Niners Nation
Who did the 49ers draft with their pick? No change was needed
Now that we’re in the offseason, we can play the “what if” game. Today, we do that with the 2024 NFL Draft. We can re-slot them into a re-draft one year after knowing how the rookies performed. That’s what Bleacher Report did.
Is it a surprise to know that Dominick Puni was the first San Francisco 49ers rookie to come off the board? Puni went No. 21 overall to the Miami Dolphins:
New Selection: Dominick Puni, OG, Kansas
Original Selection: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
A third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, Dominick Puni’s play was anything but abysmal in 2024—he allowed three sacks in 1,070 snaps and was PFF’s 11th-ranked guard for the season.
Puni played so well that Matt Barrows of the Athletic wrote the 6’5”, 320-pounder should receive the team’s Bobb McKittrick Award, which goes to, “the offensive lineman who best represents courage, intensity and sacrifice.”
“This award has never gone to a rookie since it was established in 1981. Puni, however, deserves consideration,” Barrows said. “He’s not only been one of the 49ers’ most consistent linemen, he’s been among the top interior linemen in the league.”
Who knows the direction the 49ers would have gone had it not been for Puni? Another season of Spencer Burford? Forced Jon Feliciano to rush back from injury? Move Ben Bartch to the right side? Puni saved the Niners from a season entire of musical chairs at right guard.
As for the Niners pick, they are not changing course. Ricky Pearsall is still the top option:
New Selection: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Original Selection: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Over his last two games, Pearsall caught 14 passes for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns, showing an ability to be a real threat after the catch.
With Deebo Samuel’s future with the Niners cloudy at best, the Niners need a guy who can do damage over the middle. Be Deebo 2.0.
It’s why the Niners drafted Pearsall in the first place.
No need to reverse course just yet.
Ideally, Pearsall will experience some levels of normalcy as a professional in 2025. His rookie season was anything but normal, which makes everything he accomplished incredible. Pearsall heads into the offseason knowing what’s expected of him. Once he was comfortable running the full route tree, it was evident that the 49ers drafted the correct player in the first round.
