Colin Cowherd had his latest mock draft on the air and had running back Saquon Barkley going to the San Francisco 49ers.
This really is interesting given the 49ers needs and how the draft shapes up. Cowherd did have trades involved in this draft, expecting trades with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals in order to get quarterbacks Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield respectively.
For those Quenton Nelson fans, you’re out of luck as the Notre Dame guard goes to the Chicago Bears one pick before the 49ers can get their hands on him.
That leaves Barkley. After all the money spent on Jerick McKinnon and Joe Williams coming back to compete, Barkley is drafted. If picked, it’d be pretty awesome, especially having a rookie like that to spell McKinnon and Breida. But it’d almost guarantee the release of Williams or Breida. The 49ers can’t keep all those running backs.
Here’s what Cowherd had to say about the pick:
“Now, this is where it gets interesting. This is where I don’t know what San Francisco is going to do. I think they are in a potential trade-down spot. Here’s what we know about San Francisco; they went heavy on defense in the first three picks last year. I know this. I trust my sources. They would like to give [49ers quarterback, Jimmy] Garoppolo more support on the offensive line, some perimeter play, they want to give him some help, and Saquon Barkley I believe is going to be the one player that is going to fall in this draft. Because the way this works man, is sometimes, Aaron Rodgers dropped because there were about 12 teams that year that didn’t need a quarterback and they were all drafting from 12 to about 22. I think Barkley is the kid who falls in this draft. In an incredibly rich running back draft. I think San Francisco—if they don’t trade down, gives Garoppolo a home run hitter. Don’t kid yourself, [49ers head coach] Kyle Shanahan, who is very clever, lot of looks, lot of motion, lot of sets, gets a chess piece.”
I’ve listed the picks leading up to Barkley below. Do you see this situation playing out at all?
1. Cleveland Browns - Sam Darnold
2. (trade) Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen
3. New York Jets - Josh Rosen
4. Cleveland Browns - Bradley Chubb
5. Denver Broncos - Denzel Ward
6. (trade) Arizona Cardinals - Baker Mayfield
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Minkah Fitzpatrick
8. Chicago Bears - Quenton Nelson
9. San Francisco 49ers - Saquon Barkley