San Francisco 49ers: 5 Sleepers to target in 2018 NFL Draft
3. Mason Cole, OL, Michigan
The 49ers already have one Michigan product who can play every spot on the offensive line in Erik Magnuson, and adding another on day three in Mason Cole would be a wise move. Cole spent a lot of time at left tackle for the Wolverines and, though he was capable, it was clear it was not his best position. Undersized for playing on an island against edge rushers, Cole lacks the set-up quickness and footwork to have a permanent home on the outside.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
He sometimes struggles against quickness when protecting the interior but Cole’s lightweight 6-4 and 307-pound frame, combined with the athleticism to pull to the outside and get to the second level, makes him a good fit at center and guard in a zone-blocking scheme.
Cole plays with naturally low pad level and can produce impressive power in the run game, possessing an evident mean streak and a strong punch in his hands that he uses both run blocking and to help him recover in pass protection.
His susceptibility to interior quickness means Cole would like need to extra time to develop. But at worst the 49ers would be getting a versatile backup on a rookie contract who can play any of the spots on the interior and tackle in a pinch, not bad for day three.
2. Ade Aruna, EDGE, Tulane
Edge rusher needs to be addressed well before day three, but if the 49ers are looking to take a late flier on a pass rusher who could supplement an earlier pick, then Tulane’s Ade Aruna would be worth their time. The fourth-ranked SPARQ athlete at edge rusher, testing in the 87th percentile at the position, Aruna has the athletic profile to suggest he will succeed at the next level.
A lack of production — 11 sacks in four years — is a worry as is an apparent inability to bend and transform speed to power. But, with an explosive first step and rip move at his disposal, Aruna can win inside and out and boasts the kind of upside that makes him a low-risk, high-reward selection in the later rounds.