The topics surrounding the San Francisco 49ers have been less about the players they selected and more about whether those players would have been available at their next picks.
On the one hand, we say the draft is a crapshoot, and you never know what to expect. On the other hand, based on mock drafts, we’re generally certain that specific players will fall or be available 20 spots later.
Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge was 49th on the consensus big board. The Texans traded up to the 26th pick to get him. The Jaguars took a tight end in the second round that was 151st overall on the consensus big board. The Super Bowl champions took a safety a round and a half earlier than projected in the second round. You can do this in every round for multiple picks.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer spoke about the first perceived reach for the 49ers:
The 49ers got killed for taking Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling at 33, and I get it. When fans have been looking at mocks for two months, and their team picks someone perceived as a reach, it normally drives them nuts. I’d just say this on Stribling—some really good offensive coaches really liked him, more than the public knows. We’ll see how it plays out.
When we were discussing potential fits for the 49ers at wide receiver on Friday, you didn’t have to squint to see why NFL teams would gravitate toward Stribling’s skill set.
A big-bodied receiver with big hands who could outrun most defenders while providing value in the run game due to his attitude as a blocker. Some fans were turned off at the idea that the Niners used their first pick on a blocking wideout. That’s a bit reductive.
Stribling won on isolated routes down the field last year. Whether it was strictly “go” routes, like in the playoffs against Georgia, or back shoulder fades, he adds on to what Jauan Jennings did at the “F” position. One of the team’s biggest issues was their wideouts running away from defenders on in-breaking routes or holding on in contested situations. Those are both areas where Stribling excels.
There’s no argument against the 49ers reaching in this instance. Most boards had Stribling in the 60s, and that’s on the high side. I knew I was on an island having Stribling at WR6. This year, I went out of my way to emphasize players who could win through contact. The bigger bodies were rewarded in the rankings because that’s what stood out in the NFL last season. The smaller, less physical wideouts are no longer the prototype.