© Jesse Johnson | 2019 Nov 9
Mel Kiper’s final mock draft is in and… it’s a bit of a doozy. After mocking Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and Auburn corner Noah Igbinoghene to the 49ers in his previous version, Kiper may have lost the plot in this one.
He has the 49ers choosing Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy with the 13th pick as the first wide receiver off the board (followed by LSU’s Justin Jefferson at 14, then Lamb at 15 and fellow Alabama wide out Henry Ruggs III at 22 to the Minnesota Vikings). It’s not an unreasonable pick here, though the three other wide receiving prospects are all more athletic than Jeudy, whose greatest asset is his route-running.
“Finally, a wide receiver comes off the board, and this could start a run,” Kiper writes. “San Francisco has two first-round picks but no picks in the second, third or fourth rounds, so keep an eye on No. 13 or No. 31 being dealt.”
For other context, it’s not clear Kiper knows that Emmanuel Sanders is on the New Orleans Saints. He has the Saints drafting Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at No. 24, saying that Michael Thomas needs a No. 2 option.
“I thought about a cornerback or linebacker here — ILB Jordyn Brooks is a name to watch at the end of Round 1 — but New Orleans needs to find a solid No. 2 receiver behind Michael Thomas. Aiyuk is a playmaker with some versatility, and he’s dynamic after the catch.”
Again, not an unreasonable pick, but seems to completely ignore that the Saints signed a No. 2 option in free agency.
And for the 49ers’ final pick, Kiper went with Antoine Winfield Jr., the free safety from Minnesota, which doesn’t make any sense given the fact that the 49ers re-signed Jimmie Ward, with Tarvarius Moore as his backup, and have a starting nickel in K’Waun Williams, which is a position that can traditionally be replaced in later rounds. Here’s Kiper’s logic:
“Again, keep an eye on the 49ers trading down. But if they stay here, defensive back is the position they should target, and Winfield could play deep safety or slot corner. Noah Igbinoghene, whose parents were both Olympians, is another corner to watch at the end of Round 1.”
We’ll all find out soon enough what the 49ers actually decide to do.