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We are into the fifth round of our community mock draft, and the San Francisco 49ers are finally have a chance to make another selection.
Niners Nation Community Mock: 5th Round
147
Chris4949
Leki Fotu DT
Utah
The Bengals signed DJ Reader, Fotu is the same mold. Both men being space eaters to help the linebackers behind them. They are not much of pass rushers and will only be rational players.
148
RocklinRoll
Geno Stone S
Iowa
High IQ safety prospect who got better every year at Iowa. He probably could have used another year in college to work on his game, but there’s also nothing wrong with learning on the job.
149
Surfer2099
Markus Bailey LB
Purdue
Bailey’s senior year was cut short due to a season-ending knee injury. His two knee injury history is a cause for concern, but as a junior, he had 115 tackles with nine for a loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception, and three passes batted. Crabbs, Harris, and Marino at The Draftnetwork all cited him as his football IQ is his best trait. Harris said this about Bailey, “ Displays excellent football IQ and instincts for the position. It also shows very good mental quickness to diagnose run/pass and locate the football. Skillset suggests he could call the defense and still execute his assignment.” This reminds me of Fred Warner. I’ll take intellect like that on the field of play every day and twice on Sundays.
150
BudaBear78
Daryll Williams C
Ole Miss
The only real lineman on the roster with center experience is Spencer Pulley, therefore addressing a backup interior lineman was a must here. Williams played well both at center in his senior season and guard in two prior seasons. A team captain and a three-year starter in the SEC may be able to come in and contribute early on.
151
Stevesrus
Essang Bassey CB
Wake Forest
The Chargers get some good depth in their secondary, Essang Bassey is a three-year starter at Wake Forest. He puts a lot of effort into the position and making tackles, although he does get beaten by pure size a little too often. Although he is a good prospect and will be able to learn from guys like Chris Harris, Desmond King, and Casey Hayward. Although this is a depth selection, he could make a lot of special team starts.
152
Carolina Panthers
RocklinRoll
James Lynch DL
Baylor
Vernon Butler, Gerald McCoy, and Dontari Poe will all be playing elsewhere in 2020, so double-dipping at DT seems like a good idea. When your second DT is a first-team All-American who racked up 19.5 TFL and 13.5 sacks in 2019, and you can get him in the fifth round, it turns into a great idea.
153
GreatOden’sRaven
David Woodward LB
Utah State
We got ourselves a player here! Well, that is if he is healthy, which he doesn’t seem to be able to do. With so many draft picks, the Dolphins can take a shot at a talented LB with a history of season-ending injuries. When healthy, he’s at a minimum a rotational linebacker for the Fins and should see the field a lot. Maybe even start. When healthy. I stress. Talent and skill are there.
154
Miami Dolphins
GreatOden’sRaven
Keith Ismael OL
San Diego State
As we progress in the draft, I am looking for versatility. Ismael could be a spot starter at C or either guard spot. I don’t think he’s long-term starter quality just yet, but in a year or two could be. What he CAN do on day one is to be a backup with rotational capacity. The Dolphins get an excellent puzzle piece here at the beginning of the 5th round.
155
Blackpool Niner
Jack Driscoll OL
Auburn
Driscoll has played a ton of college football, mostly at tackle – two years at UMass before stepping up seamlessly to the SEC for two more years with Auburn. He’ll take his well-honed pass-blocking skills to a guard or center position in the NFL, and while he won’t start out of the gate, he has some nice tools to work with, including enough athleticism to play guard in the Vikings’ outside zone run scheme.
156
San Francisco 49ers
Duv49ers
AJ Green CB
Oklahoma State
49ers are looking to add more CB depth to create competition. AJ Green provides athleticism and outside corner/special teams skill set. AJ Green is a three-year starter in the BIG 12 and is one of the better athletes in the CB draft class. He’s able to move fluidly in any direction – able to backpedal quite easily and naturally. Green can play either outside/inside corner position and isn’t afraid to tackle, which is essential in the 49ers defensive scheme. Providing good reaction in the zone scheme, Green could be looking at starting within 1-3 yrs once Sherman moves on.
157
Rowingdave
Anthony Gordon QB
Washington State
The Jags pounce on another Wazzu QB...and I think this one is better than Minshew. Gordon, like Minshew, went the JUCO route before toiling as a backup at Division 1, and then finally got his opportunity in Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” system. He’s not your classic cannon-armed Air Raid prototype; he’s more successful in the intermediate range, and showcased his pocket presence and pocket mobility in the Senior Bowl, looking much better than Senior Bowl MVP Justin Herbert. Gordon’s best comp? Jimmy Garoppolo.
158
Lancashire 49er
Lynn Bowden WR
Kentucky
Man....mid draft, the jets lose Robby Anderson....the depth here looks bleak! Luckily CeeDee Lamb is around to work all levels, but Bowden offers a dog-like, feisty presence (suited to new york) to work the slot and short game with superb ability for YAC. The 2019 Paul Hornung Award winner for versatility offers options as a rusher; special teams return guy, and even a backup Or gadget QB.
Watched tape against Toledo and Florida. Both games, he came up with some impressive highlight catches. Good jump and catchability. Sound hands (one strip fumble against Toledo) SUPERB YAC ability and a tough, feisty player to bring down. Could help as a blocker in the run game, but saw too many plays where he seemed to take the playoff if he wasn’t involved—good burst and speed off the line.
I saw a late-round, lighter, poor man’s Deebo Samuel, perhaps! Nice safety blanket for Sam Darnold, can be used in multiple ways and helps defences be honest with Cee Dee Lamb and Leveon Bell taking up lanes.
JJcool00
Alex Highsmith Edge
Charlotte
A feel-good story, Highsmith was not recruited and was a walk-on for Charlotte in 2015. Highsmith then served as a reserve player for the 49ers for two years before gaining significant playing time last season. In 2019, his numbers were top 5 across the nation, posting 21.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. We’re talking about a guy who has gotten exceptionally better every year and works very hard to improve all facets of his game. The best part? He’s not a one move rusher, like many collegiate pass rushers. Instead, he possesses a number of moves. A spin, a punch, a bull rush, a counter, etc. He’s refined. As his combine numbers indicate, he’s a plus athlete.
160
MD9erFaithful
Brandon Jones S
Texas
161
Shanafandom
Josiah Scott CB
Michigan State
The Gnat is tiny at 5’9’’. But his quickness makes him a good projection as a nickel CB. He’s a ballhawk, has good burst, and moves fluidly. He tackles low and consistently. My biggest concern is injury history, but Tampa needs another body at corner, and Scott is easily my favorite nickel left.
162
Riqv
Jacob Phillips LB
LSU
163
Juicecyk
Myles Bryant CB
Washington
Bryant brings his speed and good instincts up to the Windy City, where he will probably be inserted into a starting role his rookie season in lovely Chicago.
164
Riqonator
Shyheim Carter S
Alabama
Hard hitter. He played the STAR position in Saban’s scheme, which requires a lot of skill and football IQ. Carter can be exposed in pass coverage and should be limited to TEs or RBs, but is a very good box defender. Doubling up on the Cowboys’ secondary needs.
165
Jacksonville Jaguars
Rowingdave
John Hightower WR
Boise State
Known for his deep speed, Hightower averaged nearly 19 yards a catch on 51 receptions for the Broncos. A former track star, Hightower has easy speed and triples up as a gadget player on jet sweeps and as a kick/punt returner. With almost 10 inch hands, Hightower sports big mitts that help him snag everything thrown his way; while not on punditry radar, Hightower is understatedly great in his releases and routes, and could easily cement himself as WR4 in Jacksonville, making Marquis Lee expendable.
166
Detroit Lions
Surfer2099
Alohi Gilman S
Notre Dame
Gilman will be the eighth safety on the Lions’ depth chart. The Lions have re-signed safety Miles Killebrew and signed in FA 3 other safeties. Drafting Gilman is a depth pick, but a very much needed one. Gilman produced 74 tackles with three forced fumbles, an interception, one sack, and two passes broken up in 2019. Crabbs at Draft Network also cited his football IQ as his best trait and had this to say about his tackling, “He’s an impressive tackler all around. Booming presence in the middle of the field and really appreciate his tenacity as a finisher.”
167
Andrew Strong
Dalton Keene TE
Virginia Tech
My favorite pick of the draft. I actually see the 49ers or Ravens drafting him. Keene is a player in the mold of Kyle Juszczyk. He can play tight end, FB, or RB. He loves to block and take a handoff but then sneaks out for a 30-40 yard catch and run. He has been called a Swiss Army knife, and Niners Nation knows how that can help. I am hoping he won’t be available in the draft because we find a way to trade back and grab him.
168
rhardin49
Justin Herron OT
Wake Forest
He has intriguing athletic traits and may be looked at as a developmental prospect at 6-4 308, Herron was a stalwart on the Wake Forest offensive line for three seasons, but a torn left ACL suffered in the 2018 opener ended his campaign. He returned as a starter and team captain in 2019, earning a Senior Bowl invite. He started all 12 games at right tackle as a redshirt freshman and then lined up as the team’s left tackle in 12 of 13 games during the 2016 season. The former Bullis High School three-sport star (and trumpet became an All-ACC player as a junior, earning third-team honors.
Herron is flexible and athletic, with the foot quickness to compete in a camp as a zone-blocking guard. He may not have enough play strength to withstand NFL defensive tackles in one-on-one situations, but he does have intriguing athletic traits and may be a legitimate developmental prospect adding depth to the Eagles OL if he can make the 55.
169
DeltaLima
Quintez Cephus WR
Wisconsin
This should be a fairly safe, modest ceiling pick. Cephus is a strong possession receiver who lacks suddenness but generates windows in tight quarters. Brees doesn’t need much of a window, so this should be just fine. Cephus gives a short-yardage threat and, if he can be schemed open (Sean Payton should be able to do this), he has some long speed once he gets trucking. It could be great on screens, I think. Adding a situational threat here to complement Thomas and Sanders.
170
Baltimore Ravens
Rowingdave
JJ Taylor RB
Arizona
I couldn’t resist doubling up on running backs for the Ravens; Mark Ingram has one year left on his contract before the Raven’s bail on his big cap hit in 2021. Justice Hill was disappointing in spot play in one of the most successful rushing offenses in the NFL, and Gus Edwards has a zero dead cap hit this year. Edwards was solid in spot duty, but I think the Ravens find room for both Zack Moss and JJ Taylor. JJ Taylor is built in a similar way to Justice Hill, but he’s stronger, has better vision, and is much tougher, rendering him more equipped to handle the power scheme that Roman employs. He’s also a great pass catcher.
171
GESWhoseBack
Terence Steele OT
Texas Tech
172
JUICEcyk
Tremayne Anchrum OL
Clemson
Another Clemson pick for the Patriots, wow seems like I’m really trying to lure Trevor Lawrence or something.
173
Miami Dolphins
GreatOden’sRaven
Jonathan Garvin DL
Miami
Tall, athletic, talented, but not very productive. When you get this late in the draft and with as many picks as the Dolphins have, you look for diamonds in the rough and hope you can get them up to where you want. Garvin has all the talent and size you want, he’s a hustle player, but his technique is not very good. That can be taught. Athleticism and desire can’t, and he has those already. Interested to see how he turns out like a pro.
174
Sacto Solon
Reggie Robinson CB
Tulsa
After grabbing Amik Robertson in the third round, Tennessee reaches back into the deep well of the 2020 CB class and nabs Tulsa CB Reggie Robinson II here in the fifth. The polar opposite of Robertson in terms of size, Robinson combines a 6’1”, 205lb-frame with 4.44 speed and a 36-inch vertical. A mainstay in the Golden Hurricane defensive backfield for all four years, Robinson posted 38 tackles, four interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries during his senior season at Tulsa, while excelling on special teams as well (one blocked kick in each of his four years on campus). Robinson needs to have better hip fluidity and balance in matching and phasing routes in order to make his mark in the Titans secondary, but the physical traits are there for success in the NFL. He is a potential steal this late in the draft.
175
SplasGodwithabang
Devin Asiasi TE
UCLA
176
San Francisco 49ers
Duv49ers
Tanner Muse S
Clemson
Muse provides a big body as a deep safety. Again, looking to create depth and competition, Tanner Muse can be a long term answer for starting safety if either Tartt or Ward leaves after 2020/2021 season. Muse played a variety of roles with Clemson – but in starting in 2017, primarily played deep end safety. Muse broke up five passes and made 57 tackles (2 for loss). Next season – played better with breaking up more passes and 61 tackles along with 2 INTs and two sacks. Muse has excellent size and length for the safety position – which is important playing in the 49ers defensive scheme.
177
Ninrfevr16810
Kenny Willekes Edge
Michigan State
Last year the Chiefs received some much-needed Edge help with the signing of Terrell Suggs. This year they will be more prepared with depth and youth. Willekes is a hard-working former Michigan State walk-on that plays the run well and will be a special teams standout.
178
Denver Broncos
52therim
Jason Strowbridge DL
North Carolina
Quickly recovering from the devastating blow of just missing out on my Day 3 draft crush, Tanner Muse, the Broncos, take another step towards addressing the mass exodus of the 2019 defensive line. He’ll compete to be part of the new line with Jurrell Casey and Justin Madubuike. Strowbridge really flashed at the Senior Bowl with Dane Brugler of The Athletic, describing how he was “pushing the pocket and destroying opponents during one-on-ones.” He continues, “He uses his powerful bear claws and 33-inch arms to extend into blocks, creating immediate knock-back and a path to the pocket,” adding that he “also shows the agile feet to quickly get around roadblocks and finish.” Broncos double-dipping with DL prospects that can get after Patrick Mahomes and addressing an area that needed the reinforcements.
179
Dallas Cowboys
Riqonator
Nick Coe Edge
Auburn
Potential is the name of the game. Coe, with Derrick Brown drawing the majority of the attention, was extremely productive a year ago, but this season that died down along with his draft stock. He has all the physical tools and flashes some power inside to defend the run, but needs to show more speed. Shedding some weight would go a long way. His hand placement and leverage is good as a former champion wrestler.