SANTA CLARA — Seems to be just like the 49ers are all out of defensive tackles.
OK, that’s not completely true nor truthful to the few remaining choices in final season’s rotation.
A decade in the past, the 49ers stocked up on defensive tackles, utilizing first-round picks in back-to-back drafts on Arik Armstead (2015) and DeForest Bucker (2016). That duo is gone, and so is the 2024 season-opening tandem of Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins, each launched final month within the 49ers’ roster purge.
“We let go of some guys who can still play and who are really good dudes we wish we still could have,” coach Kyle Shanahan advised reporters on the NFL’s annual conferences. “But that’s how this league is, with a lot of parity to balance it out.”
This week’s draft permits the 49ers to replenish that unit, beginning maybe with their first-round decide at No. 11 total.
In any other case, the 49ers will depend on the backups and damage replacements from final yr’s woeful run protection: Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Kalia Davis, and Evan Anderson.
Davis (2022 sixth spherical; 16 video games, one sack) is that this regime’s solely remaining defensive deal with of six drafted: Solomon Thomas (2017, No. 3 total), D.J. Jones (2017, sixth spherical), Kentavius Road (2018, fourth spherical), Jullian Taylor (2018, seventh spherical) and Javon Kinlaw (2020, No. 14 total).
It may be a boom-or-bust place when it comes to a first-round expense.
Booms: Professional Soccer Corridor of Famers Leo Nomellini (1950) and Bryant Younger (1994), plus Professional Bowlers Charlie Kreuger (1958), Dana Stubblefield (1993).
Busts: Reggie McGrew (1999), Kentwan Balmer (2008), and Thomas (2017).
Listed here are 5 candidates who may draw the 49ers’ curiosity with the eleventh total decide (or earlier, or later):
Mason Graham (Michigan)
6-foot-4, 296 kilos
Mock drafts abound with this unanimous All-American going within the high 10, maybe the highest 5, so it’s unlikely the 49ers may patiently anticipate him. He was the 2023 Rose Bowl MVP in Michigan’s CFP semifinal win.
Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
6-5, 313 kilos
He transferred in from Michigan State and racked up 5 sacks plus 10 ½ tackles for loss at Oregon, incomes second-team All-American honors. His 55 pressures led all FBS defensive tackles, based on Professional Soccer Focus.
Walter Nolan (Ole Miss)
6-4, 296 kilos
This AP first-team All-American was among the many 49ers’ 30 allotted pre-draft guests. He had 6½ sacks of staff’s school-record 52 sacks, plus 14 tackles for loss on nation’s No. 1 run protection. Nolan performed the earlier two seasons at Texas A&M.
Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
6-4, 331 kilos
This 49ers regime has by no means drafted a defensive lineman as heavy as Grant, however maybe they envision this 2024 third-team All-American dropping anchor higher than others.
T.J. Sanders (South Carolina)
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6-4, 297 posted
A four-year participant, he totaled 16 ½ tackles for loss and eight ½ sacks over the previous two seasons. The 49ers have drafted seven Gamecocks since 2011, together with Deebo Samuel and Javon Kinlaw.
Roll name: Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Darius Alexander (Toledo), Shemar Turner (Texas A&M), D’Quan Douse (Michigan State), Coziah Izzard (Penn State), Elija Roberts (SMU), Tryion Ingram-Dawkins (Georgia), Jordan Phillips (Maryland), Ty Robinson (Nebraska), Tonka Hemingway (South Carolina), Aeneas Peebles (Virginia Tech)
