In a new 3-round mock draft from ESPN analysts, the San Francisco 49ers addressed their top needs. ESPN analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates projected Texas LT Kelvin Banks as the 49ers' first-round pick at No. 11. Banks, a versatile and experienced lineman, offers potential surplus value on a rookie contract and could be a future replacement for aging All-Pro tackle Trent Williams.
The 49ers continued to address needs in the mock draft with University of Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr. and Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins in the second round. Pearce, a dynamic edge rusher, and Collins, a massive interior lineman, add depth to the defensive line. In the third round, the 49ers selected Western Kentucky cornerback Upton Stout to bolster the secondary. Stout's ball-hawking skills could complement the team's defensive backfield.
The 49ers' draft strategy aims to fortify both the offensive line and the defense, setting the stage for the upcoming NFL draft on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.