey has been an All-Pro.<\/p>\n In 2018, Lynch took the very average offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey<\/a> and passed on Alabama corner\/safety Minkah Fitzpatrick<\/a>, another All-Pro.<\/p>\n In 2021, Lynch made the infamous Trey Lance<\/a> trade. If he had stayed put, he could have drafted quarterback Mac Jones<\/a>. If he had traded up much less (to either 9 or 10 instead of 3), he could have had either Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain<\/a> II, an All-Pro and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, or wide receiver DeVonta Smith<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2023, if Lynch had still had the first-round pick he had traded away, the Niners might have selected a future Pro Bowl safety, Alabama’s Brian Branch<\/a>.<\/p>\n Imagine: a secondary with cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Patrick Surtain and safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Brian Branch. I am not sure there has ever been a secondary as good as that would have been. Perhaps one of the Ronnie Lott units. Maybe one from the Steel Curtain.<\/p>\n Let’s therefore look at the Alabama players coming out this year (using the round projection generally agreed upon by mock drafters and pundits).<\/p>\n (And yes, I know, Lynch whiffed horribly in 2023 with Alabama’s Cameron Latu<\/a> in the third. But every Alabama fan went, “Huh?” We knew he was a fifth or sixth-rounder at best.)<\/p>\n First round<\/p>\n Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor<\/a><\/p>\n Proctor is considered one of the most talented tackles in the draft and certainly the most athletic. (How many tackles are the receiver in a trips-wide screen<\/a>?) He might drop due to consistency issues. Some have speculated he would be a better guard, but he has the talent to be an outstanding tackle. My take is that either of those would make our offensive line better. He might be worth a trade-up to get.<\/p>\n Second round<\/p>\n Wide receiver Germie Bernard<\/a><\/p>\n I love Bernard. He is very versatile and very tough. He runs the entire route tree, and Alabama sometimes ran him out of the backfield (reminiscent of Deebo). Bernard does all of the dirty work, and, a feature every GM should take note of, he got better every year in college. He would be perfect for Shanahan’s system. If he is available in the second, Lynch should snap him up.<\/p>\n Third round<\/p>\n Defensive lineman LT Overton<\/a><\/p>\n Overton is sometimes listed as an edge rusher and sometimes as a defensive end. He is not a true edge rusher, and his sack numbers have always been average. NFL.com grades him as someone with the “potential to develop into a starter.” Overton is solid against the run and can play both inside and outside, but unless Lynch has fixed the pass rush problem, I would not take Overton.<\/p>\n Fourth round<\/p>\n Defensive tackle Tim Keenan III<\/a><\/p>\n Keenan is an excellent run-stuffing defensive tackle. He would be a good addition to the rotation. Depending on earlier picks, Lynch might consider him. If Lynch trades back to get more picks and Keenan is available in the fifth, he would be a strong choice.<\/p>\n Fifth round<\/p>\n Center Parker Brailsford<\/a><\/p>\n I have seen Brailsford mocked earlier, but the general projection in the larger mock drafts has him going on Day 3. Brailsford is athletic and suited to a zone scheme. If Lynch has not addressed center, Brailsford would be a good developmental pick.<\/p>\n Linebacker Deontae Lawson<\/a><\/p>\n Lawson was a team captain in his last two years and was a 2nd-team All-SEC selection. He can play inside or outside. If Lynch wants to add depth to the linebacker room, Lawson could be a good pick.<\/p>\n Linebacker Justin Jefferson<\/a><\/p>\n Jefferson is a little undersized but a good athlete. He doesn’t have the upside Lawson does, but if Lynch traded back to the sixth, he would be worth a look.<\/p>\n Tight End Josh Cuevas<\/a><\/p>\n Cuevas reminds me of Niners tight end Jake Tonges<\/a> in that he is what I would call “sneaky open.” Especially on big downs, Cuevas managed to be the guy with separation. The stars might be covered, but teams consistently forgot about Cuevas, and he made them pay. His stats show his place in the offense: 37 catches for 411 yards and 4 touchdowns.<\/p>\n What makes him particularly intriguing is that Mel Kiper lists him as a fullback\/H-Back. At 6’3″, 245, Cuevas is not far off Niner fullback Kyle Juszczyk<\/a>‘s 6’2″, 235, and NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein lists him as a “combo tight end.” Lynch and Shanahan know Juice will likely not play more than a few more years. Getting a potential replacement to develop would be a shrewd move in a later round.<\/p>\n