San Francisco 49ers: Grades for every 2021 NFL Draft pick
By Xavier Dixon
The San Francisco 49ers revitalized their roster and possibly took a step into a new era with their picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. But did they get them all right?
General manager John Lynch has worked his magic again for the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners have the look of contenders once again after the 2021 NFL Draft. After boldly using three first-round picks to move up to No. 3 overall, San Francisco capitalized on every draft pick, helping to revitalize a roster that was ravaged with injuries in 2020.
The 49ers’ draft started with somewhat of a curveball, at least to a good portion of the media, as they selected North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance. Thereafter, they continued to add core players that will impact the franchise for the foreseeable future.
On the heels of a solid free agency class that included retaining a number of key players, Trent Williams at the forefront. That continuity on the roster will help the incoming draft picks. But for now, we’re looking at the San Francisco 49ers draft class and grading each pick.
Lynch retained a set of players in free agency that were set to upgrade their contract heading into 2021. But the shortened cap space halted plenty of players throughout the NFL from receiving their pay raise. Bringing familiar faces is huge for the development of the new draftees. Altogether, we’re grading the 2021 NFL draftees on how they can contribute to the team.
San Francisco 49ers 2021 NFL Draft grades: Rounds 1-2
Trey Lance, QB (Round 1, 3rd overall) – Grade: A-
The inconsistency, both in terms of health and performance, of Jimmy Garoppolo ultimately forced Lynch’s hand into finding a replacement. Lance’s physical ability brings a new dynamic to the 49ers offense as he possesses a rocket arm and dual-threat running ability.
What is underrated with Lance is his mental aptitude for the position, despite his limited starts at North Dakota State. For the Bison, he regularly adjusted pass protections and changed routes for receivers. Having pro-like responsibilities in college was great for his development to the next level.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan gives Lance an optimal spot to land in. He makes things easier for his quarterbacks and, with someone like the rookie and his ability, the sky is the limit. Of course, he still has to prove it in year one and beat out Garoppolo.
Aaron Banks, OG (Round 2, 48th overall) – Grade: C+
The second-round selection for the Niners was a bit of a shocker. Aaron Banks is very physical and his enormous frame packs a ton of power in his blocks. However, he tends to lunge or grab a lot and isn’t great at blocking on the move.
San Francisco allowed the most QB hits in 2020, so adding Banks helps fortify the offense in the trenches. Banks is also surrounded by a veteran offensive line group in effect, which can speed up his development. Moreover, Lynch proved his investment in making the offense more potent in the modern NFL. With that said, the 49ers could have gotten better value in the second round, especially if they’d addressed the need at cornerback.