2015 NFL Draft grades: San Francisco 49ers
A breakdown and grade of the San Francisco 49ers draft in 2015
With NFL fever subsiding from Chicago and the 2015 NFL Draft in the books, how did the San Francisco 49ers do with the ten picks they used in the draft. What needs did they have, how did they address those needs, and how would I grade them based on the talent they got and the holes they filled?
The 49ers’ offseason has been turbulent to say the least. The departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh was long rumored but it still came as something of a shock. The hire of Jim Tomsula to be his replacement was an additional shock, with many fans expecting an offensive-minded head coach to deal with the 49ers offensive woes. With a near total turnover in coaching staff, the team was further rocked by the sudden retirement of all-pro ILB Patrick Willis and his presumed successor Chris Borland.
They lost WR Michael Crabtree, whose performance had fallen off, and replaced him with WR Torrey Smith from Baltimore. They also added RB Reggie Bush and DT Darnell Dockett to deal with the departure of RB Frank Gore and to shore up the defensive line.
So what needs did the 49ers have going into the draft? The 49ers had needs at ILB, CB, DL, OL, WR, and potentially tight end, if Vernon Davis can’t turn his decline around. These are the ten picks the 49ers made to address those needs and add depth to the team.
Round 1 (17th overall)
Arik Armstead – DE from Oregon
The 49ers traded down in the first round from the 15th overall pick to the 17th and in the process acquired the Chargers’ fourth rounder and the Chargers’ 2016 fifth rounder. Solid value to move back only two spots. Presumably the 49ers were targeting Armstead and would have taken him at 15 but figured they could grab him at 17 instead.
I’m inclined to think that he would have been available even later into the first round and possibly into the second as well. Armstead is a case of drafting by potential and not by demonstrated performance. He’s inexperienced but he’s an athletic monster. He’s 6’7″ coming in at 292 lbs. To me he seems like too much of a project player and not enough of an impact player from day 1. If his potential can be reached then he could stand to be an amazing DE, but it’s hard to justify using such a high pick on player who has mostly only demonstrated potential. It could work out, but I don’t love the pick.
Round 2 (46th overall)
Jaquiski Tartt – S from Samford
This is another player that was projected to go much later, in the third of fourth, but Baalke and Tomsula clearly like something about him. He’s a strong downhill tackler who can cover reasonably well. His man coverage leaves something to be desired. His size and athleticism are definitely something to be excited about. His ability to play as a single-high or 2-deep safety is suspect right now. Expect him to be something of a project as well. In his current state he is best played near the line of scrimmage. Solid project player for SS but again it feels a little early to be taking a project.
Round 3 (79th overall)
Eli Harold – OLB from Virginia
This is my favorite of the 49ers first three picks. There’s great value here. Harold was projected as a second rounder and the 49ers got him in the third. He’s best utilized as an OLB in a 3-4 defense. He can set the edge, rush the passer, and he’s explosive to the point of attack. He’s a great tackler. Expect him to be competing for a rotational spot in camp and seeing playing time in week 1. Great pick.
Round 4 (117th overall)
Blake Bell – TE from Oklahoma
Here’s another pick I like from the 9ers. Blake Bell is a converted QB who has learned to play TE. He’s still very raw, but he was extremely effective in goal line packages both as a read option QB and as a pass catching TE. With two-point conversion rules to be potentially changed, Blake Bell could add another dimension to short yardage goal line situations. Still a bit of a project, but could be making an impact very early for the 49ers. Expect him to be the projected 3rd TE on the roster after Davis and Celek.
Round 4 (126th overall)
Mike Davis – RB from South Carolina
There’s some concern that Davis in 2014 wasn’t the same player that he was in 2013. Are the 9ers getting 2013 Mike Davis or 2014 Mike Davis? Hopefully he can find his old form. He’s a solid downhill runner that can get a nice burst of speed when he needs it. Not an elusive back, but handles a hefty workload well. Hyde and Bush should be splitting carries but expect Davis to add depth and be a potential change of pace back.
Round 4 (132nd overall)
DeAndre Smelter – WR from Georgia Tech
Projected as a sixth round pick, the 49ers took Smelter in the fourth. Smelter has extremely high upside. He’s a former basketball player who excelled on the football field as a wide receiver. He is still inexperienced, but he demonstrated a natural aptitude in college. In December of 2014 he tore his ACL so he will be in the process of rehabbing that well into the summer, potentially into the start of the season. It may be hard for him to demonstrate his ability to make the team in preseason, but the 9ers can always add him to the PUP list or to IR. Significant upside but very raw and carries injury risk as well.
Round 5 (165th overall)
Bradley Pinion – P from Clemson
What can you say about a punter prospect that you can’t say about almost any other punter prospect? Well in this case there actually is something. Pinion demonstrated that he was a solid punter but beyond that he demonstrated that he can be a kickoff specialist. This gives you some insurance in case your kicker is injured and it gives you some versatility on onside kicks. Pinion may have to beat out Andy Lee if he’s going to find a spot on the team, but he definitely brings something to the table that not every punter does. As for his distance and hang time he kicked for a 42.6-yard and an average 4.1-second hang time. These stats aren’t eye popping but they are potentially NFL caliber.
Round 6 (190th overall)
Ian Silberman – G from Boston College
Silberman has slow feet and he has difficulty hitting his targets as he moves into the second level. He’s got a natural strength and power which, including his limitations, suits him to play guard despite playing right tackle in college. He was only a starter for one year and comes in somewhat experienced. Don’t expect Silberman to be starting anytime soon, but he offers much-needed depth and a solid project for the coaching staff.
Round 7 (244th overall)
Trenton Brown – G from Florida
Brown has great size, coming in at 6’8″ and 355 lbs. His arms are long and his hands are huge. Great physical prospect. There’s a lack of experience and conditioning but with proper coaching and conditioning he could make for a very powerful guard, especially in a power run blocking scheme. There’s some concern that he is inconsistent and doesn’t always give his 100%. That obviously won’t cut it in the NFL and if the 9ers can drive that into his head then he could be finding himself out there blocking in front of Carlos Hyde.
Round 7 (254th overall)
Rory ‘Busta’ Anderson – TE from South Carolina
Projected in the fifth round, the 49ers got nice value on this pick. Anderson is coming off of a pair of torn triceps injuries. He also had a hamstring injury in college. Has great athleticism and speed for a TE but his hands are something of a liability. If he can improve his catching skills and can avoid the injury bug that struck him in college then he could prove to be a major steal for the 49ers.
Overall the 49ers added a lot of great projects and high upside guys. The problem is that they added a lot of low floor guys too. Too many of their players are projects, especially those they drafted in the higher rounds. If these gambles don’t payoff then we could be talking about another lost draft class. I would have liked to see the 49ers more aggressively address their needs at cornerback, inside linebacker, and wide receiver. With the draft capital the 49ers had I would have liked to see them move up and grab Jaelen Strong or another quality wide receiver prospect in the late second or early third. This draft class could prove me wrong and wildly excel, but as it stands I see too many project and luxury picks that don’t address glaring needs.
The 49ers grade is a C for the 2015 NFL Draft.