The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp’s 2024 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren’s deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as draft class analysis from Ryan McCrystal. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2024 Football Preview.
With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, we’re starting to understand how 2024 NFL draft classes will impact each roster this season.
Let’s look at the San Francisco 49ers, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from each class, while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Who are the San Francisco 49ers rookies?
- Ricky Pearsall — WR — Round 1
- Renardo Green — CB — Round 2
- Dominick Puni — OT — Round 3
- Malik Mustapha — S — Round 4
- Isaac Guerendo — RB — Round 4
- Jacob Cowing — WR — Round 4
- Jarrett Kingston — OG — Round 6
- Tatum Bethune — LB — Round 7
San Francisco 49ers Draft Class Grade:
The San Francisco 49ers received a D draft grade from Sharp Football.
Which 49ers Rookies Will Make An Impact?
San Francisco made one of the biggest reaches of the draft with the selection of Ricky Pearsall (first round). Despite testing well at the Combine, Pearsall never consistently showed off those traits during his career at Arizona State and Florida. Based on route-adjusted data, over the last two seasons Pearsall’s catch rate was just 0.7% above expected while his yards after catch were 1.4% above expected.
He stretches the field with pure speed but, at this stage, Pearsall lacks the vision and awareness to fully take advantage of his athletic tools to impact that game in a variety of ways. He’s more of a project who probably has to learn how to fit into Kyle Shanahan’s system before he’s ready to challenge for significant action.
Renardo Green (second round) is coming off a fantastic season in which he allowed a catch rate 29.4% below expected and generated a ball-hawk rate 51% above expected. However, Green was a fifth-year senior who didn’t really break out until 2023, which is always a red flag at the skill positions. In 2022, Green’s ball-hawk rate was 14% below expected, so it’s tough to put too much in his redshirt-senior year production.
Dominick Puni (third round) has the potential to play all five positions on the line. However, San Francisco had stated Puni will start out at guard, which indicates they likely don’t view him as a serious candidate to solve their issues at right tackle. If Puni is locked in at guard, he’s probably playing a reserve role in 2024, but expected starters Jon Feliciano and Aaron Banks are both set to hit free agency after the season.
Puni started at left guard for Kansas in 2022, and the Jayhawks averaged a team-worst 1.6 yards before contact when running to his gap, a rate which ranked 20th out of 26 Big 12 guards. He’ll need to improve as a run blocker to earn a starting job in Shanahan’s offense.
Malik Mustapha (fourth round) was a two-year starter at strong safety, but he’s undersized to be playing in the box consistently in the NFL. Talanoa Hufanga is recovering from a torn ACL, so there’s a chance Mustapha could be forced into action right out of the gate. Once Hufanga returns, however, there’s no clear path to the field for Mustapha behind Huganga and Ji’Ayir Brown.
Isaac Guerendo (fourth round) was underutilized throughout his college career at Wisconsin and Louisville, but eye-popping Combine numbers called attention to just how dangerous he was when given a chance. In 2023 at Louisville, Guerendo generated 24% more yards than expected when accounting for defenders in the box and the direction of the run, which ranked eighth out of 78 Power Five ball carriers. There’s no immediate path to a significant role with Christian McCaffrey in the fold, but backup Elijah Mitchell is a free agent after the year.
Jacob Cowing (fourth round) is vastly undersized, but he should fit well into Shanahan’s offense which excels at getting the ball to receivers in space on underneath routes. During his two seasons at Arizona, Cowing averaged 5.9 yards after catch per reception when lined up in the slot. Cowing likely starts his career as the fifth option at receiver, but he could climb the depth chart in 2025.
Jarrett Kingston (sixth round) has starting experience at every offensive line position except center. That versatility helps his cause for making the roster, but it’s a crowded depth chart, especially after the addition of Puni. Linebacker Tatum Bethune (seventh round) will try to earn a roster spot on special teams.
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan are aggressive risk-takers in the draft, and this year was no exception. If they correctly identified Pearsall as a fit for Shanahan’s offense, it will ease the transition once they, likely, part with either Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. But if they lose Aiyuk or Samuel and the Pearsall reach fails to pay off, it’s a bad look for the front office that has had some high-profile misses in recent years.
This analysis continues in the 2024 Football Preview
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