NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah spoke with reporters on Thursday during a conference call, offering insight into this year’s draft class ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Many expect the San Francisco 49ers to target the trenches with their first-round pick—No. 11 overall—likely selecting an offensive or defensive lineman.
Jeremiah was asked about the 49ers’ ideal scenario with their top selection.
“Where they’re picking at 11, they’re going to be able to get a really good player,” Jeremiah said. “I’m curious, the one thing—we talked about him as one of the top players in the draft—with Mason Graham, I’ll be curious to see how he goes through the spring. As I mentioned, I think his tape is so good, but I’m not sure he’s going to totally ace the spring part of it.
“If you are looking for someone who I think would be a home run pick for them, what’s the dream scenario? To me, it would be if Mason Graham were to fall down to them where they could scoop him up and pick him up.”
If Graham is off the board, Jeremiah believes the 49ers will still have plenty of options, depending on how the top 10 selections unfold. If their top targets are unavailable, San Francisco could consider trading down to gain additional draft capital while still landing a talented player who fits their scheme.
“Where they’re picking, we’ve talked about [edge Jalon] Walker from Georgia,” Jeremiah said. “That’s probably a good chance that he’s gone at that point in time. [Georgia edge Mykel] Williams is the other one. It’s kind of that same clump of players, that same group of players.
“The player who is a great scheme fit for them, which I think would be more of a trade back than necessarily taking him right there at 11, would be [Mississippi DT] Walter Nolen, with their jet front and they like to play up the field. [Defensive line coach] Kris Kocurek, they want to really get off the ball and penetrate and go, and he is really, really twitched up.
“So, Walter Nolan, to me, would be someone, maybe if you slid down a little bit just to get more value, that would be a defensive tackle that I think would be a fun fit for that group.”