Have the Seahawks made progress on their biggest division rival? Did the Eagles’ punishing defense hold serve from last season? Have the Cardinals stopped their free fall?
The 49ers went without a first-round pick for the second year in a row, but there were still plenty of moves to watch on Thursday. Here are the six most notable from Day 1 of the draft…
No. 2: QB CJ Stroud, Texans
Had the Texans dropped a quarterback in the first round, there would have been speculation that a trade for Trey Lance was in the works. After all, Houston’s top two coaches, DeMeco Ryans, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik know Lance well, and Lance is familiar with the offense that Slowik is installing. In addition, the Texans had a ton of picks from last year’s Deshaun Watson trade to negotiate this year and next.
Instead, Houston wasted no time in snapping up Stroud, the quarterback of the future. The Panthers did the same up front with Alabama’s Bryce Young, while the Colts picked Florida’s Anthony Richardson in fourth place.
Teams that still have quarterback question marks either this year or next include the Commanders, Falcons, Packers, Vikings, Buccaneers, Titans and Patriots. That the last two being AFC teams is likely to put them at the top of the “ideal trade partners” list when Lance’s trade talk – inevitably – heats up again.
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San Francisco 49ers NFL Draft Picks 2023: Grades, Fits, and Scouting Reports
No.5: CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks
As the 49ers build their defense back from the line, Pete Carroll’s defense is led from the secondary. His “Legion of Boom” teams were eventually fueled by cornerback Richard Sherman and safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.
Carroll deviated a bit by taking Witherspoon so early. He is Seattle’s first first-round cornerback since 2006 (Kelly Jennings). Witherspoon will join Tariq Woolen, a fifth-rounder who made the Pro Bowl last year, at outside cornerback. They will eventually be paired with safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs to create what the Seahawks hope is a “Legion of Boom” of the latter days.
With the 20th pick, Seattle added Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a receiver group that already had DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The 49ers’ top three cornerbacks right now are Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and newcomer Isaiah Oliver.
The Seahawks could restore a dominant runner-up with the addition of Devon Witherspoon. (Courtesy Illinois)
No. 6: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals
The Cardinals have had a chaotic offseason. Coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired in January, while general manager Steve Keim decided to retire from the team.
Their leader of the defense, Budda Baker, has asked for a trade. And just before Thursday’s draft began, it was revealed that the Cardinals had traded third-round picks with the Eagles as part of a tampering case involving the hiring of new head coach Jonathan Gannon. (Philadelphia also sent Arizona a 2024 fifth-round pick.)
It’s no surprise, then, that Arizona stayed steady in Johnson, the top left tackle in the draft. Kyler Murray has been sacked 133 times since joining the league in 2019. The Cardinals, who won four games last season, also grabbed an additional second-round pick this year and next year, after trading, first- and third-round picks from the Texans from the No. 3 pitch.
No. 9: DT Jalen Carter, Eagles
The 49ers may have weakened their biggest NFC rival by signing Javon Hargrave into a free hand. The question now is whether Philadelphia replaced him with Carter.
Some saw the 314-pounder as the most talented player in the draft – a taller version of Hargrave. He was definitely one of the most controversial, having last month failed to contest two charges of racing and reckless driving following a car crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, no doubt causing him to slip.
The Eagles traded the 10th pick and a fourth-round pick of 2024 to the Bears to snap Carter on pick #9. They then traded the #30 pick for another pass rusher, Carter’s Georgia teammate Nolan Smith.
A possible frontline lineup when the 49ers visit Philadelphia this year: Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Carter, Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick…with Smith coming in from the sidelines.
No 12: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
While the Eagles, 49ers and Cowboys sit on the NFC, some believe the Lions — who have won eight of their last 10 games in 2022 — are knocking on the door.
However, their best pick seemed to contradict coach Dan Campbell’s bite-in-the-kneecap style. Gibbs is rabbit fast and an excellent pass catcher from the backfield. But it weighs less than 200 pounds and some are wondering if it will be a drive-by traffic jam.
The Lions and Campbell returned to their worker brand with number 18, Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell.
No. 29: DT Bryan Bresee, Saints
Yes, the Saints are an NFC rival. But that pick is significant for the 49ers as it was the last they sent to Miami in 2021 as part of the deal that allowed them to move up to No. 3 where they took Lance.
Since then, selections have gone from Miami to Denver and finally to New Orleans. The Saints taking a defensive tackle seems appropriate. That’s what the 49ers probably would have done if they’d held on to the pickaxe.
(Top Photo by Jalen Carter: Perry McIntyre / Georgia)
