2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sean Dyer’s First-Round Mock 1.0
By Sean Dyer
OG. player. 42. Pick Analysis. Notre Dame. Quenton Nelson. 9. Scouting Report
It could be argued that Quenton Nelson is one of the top two players in this year’s draft and grabbing him at No. 9 is a steal for the San Francisco 49ers. If the Niners land Nelson, they certainly won’t regret winning the final five games of the 2017 season with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm.
Speaking of Jimmy G, the 49ers gave him a boatload of money for those five big games and now believe they have one of the league’s best young quarterbacks. Time to surround him with talent.
San Francisco locked up running back Jerick McKinnon to a rather expensive contract and signed wide receiver Marquise Goodwin to a contract extension. They’ve also addressed the offensive line by signed center Weston Richburg. The former New York Giant replaces Daniel Kilgore, however, who they traded to the Miami Dolphins after signing Richburg.
The 49ers lost starting guard Brandon Fusco to the Atlanta Falcons but Nelson would be a big-time upgrade. Nelson will open up running lanes for McKinnon and make sure that Garoppolo and his $137.5 million are safe.
An added bonus for San Francisco is that some scouts believe Nelson could play left tackle. If Joe Staley (33) retires in the near future, the Niners would be able to slide Nelson to the blindside.