© Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers are designated up to 30 meetings with out-of-area prospects in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, which begins on April 26. Eight players have already scheduled visits to Santa Clara, including some of the top prospects in the class, according to various reports.
Three of the prospects the 49ers met with last offseason were Reuben Foster, Ahkello Witherspoon, and George Kittle, all of whom were imminently drafted.
As many as four teams may select quarterbacks before the 49ers take their first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, giving them abundant options at the No. 9 slot. With the 49ers set at just about every starting position, they will likely look to draft the best position player available.
Let’s look at how each of the eight reported prospects scheduled to visit with the 49ers would fit with San Francisco.
Denzel Ward, CB — Ohio State (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
Ward reportedly met with the 49ers on Thursday. Blazing fast, athletic, and sticky in coverage, he is undoubtedly the best cornerback prospect in the draft.
But does he fit in San Francisco’s defensive scheme?
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh wants big, long, physical cornerbacks to fill out his Cover-3 defense. Ward stands at 5-foot-11, 183 pounds, and his arms measure at 31 ¼ inches. Comparatively, 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, with 33-inch arms, the longest wingspan among cornerbacks at the 2017 NFL Combine. Newly signed Richard Sherman is 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and has 32-inch arms.
Judging by his physical measures, Ward doesn’t fit the Cover-3 prototype, but his versatility may allow him to break the mold. He has the requisite experience and skill in Cover 2 and Cover 3-type looks to fit in any scheme.
Much like Sherman and Witherspoon, Ward thrives in press coverage. He has plenty of strength and pop.
Targeting? Confirmed? Denzel Ward with a huge hit. pic.twitter.com/iX5ZAkErab
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) October 7, 2017
One of his most apparent skills is his ability to press-bail, retreat, anticipate, and make a play on the ball, skills that would transfer swimmingly in San Francisco.
Ward defended 15 passes with Ohio State in 2017. He allowed only 20 pass completions out of 57 attempts. And opposing quarterbacks produced a measly 54.0 passer rating against Ward throughout his Ohio State career, according to Pro Football Focus.
He also crushed the NFL Combine, running a 4.32 40-yard dash and recording a 39-inch vertical.
If the 49ers proceed with the ‘best-player-available’ mantra, Ward may fit the billing, despite his lack of physical measurables.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB — Alabama (Matt Barrows, Sacramento Bee)
Several draft experts project Fitzpatrick to the 49ers at No. 9 overall, including ESPN insiders Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.
It’s easy to see why.
Fitzpatrick can line up all over the field, whether it’s at corner, nickel, or at free safety. He was lined up in the slot last season — which Alabama calls its ‘star’ position — and dominated. He produced one interception, eight pass breakups, and 60 tackles, including eight for a loss.
He was the best player on an Alabama team that won the 2018 National Championship, providing another sparkly addition to his already-stocked trophy case. Fitzpatrick won the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the best defensive player in college football, and Jim Thorpe Award, reserved for the nation’s top defensive back, in 2017. He is only the third player to ever win both honors in the same season.
At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, Fitzpatrick fits the defensive back mold in San Francisco. The 49ers are still slim at cornerback, with Sherman and Witherspoon as the only guaranteed contributors. It’s worth noting that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has placed safety Jimmie Ward in Sherman’s cornerback slot until he returns from an Achilles rupture suffered last November.
It’s unknown where the 49ers would deploy Fitzpatrick, with K’Waun Williams is the projected starter at nickel. With injuries consistently riddling NFL secondaries, however, there’s always a need for depth.
Both Fitzpatrick and Ward also visited the Chicago Bears, which hold the No. 8 overall selection, on Wednesday. If the former Alabama standout drops to the 49ers, he may be too tempting to pass on.
Roquan Smith, ILB — Georgia (Jason Butt, Macon Telegraph)
An inside linebacker with impressive coverage skills, Smith is a can’t-miss prospect in today’s NFL. Smith produced 137 tackles, including 14 for a loss, and six sacks in a monster 2017 campaign.
He anchored the Georgia defense that nearly upset Alabama in the 2018 National Championship, where Smith’s versatility was on full display.
He doesn’t need to be 250lbs, because he can use his speed to play at the line of scrimmage. Avoids a pick here to still kill this play in short yardage. pic.twitter.com/XCJifPeAO9
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) March 25, 2018
Whether the 49ers use their first pick to select Smith likely depends on the status of Foster’s legal situation. The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office is waiting to decide whether it will pursue criminal charges against Foster, who was arrested for threats, possession of an assault weapon, and domestic violence in February. One month earlier, he was arrested for possession of marijuana in his home state of Alabama.
The thought of Foster, November’s Defensive Rookie of the Month in 2017, and Smith flying around the field would conjure images of Patrick Willis and Novorro Bowman anchoring the San Francisco defense.
The precarious nature of Foster’s legal situation makes it difficult to project whether Smith will end up in San Francisco. At the very least, he would provide valuable insurance to the linebacker position, with Brock Coyle and Malcolm Smith rounding out the current group.
Auden Tate, WR — Florida State (Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area)
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Tate would provide San Francisco with the big, physical receiving threat the offense has lacked. Last year, the 49ers scored a touchdown on only 47 percent of red zone attempts — fifth-worst in the league— partly due to a dearth of big targets.
Tate enjoyed a productive year with Florida State in 2017, despite losing star quarterback Deondre Francois in the first game of the season. Tate also separated his shoulder in the second game of the year, but continued to produce, catching a touchdown pass in each of the first five games. He ended the 2017 season with a five-catch, 84-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl. Ten of Tate’s 40 catches resulted in touchdowns last year.
The main concern with Tate is his lack of speed— he ran a 4.68 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. But his physicality could supplement a San Francisco attack known for its speed.
Tate is projected as a Day-2 selection.
Byron Pringle, WR — Kansas State (Aaron Wilson, Houston Chronicle)
Pringle’s speed and shiftiness brought him success during his senior year at Kansas State. He produced 30 catches for 724 yards — equating to 24.1 yards per reception — and six touchdowns. He was selected to the All-Big 12 team as a returner after averaging 26.1 yards per return and scoring a touchdown in 2017.
Pringle overcame two separate arrests during his youth, bounced around schools, and eventually landed at Kansas State, where he produced a solid junior season. It’s unknown whether the 49ers would use him at returner or receiver. But with good size (6-foot-1 and 205 pounds) and speed (4.46 40-yard dash time), he is likely to be drafted.
He is projected as a Day-3 selection.
Lorenzo Carter, LB/Edge — Georgia (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
Carter would help satisfy a need at edge rusher. San Francisco sacked opposing quarterbacks only 30 times last season, the fifth-worst mark in the league.
Carter totaled 62 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss, and 4.5 sacks with Georgia last season. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Carter is long and crafty, but he will need to bulk up at the next level. He could play either outside linebacker or the ‘LEO’ spot in the 49ers defense.
He is projected as a Day-2 pick.
James Daniels, C — Iowa (Rob Howe, Hawkeyenation.com)
Daniels would add depth to the center position that was recently revamped with the Weston Richburg addition. Daniels, who played alongside current 49ers players C.J. Beathard and George Kittle at Iowa, is smooth and fluid. Daniels’ athleticism would translate well to Shanahan’s offense that requires offensive linemen to extend to the second level.
He is projected to be selected in rounds 2-3. It’s highly unlikely the 49ers would spend one of their early picks at the center position.
Foye Oluokun, LB/Edge — Yale (Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout)
The Yale product boosted his draft stock with an impressive showing at his Pro Day. Had he been invited to the NFL Combine and produced the same scores, he would have been one of the best linebackers.
Oluokun ran a 4.12 20-yard shuttle time, which would have been second-best among all linebackers at the combine. His 4.56 40-yard dash would have placed sixth among linebackers. His 10-foot, three-inch broad jump would have placed fourth.
Oluokun was also snubbed from the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game, but his athleticism captivated many teams, including the 49ers.
Brad Almquist is KNBR’s 49ers beat writer. Follow him on Twitter @Bquist13.
