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NFL mock draft 2017: Quarterbacks dominate first round

By Matt Verderame

Sep 24, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 15, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (90) celebrates after a tackle in the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins in a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (90) celebrates after a tackle in the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins in a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Solomon Thomas

Defensive end, Stanford Cardinal

The San Francisco 49ers are switching to the 4-3 this year under first-time defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. With that in mind, the choice of Solomon Thomas is perfect for ample reasons. Chiefly, Thomas is the best player available here. He was dominant at Stanford, just up the road from Santa Clara. In addition, Thomas was the 2016 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, notching eight sacks. At 273 pounds, Thomas is the perfect fit to play the defensive end spot, joining youngsters Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner along the front.

San Francisco hired head coach Kyle Shanahan, who should shore up some of the offensive issues that plagued it under Chip Kelly. With Brian Hoyer acting as a bridge to the future, Shanahan has to give his young defensive staff all the help it can get, and Thomas would be a huge building block. Additionally, the 49ers would suddenly have some real talent on that side of the ball with Armstead, Buckner, Thomas, NoVorro Bowman and Eric Reid. If Shanahan could get that offensive to average in a year or so, San Francisco could begin its long climb back to being a challenger in the NFC West.

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