Author: Matt Maiocco / Source: NBCS Bay Area
The 49ers began the three-day NFL draft with six draft picks. But after a couple of Day 3 trades, general manager John Lynch and Co. came out of the weekend with three defensive players, four offensive players . . . and a punter.
Yes, a punter.
We will refrain from posting letter grades in this space, as every selection gets an “incomplete” at this point.
After all, the draft hits high marks – the highest possible, in fact – if the draft board used to assess the selections is the one the 49ers’ personnel department and coaches worked over the past few months to assemble.#49ers 2019 draft
1st (2) DE Nick Bosa, OSU
2nd (36) WR Deebo Samuel, S.C.
3rd (67) WR Jalen Hurd, Baylor
4th (110) P Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah
5th (148) LB Dre Greenlaw, Arkansas
6th (176) TE Kaden Smith, Stanford
6th (183) T Justin Skule, Vandy
6th (198) DB Tim Harris, Virginia— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS)
But that does not mean we can’t assemble our own views and perspectives of the 49ers’ approach to this year’s draft. Here are some the major takeaways from the 49ers’ draft class of 2019:
Why Nick Bosa was ‘The Choice’
After the Arizona Cardinals went, as expected, with quarterback Kyler Murray with the top pick, the 49ers made the decision that was also widely expected.
One source told NBC Sports Bay Area that the 49ers expressed to Nick Bosa’s camp as early as the NFL Scouting Combine in February that he would be the pick. “The Choice” came down to Bosa and Quinnen Williams.
The 49ers would have been pleased to add either player with the No. 2 overall selection. But Bosa got the clear nod because the team had a greater need at edge rusher, which is also a more impactful position.
“Ultimately we had those guys ranked extremely evenly,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said. “Then you kind of look at where your team has the biggest need, and while we would have been very happy with Quinnen, (but) Nick, we felt like that was a piece that we still could use, another edge guy.”
Best reaction to getting drafted
A year ago, the Seattle Seahawks selected Australian-born punter Michael Dickson in the fifth round of the draft. He became a defensive weapon with his remarkable 42.5-yard net average.
Mitch Wishnowsky, another Australian, was tops on the 49ers’ wish list to replace Bradley Pinion, who signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent. After trading back six spots near the top of the fourth round, the 49ers made the call – much sooner than the Utah punter had anticipated.
“I was hoping it would be San Fran, and I think San Fran were about two picks away, and I got a call, and I was like, ‘You are kidding me?’ Unbelievable!” Wishnowsky said.
The 49ers made Wishnowsky the highest-drafted punter since Jacksonville took Bryan Anger with in the third round in 2012.
“Everyone knows he’s the best punter in the draft, and when is he going to go, and you always want to take that as late as possible,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of Wishnowsky. “You’d love to do it in the seventh, but I promise you we wouldn’t have gotten him if we tried to do it in the fifth. That’s why the Patriots traded up to take next guy in the fifth.”
Most intriguing selection
One round after taking South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel, the 49ers doubled-down at wide receiver . . . well, kind of.
In fact, that’s how Shanahan described Baylor’s Jalen Hurd, as “an NFL receiver, kind of.”
Hurd was a running back at University of Tennessee. And he was a successful one, too. At 6-foot-5, he insisted on being listed at 6-4, because that extra inch just made him seem too big, and offered too big of a target for angry defensive players.
Hurd took a pounding as a running back. Then-Volunteers coach Butch Jones refused to grant Hurd his wish to switch positions. So Hurd switched schools. While Hurd was sitting out the season after transferring to Baylor, Tennessee canned Jones…
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