We're 80 days away from the 2018 NFL Draft. Now that Super Bowl LII is in the rearview mirror, the entire league has entered draft season. Predictions for the San Francisco 49ers first-round pick continue to vary quite a bit. Ten different prospects are represented in the 14 mock drafts below.
Here's the latest crop of expert predictions.Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
"Here's what you need to know about Tremaine Edmunds—he's 19 years old, 6'5" and 260 pounds. He was also one of the best defenders in all of college football last season and has the skills to be molded into either a stud pass-rusher or a rangy stack linebacker."
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: Edmunds
"(Edmunds is a) versatile playmaker ideally suited to play the 'Leo' role in the 49ers' defense."
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Edmunds
"Edmunds is a physical freak with a combination of height, weight, speed and production that we've never seen at linebacker."
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
"He's a special talent. But the insane depth of his running back class pushes him to No. 9 overall and a perfect situation with Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco."
Dan Kadar, SB Nation: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
"What Ward lacks in size, he makes up for in speed and instincts."
Dane Brugler, NFL Draft Scout: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
"Combining the talents of Smith with Reuben Foster would remind 49ers' fans of Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman."
Rob Rang, NFL Draft Scout: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
"Adding a No. 1 target for Garoppolo would seem like the next logical move. Ridley is a silky-smooth athlete who projects well at flanker in Shanahan's offense."
Kyle Crabbs, Fan Rag Sports: Connor Williams, T, Texas
"The team would be smart to invest in protection for its new franchise QB, Jimmy Garoppolo."
Luke Easterling, USA Today: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
"A versatile, explosive rusher who led the FBS in sacks two years ago, Landry is a perfect fit for what the 49ers need on the edge."
Erik Galko, Sporting News: Ronald Jones, RB, USC
"The 49ers will likely look to move down in the draft, taking advantage of their lack of major needs and capitalizing once again on teams looking to move up. Jones fits Kyle Shanahan's offense."
Joe Marino, NDT Scouting: Edmunds
"Edmunds is the type of talent a defense can be built around and represents too much value to slide beyond San Francisco. An Edmunds-Reuben Foster pairing on the second level would be reminiscent of the Patrick Willis-NaVorro Bowman days."
Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com: Ward
"It's going to be a close call as to which corner is selected first between Joshua Jackson and Denzel Ward. Both could be taken near the bottom of the top 10."
Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball.com: Derwin James, DB, Florida State
"James is a special talent at safety, who I think will appeal to John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh."
Brett Clancy, Drafttek.com: Nelson
"Nelson made his name as a run blocker early in his college career, but really showcased his pass blocking in 2017, surrendering just five QB pressures all season."
Final Tally (14):
Edmunds: 4
Ward: 2
Nelson: 1
Landry: 1
Williams: 1
Barkley: 1
Jones: 1
James: 1
Smith: 1
Ridley: 1
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