NFC WEST TEAM NEEDS HEADING INTO THE 2024 NFL DRAFT

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

EDGE - After losing Chase Young the 49ers have a need for another edge defender to play across from Nick Bosa.

Draft fit: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State.
Robinson might be a player who splits opinions depending on how teams value athletic traits compared to polished technique. Robinson has special explosiveness but on tape you don’t see a polished set of pass rush moves. As a developmental player, the upside is definitely real.

O Line - This is one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, so the 49ers could look to add a tackle to develop as the successor to Trent Williams as he reaches the end of his career.

Draft fit: Kiran Amegadjie, T, Yale, 2nd round.
Amegadjie is an exciting prospect with incredibly long arms (over 36”). He will be a work in progress in terms of technique when he gets drafted, but if he can make the most of his physical gifts then he can develop into a starting offensive tackle in the NFL.

CB - The 49ers could look to select an outside corner to line up opposite Charvarius Ward and let Deommodore Lenoir play the nickel on sub-packages.

Draft fit: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers, 3rd round.
Melton showed he is one of the most athletic defensive backs in the entire draft with a 4.39 forty-yard dash and a 40.5-inch vertical. The speed shows up on tape too with Melton's ability to recover in coverage and make a play on the ball.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

O Line - Charles Crossis looking promising at left tackle but the Seahawks could stand to improve on all other spots on the line.

Draft fit: Graham Barton, T, Duke, 1st round.
Graham Barton would be a great fit for many teams due to the fact that he can play tackle, guard, or center. Wherever the Seahawks decide to start him he has consistently good hand placement and can latch on to finish blocks effectively.

S - The Seahawk's defense is blessed with talent at cornerback, but an upgrade on the back end at safety could be a target on day two of the draft.

Draft fit: Calen Bullock, S, USC, 3rd round.
Bullock’s tape at USC shows fantastic range and playmaking as a deep safety in coverage. The knock on Bullock is tackling which was inconsistent at USC. If he can just become a more consistent tackler he has Pro Bowl upside as a free safety.

Edge - Seattle has good not great edge rushers on the roster with Mafe and Nwosu. Adding to that group would be wise for a team that doesn’t have many other obvious needs.

Draft fit: Javon Solomon, Edge, Troy, 4th round.
Solomon posted 17 sacks in 14 games in his final season at Troy. On tape, he wins with a quick first step and change of direction ability. Solomon should be able to play as a rotational pass rusher to start his NFL career.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

EDGE - In a world without Aaron Donald the Rams need to find more pass rushers to get to the quarterback and the Rams really don’t have a true rusher on the roster currently that can win consistently on the edge.

Draft fit: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA, 1st round.
On just pure talent Latu would be a great pick for the Rams at 19 and should possibly go higher than this. But he is a player with medical concerns so we just won't know until draft day how teams feel about his history of neck injuries.

DT - The theme of front 7 continues for the Rams. Kobie Turner and Bobby Brown are looking like solid players on the interior line, but another talented player on the inside would be nice.

Draft fit: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State, 2nd round.
Fiske has impressed at both the senior bowl and the combine in the draft process. He would be a good fit for the Rams base 3-4 sets and has the motor and athletic traits to generate some penetration as a pass rusher.

QB - Though Matthew Stafford is still the guy for now the Rams could look to draft a young quarterback to be the eventual starter once Stafford retires.

Draft fit: Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington, 2nd round.

Penix is a difficult player to project in terms of how teams will value him and where he will ultimately be drafted. But if he were to be on the board in the second round, Penix could provide Sean McVay with a succession plan at Quarterback for Stafford.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

WR - Kyler Murray will return from a season-ending knee injury and after the loss of Marquise Brown Arizona must add talent to the wide receiver room to support their franchise quarterback.

Draft Fit: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State, 1st round.
Harrison is one of the best prospects in the draft class at any position. He ticks all the boxes for a team looking for a number receiver. If Arizona doesn’t trade the fourth overall pick to a QB-needy team then Harrison Jr is a slam dunk pick.

O Line - Just as with pass-catching weapons, the Cardinal should be looking to add to the offensive line to give Kyler more time to make plays.

Draft fit: Tyler Guyton,T, Oklahoma, 2nd round.
Guyton may end up going higher than the 35th pick in the draft but if the Cardinals could land him here they would be getting a guy with outstanding size and movement for the tackle position. He didn’t begin to play tackle until he got to college so he is still developing and may take time to get up to speed in the NFL.

CB - On the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals are lacking a difference maker on the outside that can slow down opposing pass catchers.

Draft fit: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama, 1st round.
McKinstry has the man coverage skills to be in the first round. It remains to be seen how much his foot injury will cause him to fall in the draft, but if Arizona is comfortable with the medical then he would be an upgrade at perimeter corner.