This has been a fun class to evaluate. However, with the college All-Star games taking place this week, I figured this would be the best time to make my first public suggestion for what I think the 49ers should do come April.
What they will do will come later in the cycle. Trade: Picks 11, 75, 99 to Bengals for picks 17, 49, 81, and a 2nd Round Pick. I care deeply about one sports team on the planet: the Missouri Tigers football team. The real win is that Membou—who is equally powerful and balanced in the run and pass game—can play both on the interior of the line and at tackle. The potential at the latter position has him going in the first round. The ability to plug-and-play at left guard makes him go here to the 49ers.
The 49ers could justify taking Membou at No. So, perhaps I was a bit too cute here. Regardless, this would be a slam-dunk draft pick for a team that needs to prioritize the lines this offseason.
The Sacramento native fits the scheme and the need. Not every defensive tackle in this class can make that argument. Few players have more buzz than Emmanwori, who unquestionably looks the part of an elite defender. Some suggest he could be the first safety taken in this draft. This is a huge risk, huge reward play for the 49ers. If all that indecision is merely an issue of coaching and the 49ers can get him to play as an incisive, game-changing player, he has the potential to be one of the best picks in recent team history.
Tall, long, and willing to help out in the run game. He might be the fourth-best Ole Miss defensive lineman in this draft, but Pegues has all the makings of a game-wrecker in the middle of the defensive line.
