When the NFL draft rolls around in April, John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers will have decisions to make. Currently sitting at No. 11 in the draft order, the 49ers will likely have options when they hit the clock.
Quarterbacks like Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shaduer Sanders coming off the board in the top 10 could push talented blue-chip prospects down the board into San Francisco’s range. The 49ers could also pursue a prospect that falls in the draft with a trade-up situation.
In the latest mock draft from Curt Popejoy of USA TODAY’s SMG Draft Wire, Penn State star pass rusher Abdul Carter was selected at No. 7 by the New York Jets, just four picks away from the 49ers. Carter’s prowess on the edge fits the bill for the type of player worthy of trading up for if available.
The unanimous All-American helped fuel Penn State’s run to the college football playoff with a career-best 12 sacks to go along with two forced fumbles, 43 solo tackle and four pass deflections in 16 games. In Penn State’s loss to Notre Dame in the college football semifinals, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year recorded five tackles, two for a loss and a sack against the Irish.
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While the 49ers have tried to find the right player to rush the passer across from Nick Bosa, they’ve come up short. Additions like Leonard Floyd, Drake Jackson and Yetur Gross-Matos have shown flashes at time, but there’s been a lack of consistency when it comes to a No. 2 pass rush option alongside Bosa. A trade-up for Carter could potentially answer the 49ers’ question mark at pass rush.
The 49ers could try to package the No. 11 pick, No. 43 (second round) and potentially one of their third-round compensatory picks to move up a handful of spots to land one of the draft’s top prospects in Carter if he slips out of the top five.
Popejoy later penned fellow edge rusher Mykel Williams out of Georgia to the 49ers at pick No. 11.
Read the full mock draft from USA TODAY’s SMG Draft Wire here.
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