Who drafted better, Vic or Matt? Feel free to share your opinion — civilly, please — in the comments section below.
But first, a brief description of the process: The writers drafted independently (we swear!) using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator set to “consensus” mode. They rejected all trade proposals, leaving them with the seven selections the San Francisco 49ers are expecting next month.
The precise draft order will be determined when the NFL announces compensatory picks.
First round
Barrows: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
Yeah, yeah, I know — he has short arms. Howell’s levers measured just 30 1/4 inches at the combine, meaning he’d have the stubbiest arms of any Round 1 edge defender this century if the 49ers took him here. His arms weren’t a problem in the competitive SEC, however. He overwhelmed opponents with quickness and relentlessness, finished with 11.5 sacks and was the conference’s defensive player of the year. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris likes flexible speed rushers, which describes Howell to a tee. Also: I’d bet cash money his arms are longer at his pro day this month; the guy at the combine is notoriously stingy with the tape measure.
Tafur: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
If you’re a stickler for traits such as arm length, Howell is not your guy. If you like college tape (15 sacks, 68 pressures and 40 stops his last two seasons) and love a 10-yard split — Howell’s 1.58 seconds was the fastest of any edge rusher at the combine — as much as the 49ers do, Howell is hard to pass up. He is explosive and bendy to get around the edge, plays with violence and has inside counter moves as well. Receiver Omar Cooper Jr. was gone by 27, and I took Howell over receiver KC Concepcion. There was a tempting trade offer from the Jets, as we could have moved down to 33 and received a 2027 third-round pick from the Jets, but I wasn’t sure Howell would be there at 33, and offensive tackle Max Iheanachor and pass rusher TJ Parker weren’t satisfactory consolation prizes.
Second round
Tafur: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
Fields isn’t as flashy as the receivers picked ahead of him, but he is a nice combination of size (6-foot-4, 218 pounds), strength, sticky hands and a special high-point catch ability. He lacks home run speed but will be a reliable target on third down and in the red zone, and is also a good run blocker.
Barrows: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Indiana receiver Elijah Sarratt and Tennessee receiver Chris Brazzell II also were available, and an argument can be made for both. Sarratt’s a sturdy, high-floor prospect (who blocks!) while the rangy Brazzell has the tools to become a team’s X receiver. Bernard, however, seems like a prototypical Kyle Shanahan guy. He gets off the line of scrimmage quickly, creates space, has natural hands (one drop in 2025) and is strong after the catch (394 YAC yards last season). Consider him a latter-day Robert Woods.
Third round
Barrows: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
The interior of the 49ers’ defensive line remains in flux. They have a pair of youngsters, Alfred Collins and CJ West, with another newbie, Mykel Williams, able to contribute on passing downs. Jordan Elliott, Kalia Davis and Kevin Givens are pending free agents, though, and there’s room for more competition. With Halton, the team would have someone perfect for their penetrating front. He ran his 40-yard dash last week in 4.82 seconds — not too shabby for a 293-pounder.
Tafur: Austin Barber, OT, Florida
Barber didn’t stand out at the combine after a good showing at the Senior Bowl — and that’s good, because 6-7 tackles with elite run-blocking skills, good feet and strong hands usually don’t stay on draft boards this long. He can be caught leaning, and his pad level gets too high at times, but that’s why NFL teams employ coaches. And Barber’s pass protection definitely needs some polish if he has any chance at being Trent Williams’ eventual replacement at left tackle.
Fourth round
4A. Tafur: Bud Clark, S, TCU
The 49ers already have a lot of interesting safeties, but are any of them any good? Might as well throw some more competition in the pot, especially a guy not allergic to turnovers. The 6-1 Clark had 15 interceptions his last four seasons — he spent six seasons at TCU — and followed up a good Senior Bowl with a nice showing at the combine, running a 4.41 40-yard dash, jumping 38 inches high and entertaining teams with stories of how he learned to trash-talk from his mom.
4A. Barrows: J.C. Davis, OT, Illinois
I knew I’d be bombarded with hisses if I didn’t include an offensive tackle. I give you Davis, a battle-tested left tackle from Oakland, Calif. He certainly passes the eyeball test with long, 34 1/2-inch arms and a 6-4, 322-pound frame. He’s also durable, starting every game but one over the last four seasons. Davis could spend 2026 as the backup left tackle behind Williams, with Austen Pleasants behind Colton McKivitz at right tackle.
4B. Barrows: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
Three tight end sets are all the rage these days. If the 49ers drafted Roush, they’d be unique in having three — George Kittle and Luke Farrell are the others — who are standout blockers. The team’s rushing offense lapsed mightily in 2025, something Shanahan will be intent on fixing in 2026.
4B. Tafur: Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah
Bentley had one catch in 2023, two in 2024 and then 48 last year, showing some good body control for someone 6-4 and 253 pounds. Bentley’s hands are fine catching the ball, and he ran a 4.62 40 at the combine. There is a lot of upside here, and he could be a rare tight end who can catch and block.
4C. Tafur: Beau Stephens, G, Iowa
Everybody loves offensive linemen from Iowa, even ones with short arms and average athletic ability. Stephens is a skilled, gritty player who seemed to get a lot of defensive linemen on the ground in college and at the Senior Bowl.
4C. Barrows: Beau Stephens, G, Iowa
Stephens is not only a left guard, where the 49ers likely will have a hole this offseason, but he’s also well-versed in the zone-blocking scheme the 49ers employ. Draft Stephens and the team could have a pair of Hawkeyes — 2025 draft pick Connor Colby is the other — competing for a starting spot.
Fifth round
Barrows: Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy
I panicked when I initially didn’t find Heidenreich available at this spot. The damn computer already snapped him up! Freakin’ AI! Then I realized he was listed under the wide receivers, not the running backs, like he was at Navy. That confusion sums him up perfectly. He’s a little of both positions, which ought to remind Shanahan of another player on his roster. (Psst: Heidenreich is a step faster than the other guy.)
Tafur: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
The 6-1 Everette was a five-star recruit out of high school who just recently ran a blistering 4.38-second 40-yard-dash at the combine. In between those, he gave up a lot of big plays or would get called for grabbing a receiver. Everette might not last to No. 172 because of his speed and size, but he is worth a flier if he does.