Niners Nation
In our first mock draft, the 49ers address their biggest positions of need by double dipping at the same school
It’s the NFL Combine week. Free agency is being pushed aside in favor of the upcoming NFL Draft as we focus on over 300 prospective players.
Over the next week, players will “rise” and “fall.” A 250-pound, 21-year-old has the same 40-yard dash time as the average wide receiver. But the NFL Combine, for me at least, is used to draw red lines through players.
We’re in the dark when it comes to off-the-field issues, so we’ll steer clear of any rumors unless there are concrete reports that are public information. Who would have thought the defensive tackle on his third school isn’t the most amicable teammate?
On the outside, we’re only privy to athletic testing numbers. Athleticism matters in athletics, so this week is the perfect time to narrow down the pool of players you’re interested in by eliminating the players who don’t meet certain athletic baselines or thresholds.
Our first mock draft of the year comes before the Combine, so we’ll have to rely on the good ‘ol eye test. These are players who, I believe, play like 80 percentile or better athletes and play with the style and aggression the 49ers look for.
When you’re watching a player, and you start laughing because of the things he’s doing to his opponent, you’re dealing with a special skill set. That shouldn’t be a surprise, as Nolen was the No. 1 or No. 2 player in the 2022 high school draft class with Travis Hunter.
It’s one thing to be stout, strong at the point of attack, or any other adjective or phrase you can come up with to determine strength. Nolen displaces offensive linemen when he gets his hands on them first.
He is an absurd run defender who wins without taking any shortcuts. Nolen will go right through you, wins with quickness off the line, and get behind a guard while he’s still getting out of his stance. The 49ers were woeful against the run last season because they were weak down the spine.
Nolen can fight over reach blocks, make plays down the line of scrimmage, and consistently play in the backfield of the offense. It’s one of the easiest evaluations, and I struggle to see him outside of the top 10 in consensus big boards perusing the internet.
The thought is that Nolen might have short arms, which will be an issue, such as shedding blocks, playing with inconsistent pad level, and developing more of an arsenal as a pass rusher. The NFL Combine will answer any arm-length questions.
I watch Nolen and see a star. History is on my side, as the Niners are in a sweet spot to find a stud defensive tackle. During the past 15 years, here is the list of defensive tackles drafted between No. 9 and No....
