Howdy folks! Welcome to The Pick Is In! That’s right, we’re back for another run with this experiment and can’t wait to see what our GMs, err, writers can cook up. If you’re unfamiliar with this series, lemme paint the picture for you. Our writers will be stepping up to the plate for a NFL franchise and act as if they have full control of the team on draft day. For each team, we’ll have three writers step into the front office and take over as general manager. You’ll see picks made from No. 1 overall to a sixth-rounder, bold picks will be made in unique spots, and trades will be cooked up. To highlight some of our success from 2022, we saw the Bengals trade up to take a star named Tariq Woolen in the mid 40s, the Packers snagged a stud in Jalen Pitre with the 28th overall pick, and with the 98th overall pick, the Saints struck gold with the valuable Zach Tom. This year will be no different. Our GMs will once again be showcasing their unique abilities to find intriguing talent. Whether you know it or not, the draft has already begun and it resumes with The Pick Is In. Welcome to the 2023 NFL Draft. The San Francisco 49ers are on the clock…
Matthew Townsend:
The Pick Is In: Tyler Steen OT — Alabama (3rd Round, 99th Overall)
The San Francisco 49ers enter the draft hot off the heels of an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. They used a lot of draft capital to create a roster that was good enough to create a roster that good, so they don’t have a pick until near the end of Day 2. They actually didn’t have any picks in the first three rounds, but got three picks in the third from the NFL’s dispersal of compensatory picks. They lost multiple starters on both offense and defense, so they will be trying to rebuild their depth through the back end of the draft. The two most commonly mocked positions for them to take in the third round are cornerback and offensive tackle, and I concur with the consensus here and have them take Tyler Steen out of Alabama.
Will McDonald vs. Tyler Steen#SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/sN4C85tDgj
— WalkTheMock (@WalkTheMock) January 31, 2023
Losing Mike McGlinchey leaves a massive hole at right tackle, and as the 49ers know better than almost anyone, keeping your quarterback healthy goes a long way. The Niners love to build through the trenches, and having a solid offensive line is extremely important to them. Steen is a versatile lineman with four years of starting experience in the SEC, and he has the potential to improve with good coaching. He fits well into San Francisco’s zone running scheme, as he is a good mover in space and gets to the second level well. His ability to play at four positions on the line will certainly interest the 49ers as well, as he becomes a valuable piece on the roster with the capability to fill multiple roles. He has that nastiness you want in an OL and finishes his blocks on nearly every play. He also has performed relatively well going up against SEC competition every week for four years.
Alabama's Tyler Steen (LT no. 54) - this man finishes his blocks pic.twitter.com/41DSfF4hPE
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) March 24, 2023
Outside of his run-blocking ability, he does have a few weaknesses that he needs to clean up. He tends to get beaten by bull rush moves, and I imagine the coach’s first move will be to work on improving his anchor. Overall, I enjoy the fit here. Steen has the ability to start right away at RT should the 49ers want him too, but he is also a good developmental swing lineman if they want to add a veteran to start there.
Karan Jangra:
The Pick Is In: Viliami Fehoko EDGE — San José State (3rd Round, 102nd Overall)
For a team coming off back-to-back conference championship appearances, the 49ers have a surprising amount of roster holes to fill this offseason. While OL is an obvious one, they’ll also need to bolster their pass-rushing depth behind reigning DPOY Nick Bosa. With the departure of both Charles Omenihu and Samson Ebukam in free agency, the 49ers, and new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, are almost surely going to be targeting a defensive lineman with one of their three third-round picks. A prime candidate to fill this need is Bay Area native Viliami “Junior” Fehoko, who offers a perfect do-it-all chess piece to an already great defense.
The San José State product, and reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, is coming off an incredibly productive collegiate career in which he totaled 23 sacks and 47 tackles for a loss. This past season, Fehoko was especially dominant, recording 66 pressures and nine sacks.
#SJSU DL Viliami Fehoko plays with so much power behind his hands and lower body, combined w/ short area explosiveness to push pockets and close around the corner.
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) March 26, 2023
A true speed to power and bull rusher, Fehoko is relentless, can get home as a standup or hand-in ground rusher. https://t.co/Q8Ng6Fpsbh pic.twitter.com/Q2zZgbwP47
Fehoko’s appeal comes from his versatility. At 6-foot-4 and 276 pounds, he has the size and skillset to line up both off the edge and on the interior at the next level. His strong use of his hands and bull rush, as well as a high-end ability to convert speed to power at the point of attack, should be coveted assets among NFL teams. At the very least, teams are getting an aggressive and high-motor depth DL, with the ability to slot into multiple spots across the line.
EDGE #42 on San Jose State Viliami Fehoko is #violent coming downhill pic.twitter.com/AN6EEdzxUZ
— karan (@905Kar) March 27, 2023
49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek has garnered a reputation for his rapid development of young edge rushers like Arden Key, Kerry Hyder and the aforementioned Omenihu and Ebukam. With this considered, bringing in a productive college pass rusher like Fehoko on a cheap four-year deal could be a jackpot for San Francisco as it looks to contend for a Super Bowl once again.
Brendan Heffernan:
The Pick Is In: Dorian Williams LB — Tulane (3rd Round, 101st Overall)
It’s harder to think of a better environment to bring a young linebacker into than San Francisco. Dorian Williams wouldn’t be counted on to start right away, but he’s a high-upside player who could play his way into a solid snap share by the end of the season. The departure of Sam linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair also makes depth in the 49ers LB room an immediate issue.
Williams would still have a clear path to the starting lineup. The 49ers are only committed to Dre Greenlaw and Oren Burks for one more season each, and I think Williams would make for a perfect successor on the weak side next to Fred Warner.
— Film Collins (@filmcollins01) March 19, 2023
He’s a plus athlete at the position, a reliable tackler and an aggressive and instinctual player in the run game. His high-end quickness bodes well for how he’d fit in the 49ers zone coverage scheme. He’ll also enter the league as a dynamic weapon on special teams.
Form tackle in space from Dorian Williams pic.twitter.com/Wh61nsNX5u
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) March 25, 2023
He’s not the most physically imposing linebacker in this class and he often relies on his length to win in the run game, which could make adjusting to NFL offensive linemen challenging. I like Williams as an option for a team needing short-term depth and a long-term starter more than a team that needs to draft an immediate full-time starter.
About the author
I’m a USC fan of 15 years who majored in Math at UC Riverside, and graduated in 2020. I’m a big fan of using analytics and statistics to shape how I view college football. I've been watching and betting on sports for as long as I legally could. My favorite college football memory is Tua coming in at halftime of the championship game to come back and lead Alabama to a national title.
Proud California Golden Bears fan and aspiring football mind. I specialize in Pac-12 and NFL Draft coverage. My past experiences in journalism include covering the San Francisco 49ers, as well as creating film breakdowns on my own blog. I love the X’s and O’s just as much as anyone else, but also see value in numbers. My favorite CFB game ever was the 2007 Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma and Boise State.
