49ers Project Summary: An Overview of How John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan Made Their Choices

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The 49ers started the three-day NFL draft with six draft picks. But after a few exchanges on day 3, general manager John Lynch and Co. came out of the weekend with three defensive players, four offensive players. . . and a bettor.

Yes, a bettor.

We will refrain from displaying letter notes in this space, as each selection becomes "incomplete" at this point. After all, the draw hits hard – the maximum possible in fact – if the selection board used to evaluate the selections is the one that the 49ers' staff and coaching staff have worked on over the last few months.

But that does not mean we can not muster our own views and perspectives on the 49ers' approach to this year's project. Here are some of the key lessons of the 2019 49er promotion:

Why Nick Bosa was "the choice"

After the Arizona Cardinals left, as expected, with quarterback Kyler Murray with the top pick, the 49ers made the decision that was also widely expected.

A source told NBC Sports Bay Area that the 49ers had reported to Nick Bosa's camp from the NFL Combine Scouting in February that he would be the first choice. "The choice" goes to Bosa and Quinnen Williams.

The 49ers would have been delighted to add a player to the No. 2 overall selection. But Bosa clearly understood because the team needed a bigger edge, which is also a more powerful position.

"In the end, we ranked these guys extremely evenly," said 49ers general manager John Lynch. "Then you look a little where your team needs it the most, and while we would have been very happy with Quinnen, (but) Nick, we felt like a piece we could always use, another guy at the cutting-edge technology. "

Better reaction to the editorial

A year ago, the Seattle Seahawks selected Michael Dickson, of Australian descent, in the fifth round of the repechage. He became a defensive weapon with a remarkable net average of 42.5 yards.

Mitch Wishnowsky, another Australian, was at the top of the 49ers' wish list to replace Bradley Pinion, who signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent. After trading six seats near the top of the fourth lap, the 49ers followed the call – much earlier than expected.

"I was hoping it would be San Fran, and I think San Fran was about two choices, and I got a call, and I thought," Are you making fun of me? "Amazing!" Said Wishnowsky.

The 49ers have made Wishnowsky the most drafted bettor since Bryan Anger won in Jacksonville in the third round in 2012.

"Everyone knows he's the best bettor in the repechage, and when will he leave, and you still want to take it as late as possible," said Kyle Shanahan, 49ers coach, about from Wishnowsky. "You would like to do it the seventh, but I promise you that we would not have had it if we had tried to do it the fifth. That's why the Patriots traded to take the next guy in the fifth. "

Most intriguing selection

A lap after taking Deebo Samuel, wide receiver from South Carolina, the 49ers doubled the wide receivers' placing. . . good kind of.

For example, Shanahan described Baylor's Jalen Hurd as "an NFL receiver, so to speak."

Hurd was a half at the University of Tennessee. And he was a success, too. At 6-foot-5, he insisted on being 6-4, because that extra inch made him too big, and offered too big a target for angry defensive players.

Hurd was beaten like a half. Volunteer coach Butch Jones refused to grant Hurd his wish to change jobs. So Hurd changed school. While Hurd remained top of the season after being transferred to Baylor, Tennessee hired Jones as a coach in the middle of the season.

Shanahan loves the versatility Hurd has to offer in his offensive. Shanahan spoke like a mad scientist detailing the possibilities that can evolve over time, while Hurd finds his niche, as well as his ideal game weight.

"If he had stayed behind, I think he would have been drafted as a NFL bearer," said Shanahan. "He was named the NFL receiver, sort of. I think if he had tried to play the game tight, he would have been drafted as a close match of the NFL.

"It's a pretty unique thing to have. I do not remember having to say that of a player I studied before. So it's good to be able to do it and it can help us in different ways. "

Why a difficult pass for the defenders?

In case you have forgotten, there has never been a team in the history of the NFL that is as successful in interceptions as the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. In 16 games, the 49ers have generated two interceptions – seriously , two.

However, the 49ers waited until the last pick in the repechage to tackle their defensive field. The 49ers selected cornerback Virginia Tim Harris with # 198.

One thing is clear: the 49ers felt that most of the problems that arose a year ago stemmed from the lack of quick pass. Quarterbacks could stay in the pocket and wait for the pass routes to grow and the receivers to open.

When it was the turn of the 49ers to pick at some places in the repechage, they had the impression that there was more to offer in other positions.

"If there are guys you think are better than those you have and who make more sense than another job, then that's an easy decision to make," Shanahan said. .

The 49ers determined at each turn that there were not significantly better options than their corner-half group, consisting of Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett, Ahkello Witherspoon and Tarvarius Moore.

The 49ers also did not believe there were obvious improvements in safety. Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Adrian Colbert, Marcell Harris, Antone Exum and D.J. Roseau.

Attention, George Kittle (or not)

Kaden Smith announced his decision to become professional after his second season with Redshirt. He captured 70 passes for 1,049 yarsd and seven touchdowns during his university career. He did not really help his cause with the slowest second place finish in the NFL Combined Scouting 40 rankings.

Shanahan said that everything was fine. He will not send Smith to the field with a regular diet of travel itineraries. Smith is a good blocker that can be used as a compliment, but certainly not a substitute, to George Kittle.

"Speed ​​does not depend on how you want to use it," Shanahan said of Smith. "He's efficient in passing play and we think he could be a good blocker for us too."

So, Shanahan could not stop it.

"I hope it will put some pressure on Kittle here," he says, causing a room full of laughter.

49ers: Deebo is dynamic

It's easy to understand why the 49ers fell for Deebo Samuel, wide receiver from South Carolina. After spending a week with him in Mobile, Alabama, at the Senior Bowl, there was simply nothing. do not like.

Oklahoma speedboat Marquise Brown (Baltimore) and Arizona Corp.'s N'Keal Harry (New England) were the only receivers selected in the first round. Samuel became the third receiver on the board when the 49ers jumped to 36th.

"I think the thing that jumps to the eyes, just the fight, the courage, the tenacity, and when you mix that with a guy who can get it and catch a slant and disappear, that's a combination rather fun, "said Lynch.

Samuel's potential pairing with Dante Pettis, a second-round pick a year ago, will allow the 49ers to achieve their goal of entrusting Marquise Goodwin with a specialized role to better utilize her ability to penetrate the field.

Skule is back in session

Measurable skills and athleticism were not enough for offensive lineman Vanderbilt, Justin Skule, to win one of the 337 NFL Combine Scouting invitations. But the 49ers ranked him among the 184 players registered on their board.

According to Pro Football Focus, Skule was on the safe side for 473 catches last season. He only allowed one bag of the season, against Kentucky's Josh Allen, who led the country with 17 sacks and was the No. 7 seed of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"It's not always pretty, pretty, but (it's) a kind of junk that at the end of the game was playing against his guy and was gaining a lot of leverage," Lynch said. "And when you find these guys, you look at the level of competition. Well, his level of competition was as good as in college football. "

Vanderbilt plays in the SEC. Skule will compete with veteran Shon Coleman for substitute Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey.

Rest in peace, Reggie Cobb

A week earlier, the 49ers were shaken by the sudden death of regional scout Reggie Cobb, who suffered a seeming heart attack. Cobb spotted the west coast and the 49ers selected two players – Wishnowsky and Smith – whom he watched closely.

The 49ers had a private training with Wishnowsky during the pre-draft process. They sent special teams coordinator Richard Hightower and assistant coaches Stan Kwan and Michael Clay to the training.

"Reggie was very meticulous about how he organized this visit," said Lynch. "Hightower told the story to everyone, and it's really good that Stanford's Mitch and Kaden Smith are two men (drafted). We talked about Reggie's imprint on this rough draft, well, there are two guys who were his guys, and that makes us happy. "

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