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The San Francisco 49ers have just a little bit more work in front of them as they look to earn a playoff spot this season. However, even as that continues on, draft talk has begun around the league. It is usually focused on bad teams, but even average to good teams can get in on the action!
And so, I present Mocking the Draft's most recent NFL mock draft. This is their first mock draft since September 4, so this is effectively their "first" of the coming draft season. The college football season has three more weeks of notable action, which is then followed by bowl season and the first national championship playoff. As we get into bowl season, more NFL teams will be out of the picture, and then as we get into January things start to go into overdrive.
In today's mock draft, Dan Kadar has the San Francisco 49ers selecting Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess. Here is Dan's reasoning on the pick:
Michael Crabtree is in the final year of his rookie contract, and Anquan Boldin's age is always an overriding issue. Funchess is capable of creating mismatches with his size and stretching the field vertically.
For comparison's sake, in his September mock draft, Dan had the 49ers selecting Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. He has Cooper going No. 13 in his most recent mock.
There are plenty of college football die-hards, and "dratniks" who enjoy pouring over every notable player out there. I barely have enough time to keep up with the NFL, so I generally don't pay super close attention to college football during the season. Due to that, prior to the All Star games in January, and the Combine in February, I like to focus more on positions and process. And really, even after the draft season moves into full swing, I am more inclined to consider positional needs and types of players, rather than specific players.
With that being said, at this point in time, I am sure plenty of mock drafts will have the 49ers either looking at wide receivers or cornerbacks early in the draft. The 49ers wide receiver position in 2015 currently includes Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson, Bruce Ellington, and Chuck Jacobs. Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd are free agents. One or both could return, or the 49ers could find their options in free agency, but for now, wide receiver is going to remain high on projected needs lists.
Cornerback is another position that could be high on the radar. The team heads into the offseason with Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver and Chris Cook all due to hit free agency. They have Tramaine Brock, Jimmie Ward, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser and Kenneth Acker signed for 2015. Given how we have seen Ed Donatell develop the secondary, does the team continue to avoid spending high picks on cornerbacks. Prior to Chris Culliver's selection as a third round pick, the 49ers had last selected a cornerback higher when they picked Shawntae Spencer with a second round pick. The 49ers do not seem to invest huge capital in the position.
It's only mid-November, but we are in the early days of mock draft season. How does it shake out for you?