Twenty-four hours before the NFL Draft, and there still doesn’t seem to be a consensus on who the San Francisco 49ers are are going to select with the ninth overall pick. Part of that has to do with the fact that their pick will be heavily influenced by what happens with the first eight selections, and that the 49ers have needs at multiple positions, making a number of players potential fits at No. 9.
One of those players is Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. According to NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline, the 49ers are coveting Edmunds if he is available at No. 9, and wouldn’t trade out of that spot if they believe he will be available.
In that recent mock, I have the San Francisco 49ers trading down with the Buffalo Bills and selecting Leighton Vander Esch. This won’t be the case if Tremaine Edmunds is available when the Niners are called to the clock, as he is the player the team covets.
Edmunds has a diverse skill set that scouts believe would allow him to play at any linebacker spot. The 49ers have depth issues at linebacker even if Reuben Foster is available, meaning Edmunds would fill a need regardless of how that situation plays out.
Edmunds was a finalist for the Butkus Award last year, which is given annually to the top linebacker in college football. He finished his 2017 junior season with 108 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
