NFL free agency is only eight days away, and that means mock drafts could start to get turned on their collective ears. Many team needs will remain somewhat similar given the inexpensive options the draft provides, but a couple big signings could make for some big changes in the early rounds.
Mocking the Draft has their latest 2014 NFL mock draft, and they went two rounds deep with it. While I get some of the reasoning for the positions at the 49ers three picks, I just don't see those particularly picks happening that early. MtD has the 49ers drafting Minnesota defensive tackle Rashede Hageman in the first round, and then Oklahoma cornerback Aaron Colvin and Baylor guard Cyril Richardson in the second round. They might be going in the appropriate portion of the draft, but if the 49ers came out of the first three days with this collection of players, I'd be a little bit surprised.
30. San Francisco 49ers - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Ra'Shede Hageman needs time to refine his technique and learn how to be a defensive lineman. In San Francisco, he wouldn't be rushed into action. The 49ers would add another insane talent to the defensive line and put him situations where he could succeed early.
Defensive line remains a popular option for the 49ers in the first round. In reality, I continue to think the team trades up for cornerback help. That could change, but even if Carlos Rogers restructures his deal and returns for another season, the 49ers have some question marks at the position. Tramaine Brock is locked in at starter, and right now Carlos Rogers and Chris Culliver would be in that other starter and nickel spot. They have Darryl Morris developing behind them, but with Rogers potentially on the outs, there is a need for more high end depth.
56. San Francisco 49ers - Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma
The 49ers have more picks in the 2014 NFL Draft than they have roster spots for those picks. So a player like Aaron Colvin, who may not play in 2014, is a bit more attractive to the 49ers.
Maybe the 49ers invest in Colin a round or two later, but another second round pick that would miss the season? I just can't see it. This is a really deep draft early on, so why not wait and see if Colvin falls into the late third or even fourth?
61. San Francisco 49ers - Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor
The pre-draft process hasn't been kind to Cyril Richardson, but San Francisco would be a nice place for him to come in and learn behind a talented group of offensive linemen. Richardson could be a nice fit here.
I could see the 49ers adding an interior lineman, but on Day 2? Mike Iupati is entering his walk season, and Joe Looney remains a bit of question mark to fans. If the 49ers do go with some interior line help in the draft, the timing of it could tell us a lot. A sixth or seventh round pick, and maybe they're looking more at fliers. A Day 2 or early Day 3 pick, and that tells us a whole lot of something else.
All in all, I just am not a big fan of this trio of picks. It adds short term and long term depth, but these seem more like luxury picks. Maybe they could work out in the long run, but with the championship window currently in place, there are better ways to use the picks, and still build the kind of long-term depth this team needs.