FanPost

INTERACTIVE: Re-drafting USA Today’s seven-round mock

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Hey folks, time for some fun.

Since the seven-round mock draft from USA Today got a good amount of discussion in the comment section, why don't we go ahead and re-draft it to our liking.

I'll put my re-draft here, along with my general thinking about the draft going in. I'll also explain each pick, and why it happened. Please, please, please feel free to either comment on my draft, or (better yet) build your own re-draft of as many rounds as you like, and leave that in the comment section to be picked apart by other Niners Nation readers that secretly hate you. The only rules are as follows: 1. There are no trades, and 2. You must only draft players that were available according to the rest of the USA Today mock draft. You can't draft any player that had already been taken by that point.

Here is their draft for reference

c431e9f5c9.0.png

On to the draft:

Based on where we are, my general thinking was basically, don't take a guy just to fill a hole. You'll see that I didn't take any quarterbacks at all. There are guys I like in this draft, but there aren't guys I like at where I would need to be to get them. They were over-drafted, and I'm not going to waste a pick by reaching. We have enough holes to fill. Secondly, I went in with the assumption that this will not be a one-year turnaround. I'm going to walk out of this draft with holes. That's the reality of where we are. You can't get everything back in one draft. Just do the best that you can. So, what's it look like?

Round 1 Pick 2: Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State

I've gone back and forth on this a ton. Without a trade-back option, there are probably 6 guys that could fill this spot, and there are good reasons to take any one of them. In the end, I went with Hooker because he fills a massive need, and can fill that need well. There just aren't guys like this in every draft, and having a free safety with his range makes the defense better. It also allows Ward to be a starting corner. Which means I don't have to reach for a corner in this draft. We're set for this year in the secondary if we want to be.

Other options included (in order) Jonathan Allen, Corey Davis, Derek Barnett, OJ Howard, Solomon Thomas

Round 2 Pick 2: TJ Watt, SAM, Wisconsin

Wow, two picks in, and you probably already hate me! Sorry. Again, this pick here is based on the fact that we ain't there yet. Of the pass rushers that are left, I think Watt is just a better value, and will be more productive as a SAM than any of the other guys will be at LEO... Tak included... You can hate the pick if you like, but Watt has the makings of a very disruptive pass rusher. Immediate upgrade over Brooks. And if I could choose to replace one of Brooks or Lynch this year, I'd replace Brooks. Lynch has been productive in the recent past. I agree that last year raises huge question marks about his dedication. But it's a two year process, and Brooks has no future value, while Lynch may have some.

Round 3 Pick 2: Ethan Pocic, C (he's gonna play guard for a bit), LSU

If you were wondering, yes, I can actually feel you shaking your head in disgust right now. It hurts me a little bit, but this is the way I'm going. Bottom line to me is that we need to rebuild this offensive line a bit over the next two years, and there are only three players on the board that can get us there in this draft. Forrest Lamp will be gone in the first, Garet Bolles will be gone in the second, and if we don't take him, Pocic will be gone by the time we are picking again in the 4th. If I had trades available to me, I would try to nab one of these three guys in a different spot, but based on not having trades available, I need to take him here. Pocic is an upgrade to Beadles right this second. He has similar limitations of not being very strong, but he's younger, and will get stronger. Eventually, he will take over center duties, but for now, he's just the type of athletic guard that you could pencil in at RG, helping Trent Brown, and allowing Garnett to move to his more natural LG position. It's a long term win, and we can deal with the growing pains this year, with a QB we don't care much about. Pocic is an outstanding athlete, and he can run the outside zone the way it is supposed to be run.

Round 4 Pick 2: Dalvin Tomlinson, NT, Alabama

This pick does so much for us, it's crazy. For me personally, I know that the pick makes Joe the Wizard happy, and it gets him on my side, if only for a moment. For the team, it's immeasurable. This pick solves the NT position for a really, really long time. If you were mocking A'Shawn Robinson to the 49ers last season, this pick is a no-brainer. He's a nose, but he could fill in for one of Armstead or Buckner for injury if needed in sup packages as well. He's strong, he'll stuff the run, end of story.

Round 4 Pick 36 (comp): Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming

Did I get you back on my side with this pick? If not, just go and watch his tape on draftbreakdown.com, or just watch some of his highlights. You'll see it. He's a great guy to pair with Carlos Hyde. He's punishing, he's talented, and he can catch. He fits what we need at RB 2. He's criminally underrated.

Round 5 Pick 2: Amara Darboh, WR, Michigan

So, it would be great to get a Julio Jones clone in the draft, and be able to move Pierre Garcon from the X to the Z. That really would be ideal. And if the team trades back into the first, maybe they think Corey Davis is that clone. I don't think it's a perfect fit though, and this is a smart pick anyway. If you can't push Garcon into the Mohamed Sanu position, why not just draft Mohamed Sanu instead? That's what Darbo represents. He's tall, he fights for the ball, he's not real sudden, but he works hard, makes blocks in the run game, is from a pro style system, and has the talent and frame to become a legitimate weapon down the line.

Round 5 Pick 17: Connor Harris, LB (Mike) Linwood

If you are anything like me, you still find yourself randomly thinking about what could have been with Chris Borland. Well, wonder no more, because this guy fills your need for a talented, stubby limbed, try-hard that is quick to read and diagnose. This guy is at worst great depth for Navorro Bowman. We could use that depth desperately. He's got nice range too, for a stubby little midget-man. He's a good system fit (to my mind). Now we just need to keep him from a premature retirement.

Round 6 pick 13: Matt Dayes, RB, NC State

At this point in the draft, you should be trying to find talent, over trying to fill holes. Go watch Dayes, and tell me he doesn't remind you of Frank Gore. Not young Frank Gore, who could take a missed tackle, and house it, but Frank Gore from the past four years or so, who lacks the breakaway speed, and maybe gets tripped up too often by an arm tackle across his shins, but is still slippery, and patient, makes one devastating cut, and sneaks through the line for three and five yard gains right when you need them. The fact that he wears 21 helps you picture Frank out there. He's the type of one cut guy that Mike Shanahan built a career on making look better than he is. Dayes is now RB3, and he represents a handcuff on Carlos Hyde's injury history. Taking Dayes and Hill in the same draft could finally end the cycle of drafting a RB every year. And if both guys pan out, we may even be able to let Carlos Walk to free agency. Who knows?

Round 6 Pick 18: Avery Moss, LEO, Youngstown State

Again, this is a value pick. High ceiling, low floor sort of thing. There are no more sure things at this point in the draft. I don't think we know yet what Avery Moss is going to be. He's basically a Aaron Lynch type that transferred from Nebraska after showing off his wang to a coed. Not bright, Avery. But he landed at Yongstown State, and has been productive. Not a finished product though. He provides depth at LEO. He's got burst, and he's got certain pass rush potential. Can be devastating bending the edge. We need pass rush. At the end of the day, there is potential, at a position of need.

Round 7 Pick 1: Will Likely, CB (punt and kick returner) Maryland

Taking a flier here. No great options left in this years' draft. Likely is a short dude, but a good player. He's a backup at slot corner, but more importantly, he is super productive as a kick and punt returner. Super, super productive. Been a while since we've had production at that spot... Since Ginn left.

And that's it folks. Have fun tearing me a new one, or making your own draft for people to tear apart, or just ignoring this post and acting like it never happened.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.