49ers’ Draft Day 2 primer: Which players will they target to help Trey Lance?
The 49ers could use Friday's second- and third-round draft picks to fill needs at cornerback, defensive end, offensive line and wide receiver.
Day 2 of the NFL Draft promises to be much tamer than Thursday’s wild ride, arguably one of the wildest in 49ers history considering Trey Lance’s selection after a look-see at Aaron Rodgers.
The second round begins at 4 p.m. PT, and the 49ers own the 43rd overall pick (or 11th today). That will be followed by Round 3, in which the 49ers pick at No. 102; they dealt an earlier third-rounder (No. 74) to Washington last year in the trade for Trent Williams.
Having used their first-round pick (this year, plus 2022 and ’23) on quarterback Trey Lance, the 49ers have eight picks remaining to fill out their draft class and maneuver up or down the draft board.
Before we knock out draft prospects, you can scratch one running back as a potential returner to the 49ers’ roster: Jerick McKinnon. He is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager. McKinnon was a pricey free agent addition in 2018, and after missing his first two seasons with knee injuries, he played ever game last year. He ran for 319 yards and five touchdowns, plus 253 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Here are positions of greatest need and highest-touted candidates to complement a playoff-caliber roster:
1. Defensive end: Azeez Ojulari (Georgia), Joseph Ossai (Texas) Malcolm Koonce (Buffalo), Chris Rumph II (Duke) and Charles Snowden (Virginia). Analysis: Adding an edge rusher would help ease the workload in Nick Bosa’s comeback and round out a unit that also added Samson Ebukam and Arden Key in free agency.
2. Cornerback: Tyson Campbell (Georgia), Heatu Melifonwa (Syracuse), Elijah Molden (Washington), Asante Samuel (Florida State), Paulson Adebo (Stanford). Analysis: This regime hasn’t drafted a cornerback higher than the third round (Ahkello Witherspoon, 2017). They could change that to spark competition with projected starters Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley and K’Waun Williams.
#49ers waived Obi Melifonwu
I'm sure it wouldn't be awkward or anything if they drafted his brother, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu (Syracuse)— Cam Inman (@CamInman) April 30, 2021
3. Wide receiver: Elijah Moore (Mississippi), Terrace Marshall (LSU), Amari Rodgers (Clemson), Rondale Moore (Purdue) Aman-Ra St. Brown (USC). Analysis: This regime loves spending second-round picks on wide receivers (Dante Pettis, Deebo Samuel) and they could use a speedy, slot receiver. Root for Rodgers, just so we can say they came away from draft weekend with “A—- Rodgers.”
4. Offensive line: Dillon Radunz (North Dakota State), Quinn Meinerz (Wisconsin-Whitewater), Creed Humphrey (Oklahoma), Spencer Brown (Northern Iowa), Liam Eichenberg (Notre Dame). Analysis: The 49ers biggest moves this offseason (other than Lance) were re-signing left tackle Trent Williams and adding center Alex Mack, but bolstering the line’s depth or adding developmental prospects would be a boost.
5. Tight end: Tommy Tremble (Notre Dame), Pat Freiermuth (Penn State). Analysis: No Kyle Pitts partnering with George Kittle (Pitts went No. 4 to Atlanta) but the 49ers may want to go after the next-best tight ends if they’re not sold on Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley or Daniel Helm.