ANONYMOUS SCOUTS WEIGH IN ON THE 49ERS 2024 NFL DRAFT PICKS
A fun and personal favorite post-NFL Draft activity is to look at what scouts think of the players the San Francisco 49ers drafted. Instead, we’re looking at this through the lens of what was said about the players before the picks were made.
This article features pre-draft quotes from real football executives via Bob McGinn’s annual draft series and The Athletic’s Draft Confidential (via Bruce Feldman), and Tony Pauline scouting reports. Let’s take a look at what insiders had to say about the 49ers’ selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Ricky Pearsall
Pearsall was the tenth-ranked wideout in this series. He went ahead of four players ranked higher than him: Keon Coleman, Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Legette, and Ladd McConkey, although they all went in the same cluster of picks.
10. RICKY PEARSALL, Florida (6-1, 191, 4.42, 2): Bailed out of Arizona State in April 2022 after starting 12 of 30 games from 2019-’21. Led the Gators in receiving each of his two seasons. “Some people like him but I really love the guy,” said one scout. “Really good route runner. In a deep class, I could see him getting passed up. I don’t think people put him in the conversation with the real guys. When it’s all said and done he’ll be one of the best receivers in the group.” Ran the fastest 3-cone of any wideout this spring (6.64). “I had him in the third (round),” another scout said. “All of a sudden he runs a 4.41 and I put him in the second. He’s a faster Cooper Kupp. More of a slot type although he played ‘X’ and ‘Z’ there. Good hands.” In five seasons he caught 159 passes for 2,420 (15.2) and 14 TDs. “He might be in the (Luke) McCaffrey-McConkey slot group,” said a third scout. “He ran fast, too, but I didn’t see that on tape.” From Chandler, Ariz.
“A faster Cooper Kupp” is music to Kyle Shanahan’s ears. When I watch Pearsall, his 40-time shows up once the ball is in his hands, when he’s running away from coverage over the middle, or generally when he’s in the slot. Not so much when he’s playing on the outside.
More on Pearsall, this time from Feldman:
WR Coach 1: “His biggest concern is his contact balance. He has elite ball skills and he can run. He tested great at the combine and those things show up in 7-on-7, but when you play real games and people start knocking you off routes and pressing you at the line of scrimmage, that contact balance is an issue.”
Offensive Assistant 1: “He reminds me of Ricky Proehl. He’s got the wiggle to him. The double moves. Turn the corner, but you can’t line him up in normal splits and think he’s gonna release and run by everybody. If you play in a Rams type of offense, where everything is motions, tight splits and stacks, he has more value.”
Ricky Proehl is an outstanding comp. And I agree 100 percent with the wide receiver coach. When Pearsall faced press coverage, there were enough examples of him losing his balance to be concerned.
Lastly, from Pauline:
Three-year starter coming off a career season. Solid route runner who quickly gets into breaks then extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame. Adjust to the errant throw, uses his frame to shield away opponents and possesses eye/hand coordination. Consistent hands catcher who lays out for the difficult catch and fights to come away with the reception in a crowd. Quick and elusive running after the catch and shows the ability to pick up positive yardage. Focused on by opposing defensive backs yet still makes plays.Despite his 40 time at the Combine, plays to one speed, lacks a deep burst and isn’t a vertical threat. Moderately productive until last season. Was never a big red-zone threat.Pearsall was the No. 1 target in the Gators passing game last season and the receiver opponents consistently focused on. He’s not a big pass catcher, nor is he fast, rather Pearsall is a solid route runner with dependable hands who could catch on as a team’s fifth receiver.
A fifth receiver in the first round is suboptimal.
Renardo Green
Only Pauline had a report on Green, who I’m assuming most didn’t have on their radar due to Renardo being a fifth-year senior:
Two-year starter who took his game to another level last season. Quick flipping his hips, battles opponents throughout the action and uses his size as an advantage. Physical and smooth, easily changes direction and gives effort defending the run. Effective facing the action, immediately diagnoses plays and locates the pass in the air. Stays with assignments and has a nice move to the throw. Must improve his backpedal and gets flat-footed. Slow locating the pass in the air and does a lot of face guarding. Intercepted just one pass during a five-year college career. Green displayed a lot of improvement in his game the past two seasons and possesses the size, speed and skill to be used in a zone system facing the action.
I recall a few times a pass hitting Green in the chest and him not reeling it in. This is the problem with scouting reports. “Immediately diagnoses plays and locates the pass in the air.” Then, two lines later, “slow locating the pass in the air.” Which one is it? I guess we’ll find out.
Dominick Puni
Interestingly enough, the scouts Feldman spoke to saw Puni as a center. They had him ranked third:
3. DOMINICK PUNI, Kansas (6-5, 317, 5.40, 3): Spent 2018-’21 at Division II Central Missouri, starting 22 games at both tackles in the three seasons that the Mules played. “He’s a four-positional player,” said one scout. “He is a right tackle. He’s not a left tackle. He can play guard and tackle at a backup level and may grow into a starting center. Maybe center is his best position. I like his temperament.” At Kansas, he started 13 games at LG in 2022 and 12 games at LT in ’23. “He’s a smooth, smooth athlete,” a second scout said. “Much better pass blocker than run blocker. He kind of plays like Division II: ‘Am I good enough?’ I said he’s got talent, let’s go! He’ll flash movement, change of direction and adjust in pass pro. You’re, like, ‘All right, this guy can be really good.’ He’s just got to get it out of him. I’d try him at left tackle. When he’s on with his movement and natural athletic ability, he does some really nice things at left tackle.” Arms were 33 3/8, hands were 10 1/8. “You love his size and his length and his strength,” a third scout said. “Has some real foot speed limitations. More of a gap scheme guy. Wouldn’t be a great fit for outside zone scheme.” From St. Charles, Mo.
I do not agree at all about his fit for a zone scheme. Puni is plenty athletic to get to his landmarks and cut off defenders. But he was selected to protect Brock Purdy. Puni’s redirect skills are impressive.
From Pauline:
Large, nasty blocker who is best in a small area. Outstanding position blocker who quickly sets up off the snap and stays square. Makes good use of angles, has the strength to turn defenders from the action and controls opponents in one-on-one blocking situations. Keeps defenders in front of him, keeps his feet moving and seals open running lanes. Plays with a violent attitude and works to annihilate opponents. Displays outstanding awareness as well as vision and works well with teammates.Doesn’t play like a great athlete. Lacks footwork off the edge. Must improve his balance in pass protection. Puni had a terrific season at Kansas last year after transferring over from Central Missouri. He lacks the athleticism and agility to play left tackle, but he has the ingredients to line up as a power blocking guard.
“Keeps defenders in front of him” is the most accurate way to describe Puni. He doesn’t lose. When he does, it’s because he goes up against a longer defender who makes first contact and are able to control Puni.
Malik Mustapha
In Feldman’s poll among safeties, Malik Mustapha received four votes among scouts as the top safety in the class, but 15 players received a vote. One NFC scout said, “Every four years safety is a mess. This is a mess. This is a bad class.”
7. MALIK MUSTAPHA, Wake Forest (5-10, 206, 4.54, 3-4): Spent 2020 as a lightly-recruited backup at Richmond before transferring. “He has physicality and ability against the run,” one scout said. “He can cover tight ends – maybe.” A backup in 2021, he suffered a torn ACL in the Gator Bowl but returned to start 10 games in ’22. “I thought he was faster than that (4.54),” a second scout said. “He’s not the biggest guy but he’s smart, instinctive and has a nose for the ball. He does it all. He is a good tackler. He should be a top-10 safety.” Finished with 192 tackles (15 for loss), three picks and 10 passes defensed. His vertical jump (41 ½) and bench press (22 reps) led the position. “More of a strong safety type that’s physical,” a third scout said. From Charlotte.
A top-10 safety in the fourth round would make for quite the steal. Mustapha’s vertical jump tells us he has plenty of speed. It just didn’t show up in his 40 that day.
From Pauline:
2024-05-03T15:36:44Z dg43tfdfdgfdInstinctive safety with underrated athleticism. Quickly diagnoses plays, remains disciplined with assignments and works hard to get involved in the action. Very active and consistently around the ball. Fires upfield to defend the run, sells out to make the tackle and drives his shoulders through ball handlers. Goes after opponents and wraps up at the point of attack. Tracks the pass in center field, makes his move to the throw then gets vertical and contorts to defend the pass. Moves well laterally and displays excellent range. Works well with cornerbacks to bracket receivers over the middle of the field.Did not show much improvement last season. Plays to one speed. Did not stand out during Senior Bowl practices. Lacks height and comes with short arms and small hands. Mustapha is a tough, intelligent defensive back who has potential in a variety of roles and can safely play over the slot receiver. He’s likely to fall into the middle part of Day 3 of the draft, but he has all the tools to line up as a nickel safety on Sundays.