What Daniel Jeremiah’s Big Board 3.0 indicates about the 49ers range prospects
selection analysts will update their selection boards with the information gathered from Indianapolis now that the 2024 NFL Combine has concluded. On Thursday, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network published the third iteration of his Big Board. Let’s take a look at the possibilities he has listed around pick No. 31 to see who might be available to the 49ers in the first round.
Players 23-35
Chop Robinson, Penn St., Edge
Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M, LB
Adonai Mitchell, Texas, WR
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri, CB
Graham Barton, Duke, OL,
Cooper DeJean, Iowa, CB
Bo Nix, Oregon, QB
Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon, OL
Nate Wiggins, Clemson, CB
Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois, DT
Michael Penix Jr., Washington, QB
Ladd McConkey, Georgia, WR
Zach Frazier, West Virginia, IOL
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To give us an indication of the pool of players in the 49ers bracket, I utilised a wider range. Tyler Guyton, Amarius Mims, and JC Latham are Jeremiah’s offensive tackles, rated 16–22.
We can probably rule out defensive tackles, quarterbacks, and linebackers from the first round.
Although Rakestraw was one of our five possible targets at No. 31, not many cornerbacks who are under six feet tall and can run a 40-yard dash in under four seconds are selected in the first round.
Wiggins is the best cornerback available in the draft, in my opinion. Quinyon Mitchell of Toledo is a first baseman, but Jeremiah has him ranked No. 13 overall. On Wiggins, who Jeremiah lost six spots from his last update, I have a top-10 grade.
Wiggins’ 40-yard dash time was 4.2. Though I can show you several films showing Wiggins chasing down the ball carrier, including a forced fumble to prevent a touchdown and force a touchback against the Miami Hurricanes, Jeremiah claimed that Wiggins’ “effort to chase from the back side is spotty, at best.”
Two guys who could start right away and improve at centre or right guard are Zach Frazier and Jackson Powers-Johnson. Whether the 49ers appreciate interior offensive linemen early enough is the question. The drop-off between Powers-Johnson/Frazier and the following tier of centres and guards is another important factor.
One of my favourite lineman in the class, Frazier is a beast.
When 6’2 205-pound Texas wideout Adonai Mitchell ran a 4.34, everyone was talking about Xavier Worthy. However, he probably won’t be available by selection No. 31. While there are more pressing needs, selecting a wide receiver feels like a luxury pick as long as Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are still available.
DeJean and McConkey are two players that I’m not quite as fond of as the internet is. I believe it’s not cornerback, but I’m not sure where you play DeJean. Projections regarding safety are merely that—projections.
Regarding McConkey, although he performed well in the test, I don’t believe he plays as quickly or as dynamically when the ball is in his hands, and he had trouble with the little press attention he received. Running freely off the line of scrimmage in the slot accounted for the majority of his output.
Wiggins and Frazier are the players in this range that I would choose the most.
