The 49ers wound up picking eight times in the 2024 NFL draft, and their selections helped solidify the idea that they’d pursue both immediate and long-term help for their roster.
Most of their picks fall in a similar bucket where they could certainly contribute right away, but it’s easier to see paths to playing time down the road. We issued grades for all of the picks, which we’ll get to momentarily, but it’s important to note these grades have more to do with the general philosophy of the pick and how a player at a given position fits with the roster. Of course, it comes with some projection. That’s part of the whole draft process. However, we’re neither propping up the players as successes nor condemning them as failures based on our grades.
Let’s dive in:
Wide receiver wasn’t the biggest need for the 49ers, but it was certainly something they needed to address in this year’s draft. Pearsall didn’t have the highest ceiling of the WRs left at the 31st pick, but there aren’t many holes to poke in his game. He’s a quality route runner and a good athlete who could be a really good WR2.
Grade: B
This pick was a bit of a head-scratcher given how the 49ers haven’t really prioritized cornerback in the draft before this year. Green’s measurables aren’t outstanding, but the fact he shut down players like LSU WR Malik Nabers (No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 draft) and posted 14 pass breakups without elite size or athleticism is a testament to how good he is in coverage. It remains to be seen whether his aggressive style can come without too many flags. He’ll also have to prove he can hang with NFL athletes. His upside projects him as a very good starting CB in the NFL though and he’ll have an inside track to a starting job in Year 1.
Grade: B
The 49ers needed to add offensive line help. They found a versatile player like Puni via trade up in the third round, and really got the type of player they would’ve gotten had they reached in Rounds 1 or 2. Instead they stayed patient and identified a good tackle prospect who will likely kick to guard in the pros. He started a full season at left guard and left tackle for the Jayhawks, and he should get opportunities to push for a starting job at both right guard and right tackle. At worst he’s a developmental depth piece with experience at multiple positions.
Grade: B+
This is a really fun pick for the 49ers in part because they won’t need Mustapha to start in Year 1. He’s a well-built strong safety who flies downhill to lay the lumber as a tackler. It’s not often ball carriers get away from him. There’ll be some feeling out as far as what roles he can fill in San Francisco’s secondary, but he projects as a long-term starter for them alongside Ji’Ayir Brown. In Year 1 he should be a dynamite special teams contributor.
The grade here gets docked some because San Francisco sent two fifth-round picks to the Jets to jump up to No. 129 overall. There’s a question mark about the positional value as well given how much success the 49ers have had finding RBs later on Day 3 or in undrafted free agency. Guerendo can flat out play though. He brings electric speed and really good balance through contact. His college production was pretty limited though and he started only one game because of three separate injuries in three consecutive years when he was at Wisconsin. The ceiling for Guerendo is very high, but it’s uncertain exactly what his role will be in a crowded backfield which is a problem when the club traded up to snag him.
Grade: C+
Another wide receiver was an interesting move for the 49ers, and it indicates they’re not super confident in a lot of their receiver depth long-term. Jauan Jennings’ future is uncertain since he could head to unrestricted free agency next offseason, and neither Danny Gray nor Ronnie Bell are slam dunks to make the roster. Cowing can definitely play and his speed is evident when he pulls away from defenders. His 5-8, 168-pound frame may limit him to slot work in the NFL though. He worked a lot on underneath routes for both UTEP and Arizona which may help him in his quest for snaps. At least for now though he has a ton of players in front of him and the 4th-round pick may not have a ton of avenues for playing time if Jennings winds up staying long-term.
This late-round choice feels a tick redundant with the Puni pick back in Round 3. Not that a team can ever have too many offensive linemen, but Kingston doesn’t really have a natural position after starting at four of five spots in college. That versatility is good, to be sure, but he’ll likely stick as an interior offensive lineman long-term. An offensive tackle would’ve been a better spot to take a flier on. Perhaps the 49ers’ coaching staff believes he has starting-caliber upside.
Grade: C-
This was a nice way to end a solid draft for the 49ers. Bethune could contribute on special teams right away as a reserve LB, or he could land on the practice squad as a developmental piece for a 49ers LB room that could undergo some changes in the next couple of seasons.
Grade: B
