The 49ers made a draft-day trade a year ago to acquire a second first-round pick in the upcoming draft. And now I’m wondering whether the 49ers should make another deal to guarantee they fill a position of need with thier first draft choice.
Almost each of the 49ers’ 22 starting jobs appears relatively settled for the upcoming season. The one spot where the team seems determined to draft a new starter is offensive tackle. But there is no assurance they will be able to fill that spot with the Nos. 13 or 17 overall picks.
If offensive tackles Russell Okung, Trent Williams, Bryan Bulaga and Anthony Davis are already gone within the first dozen selections, the 49ers’ options become limited. They could select the fifth tackle: perhaps left tackle Charles Brown of USC or tremendously gifted Bruce Campbell of Maryland. But they’d most likely pick players at two other positions before re-considering offensive tackle the next day during the second and third rounds.
But the 49ers could be proactive. After all, they have the ammunition to trade up to secure one of the top tackles in the draft. If the 49ers package the 13th and 17th picks, they can get up to the third or fourth pick in the draft to take the best tackle remaining on the board (probably Okung or Williams).
Under this scenario, the 49ers could get Okung.
Whereas if they’d kept their own picks, they could wind up with some combination of two players that includes cornerback Joe Haden, pass-rusher Sergio Kindle, running back C.J. Spiller, running back Ryan Mathews, inside linebacker Rolando McClain, safety/cornerback Earl Thomas, safety Taylor Mays and, perhaps, Mike Iupati, whom many believe can only play guard.
If the 49ers trade the 13th pick and their pick in the second round, No. 49 overall, the 49ers can move up to the sixth or seventh spot and get Williams or Bulaga. Then, they’d still have their pick at No. 17 overall.
The 49ers could use their third-round pick, No. 79, to edge up to No. 10 or 11 – and stand a chance at adding
A lot of this depends on how the early portion of the draft falls. But trading up to select an offensive tackle should be a serious consideration for the 49ers on draft day.
* * *
So the question: Should the 49ers stand pat (and not get a tackle in the first round) or trade up? And if the 49ers stand pat, which two players from the above list provide the dream scenario?
* * *
Speed-rushing outside linebacker Hall Davis of Louisiana-Lafayette visited the 49ers on Monday. He has already paid a visit to the Titans, and later this week is scheduled to visit the Ravens and Patriots, said agent Greg Barnett.
Comments are closed.