The upcoming 2022 NFL Draft is filled with great prospects, but it will be hard for the San Francisco 49ers to get some of these guys because their highest pick is pick number 61. They only have 2 top 100 picks, but could pick up some picks if they trade QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who could bring in 2 2nd Round Picks. The Niners need offensive line help, defensive back help and a ton of help on Special Teams. Some good additions could come on the defensive line and at the Wide Reciever or Tight End position. Even getting a QB to help Nate Sudfeld backup Trey Lance could be good because if Lance gets injured, the Niners will have a good backup to step in for a little bit. I did a PFF Draft Simulation to see what the Niners could do to get the most out of the 2022 Draft.
Pre draft
The Niners traded Jimmy Garoppolo and the 61st pick to the Chicago Bears for the 39th and 48th picks before trading the 39th and 105th picks to the Packers for the 53rd and 59th picks.
48th Overall Pick
Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn, 5'11", 190 LBS, 28 7/8" Arms, 9" Hands
McCreary had an impressive 4.5 40 yard dash and he has done great for the Tigers in his 4 year career. He has had 135 tackles, 10 TFL and 6 picks in his career at Auburn. He was given a 6.28 rating by the NFL who say he'll eventually be a good starter. He will support Ambry Thomas, Chavarius Ward, Jimmie Ward and Emmanuel Moseley well at the cornerback position. He is great corner, but will need the Niners to develop him if he wants to become an even better corner. After about 2-3 years, if he develops well, he should be a starter and should be a great corner.
53rd Overall Pick
Darian Kinnard, Guard, Kentucky, 6'5", 322 LBS, 35" Arms, 11 1/4" Hands
Kinnard had a great year at Kentucky, starting 12 games and performed well at the combine. He had an 8'3" broad jump, a 25" vertical, a 5.31 40 yard dash, a 4.96 shuttle and an 8.11 3 cone drill. He's aggressive on the field and is hard hitting which can force defenders off balance and disorient them. He has the capability of being a great replacement for Guard Laken Tomlinson who left the Niners for the Jets in the offseason. He has a 6.24 rating from the NFL and has the capability to be a starter if he develops right.
59th Overall Pick
Nik Bonitto, DE, Oklahoma, 6'3", 248 LBS, 32 1/2" Arms, 9 3/8" Hands
Nik Bonitto had an incredible 2021 and scouting combine. In 11 games, he had 39 tackles, 15 TFL, 7 sacks, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. He had a 10' broad jump, a 4.54 40 yard dash, a 35.5" vertical, a 4.23 shuttle and a 7.07 3 cone drill. He got a 6.33 rating from the NFL and should be a great starter if he develops well. He should compliment Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw, and will be a great replacement for Arden Key, who left for the Jags. He has excellent speed and acceleration, and could develop into a great edge rusher for the Niners.
102nd Overall Pick
Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky, 6'4", 307 LBS, 33 1/8" Arms, 10" Hands
Fortner performed well at the combine with a 5.21 40 yard dash, a 24" vertical, 8'6" broad jump, a 4.95 shuttle and a 7.75 3 cone drill. He started 13 times at center in 2021 and was First Team All SEC. He is a strong Center and could backup Alex Mack really well. He has a 6.24 NFL rating which means he could develop into a great starter. With Alex Mack close to retirement, Fortner could be a rising star at center and a great starter in the long run for the Niners.
125th Overall Pick
Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky, 6', 215 LBS, 31 3/8" Arms, 9 3/4" Hands
Zappe had a good combine with a 4.78 40 yard dash, a 30" vertical, a 9'1" broad jump, a 4.4 shuttle and a 7.19 3 cone drill. Because the Niners traded Jimmy Garoppolo pre draft, they'll need a good backup for Trey Lance other than Nate Sudfeld. Zappe has good accuracy, is consistent in the pocket and has been very productive throughout his career. He had a 69.2 completion percentage in 2021 along with 62 TDs and 11 picks. He had a QB rating of 168.9 in 2021 at Western Kentucky and had 5,957 yards on 475 completions, getting 8.7 yards per attempt. He would be an incredible backup for the Niners and could do very well as the starter if Lance gets hurt.
172nd Overall Pick
Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo, 6'2", 209 LBS, 33" Arms, 10 1/8" Hands
Tycen Anderson ran an impressive 4.36 40 yard dash along with a 35.5" vertical, 6.64 3 cone drill and a 4.28 shuttle. He has a NFL rating of 6.2 which means he'll eventually be a good starter, and he could be for the Niners especially if he develops well behind George Odum and Jimmie Ward. Anderson has very good insight, can cover TEs well and is very fast which will lead to him being a great safety. In the future, Talanoa Hufanga and Anderson could be some great safeties for the 49ers.
187th Overall Pick
Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State, 6'5", 253 LBS, 32 1/3" Arms, 10 1/8" Hands
Bellinger could be a great backup to star TE George Kittle and had a great combine running a 4.63 40 yard dash, doing 22 reps on the bench press, jumpin for a 34.5" vertical, a 10'5" broad jump, running a 7.05 3 cone drill and a 4.47 shuttle. In 2021, Bellinger had 31 receptions for 357 yards and 2 TDs. Bellinger has a NFL rating of 6.16 which means he will be a good backup with the potential to develop into a starter. Bellinger has agility and is a strong, speedy Tight End that should compliment Ross Dwelley and George Kittle well.
220th Overall Pick
Logan Bruss, OT, Wisconsin, 6'5", 309 LBS, 33 1/8" Arms, 10 3/4" Hands
Bruss is an absolute steal for the 220th overall pick. He ran a 5.32 40 yard dash, had a 31" vertical jump, a 9'4" broad jump, ran for a 7.57 3 cone drill and a 4.55 shuttle. He did incredible last year at the tackle position and will give the Niners some depth in their offensive line. He will be a great player and got an NFL rating of 6.26 meaning if he's developed well, he will become a good starter.
221st Overall Pick
Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State, 6'1", 200 LBS, 30 1/2" Arms, 9" hands
Matt Araiza had the most explosive leg in College Football last year. He had 79 punts for 4044, averaging 51.2 yards per punt, leading the NCAA. His longest punt traveled 90 yards in the air at sea level in Hawaii. 18 of his punts went more than 60 yards and he had 62 of his 73 kickoffs go for touchbacks. Bringing Araiza in will cause Wishnowsky to have to perform well to try to beat out Araiza for the starting job.
262nd Overall Pick
Keaontay Ingram, RB, USC, 6', 221 LBS, 31 1/2" Arms, 9" Hands
Keaontay Ingram is a good RB coming out of USC and performed well in the combine with a 4.53 40 yard dash, a 34.5" vertical jump and a 10'2" broad jump. In 2021, Ingram had 156 carries for 911 yards and 5 TDs, averaging 5.8 yards a carry. He was a very productive back and could be a good 5th stringer for the Niners if Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon, Jeff Wilson or JaMycal Hasty get hurt. Keaontay is strong and can power through defenders a bit like Derrick Henry. He can become a great power back if he gains some weight and could be useful on 3rd and 4th down.
