The first draft class of 49ers general manager John Lynch received good grades. Solomon Thomas, Reuben Foster, Ahkello Witherspoon, C.J. Beathard, George Kittle, Trent Taylor and Adrian Colbert all played extensively in 2017, a terrific return by any measure.
Now some see Lynch’s second-year selections as potentially as good as the first.
Four of the nine players selected by the 49ers in the recent draft landed on the list of projected top 100 NFL rookies in the NFL compiled by Chase Goodbread of NFL.com.
First-round pick, offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame, came in at No. 16 overall, followed by third-round pick, cornerback Tarvarius Moore, at No. 58; wide receiver/returner Dante Pettis, a second-rounder, at No. 88; and linebacker Fred Warner, a third-rounder, at No. 99.
Wrote Goodbread, of McGlinchey, the ninth overall selection: “If you’re going to invest a $137.5 million contract in QB Jimmy Garoppolo, you’d better invest something more in his health. McGlinchey will bring an immediate return on investment to that end.”
Moore, a safety in college, will be transitioned to outside corner, where he’ll compete for playing time with Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon and Jimmie Ward.
Pettis, who holds the major-college record for career punts returned for touchdown, adds some big-play capability at wideout and special teams. And Warner, a wide-ranging inside linebacker who excels in pass coverage, brings some athleticism to the linebacking corps that needed an upgrade.
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Others in this year’s draft class were defensive lineman Kentavius Street, cornerback D.J. Reed, safety Marcell Harris, defensive lineman Jullian Taylor and wide receiver Richie James.
Wrote Bleacher Report, after the draft: “John Lynch took a safe approach for his second draft class. That’s not a bad thing, as offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, wide receiver Dante Pettis and linebacker Fred Warner are good players with high floors. They should each help this team immediately.”
