New 49ers general manager John Lynch wound up making six trades, acquiring second- and third-round picks in the 2018 draft, and still wound up with 10 new players to reshape a roster that went 7-25 the last two seasons.
It’s hard not to be impressed with the haul considering where the roster stood before the draft began. The 49ers went defense with their first three picks after having the worst unit in the NFL last season before Kyle Shanahan put his stamp on the class with a quarterback, running back, tight end and slot receiver.
Let’s give each pick a grade…
Round 1 (pick 3): Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford
(Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)
The 49ers like Thomas’ athleticism and versatility along their new-look defensive front. He’ll be a interior pass rusher that might play along the edges in base downs. Yes, there are overlaps with first-round picks from the last two drafts Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner.
But Shanahan says he anticipates all three being on the field regularly given their versatility. Thomas (6-3, 273) is smaller than Armstead and Buckner, who both stand 6-foot-7. If Thomas locks into a the five-technique role on the strong side in base downs, he could be an every-down player.
The knock on this pick is that the team already had defensive linemen in similar roles and had more pressing needs in the secondary. It’d be a bonus if Thomas could rush the passer from the LEO spot against left tackles, but that’s not part of his skill set. The 49ers still need a natural pass rusher along the edge.
