Trade: 49ers send No. 31 to Colts for No. 44, 122
With the luxury of now having the No. 13 pick, the 49ers also have the chance to move back from No. 31 and get more mid-round picks. So they strike up another deal with Indianapolis — who trades up for a quarterback at the end of the first round — and San Fran gets a second- and fourth-round pick. And with that pick, they get Donovan Peoples-Jones. Joe Marino of The Draft Network gives a rundown on the Michigan product:
"Peoples-Jones has many qualities that make him an appealing NFL prospect and likely a better pro than college player. His hands, ball skills, size and athletic ability all shine on tape. There’s no questioning his ability to adjust to the football and pluck it with consistency. His body control and concentration along the sidelines and in contested situations are outstanding."
As the Niners lose Sanders, they still have talent in the receiving corps with Deebo Samuel, Richie James, Jalen Hurd and others. However, Peoples-Jones can be another weapon who also offers a bigger frame and a varied skill-set to further open up the offense.
There’s zero question that the essence of the 49ers offense under Kyle Shanahan comes down to their rushing attack. Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida all shined at various times throughout the 2019 campaign and it will surely be a multi-faceted run game moving forward. However, for that to be the case, the Niners need to make sure their offense line remains strong, specifically by upgrading on the interior.
Ben Bredeson may not be the greatest athlete or the most imposing guard prospect with his length, but the technique and pop in his game are there. He was a four-year starter at Michigan in a pro-style scheme that, while far less creative than what Shanahan employs, should very much prepare him to take the field early on in San Francisco. And in doing so, the Niners run game should be even better in 2020 and beyond.