On the third day of the NFL draft, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke selected two tight ends, a running back, a wide receiver, two guards and … a punter.
The punter, Bradley Pinion of Clemson, a surprise selection in the fifth round, has been told he’ll have an open competition with veteran Andy Lee, who still ranks among the NFL’s best.
The rest of the players selected on Saturday include some intriguing players who don’t have marquee names but could prove to be significant additions.
The two tight ends, Blake Bell of Oklahoma (fourth round) and Rory “Busta” Anderson of South Carolina (seventh round) should give the team some depth and competition behind starter Vernon Davis – who’s coming off his worst season in years.
South Carolina running back Mike Davis, a 5-foot-9, 217-pounder who had a great season in 2013 and then fought through some injuries in 2014 to almost rush for 1,000 yards, could be an instant contender for playing time in a backfield that already features Carlos Hyde, Kendall Hunter and Reggie Bush.
The powerfully built Davis rushed for 1,183 yards in 2013 and 982 in 2014, averaging 5.8 and 4.9 yards per carry, respectively. He also was a productive receiver, catching 70 passes combined his final two seasons. He has the tools to be an every-down back, according to NFL scouts.
Said ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.: “When Mike Davis is healthy, he’s a great back.”
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In addition, the 49ers added another skill-position player in the fourth round in DeAndre Smelter, a wideout from Georgia Tech. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder had 35 catches over 12 games for 715 yards – a 20.4-per catch average – for seven TDs. But Smelter suffered a torn ACL late in the season and is likely to “redshirt” his rookie season. So, essentially, Baalke is stockpiling talent for later.
It’s the two offensive linemen selected, in the sixth and seventh rounds that could have big impacts in 2015. Baalke told reporters he wanted the team to get bigger and more physical, and guards Ian Silberman of Boston College (6-foot-5, 294 pounds) and Trent Brown of Florida (6-foot-8, 350 pounds) fit that bill. With the departure of left guard Mike Iupati in free agency, both rookies could compete for that job or earn playing time at guard or tackle as rookies. Brown, who only played two years of Division I football, is considered a still-raw talent in many ways – especially as a pass blocker – but is impressive as a run blocker. The NFL.com scouting report on him says: “Brown has the pure size to block out the sun and unlike some players with his bulk, he knows how to use it. He can plow holes as a run blocker. … ”
Following the completion of Saturday’s draft, the 49ers also signed South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson as an undrafted free agent, reported Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. The 6-foot-3, 218-pounder was the Gamecocks’ No. 1 QB the past three seasons. In 2014 he completed 59.9 percent of his throws for 3,574 yards, 26 TDs and 11 interceptions.
