With the fifteenth overall selection in our Daily Norseman Community Mock Draft, we're to the San Francisco 49ers. . .the team that has undergone, quite possibly, more changes than any team in the National Football League this off-season. They've lost their head coach to his college alma mater and a couple of key players to surprising retirements, and are going to be a much different team starting next season. DN member Malte has the not-so-enviable task of helping with the rebuilding process in this scenario, and he's taken a player that, frankly, is a pretty significant steal at this point.
With the fifteenth pick in the 2015 Daily Norseman Community Mock Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select. . .
Kevin White, wide receiver, West Virginia University
Here's why Malte made the selection that he did.
With the almost certain departure of Michael Crabtree, and an aging Anquan Boldin who seems most fit as a role player, and not an every down player, Kevin White will fit right in. Colin Kaepernick will now have 2 good deep threats in Kevin White and Torrey Smith. Based on how the draft has developed so far this is more a value based pick than need, as the defense sure could need some help with their stars retiring one by one. I think 49'ers will be able to take care of their needs in later rounds, where value will match need much better.
There is some risk in taking a player like Kevin White with just a year of really good college production, however the potential and athletic abilities will outweigh those fears.
My Thoughts
There are plenty of mock drafts out there at this point that have White as the first wide receiver off the board, so for the Niners to get him at #15 is quite the coup. White put up some big numbers for the Mountaineers this past season, and really turned some heads at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine with an outstanding workout. He may have the best size/speed combination of any wide receiver in this class, and could be a big part of a new-look offense by the Bay. The Niners may have needs at other places, but it's hard to argue with this selection in this scenario.
What do you think of the selection, everyone?
Pick | Team | General Manager | Pick |
1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | kwarren3 | Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon |
2 | Tennessee Titans | BVB fan | Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama |
3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | n s | Leonard Williams, DT, Southern Cal |
4 | Oakland Raiders | DrivableGuide9 | Dante Fowler, DE, Florida |
5 | Washington Redskins | tep4 | Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson |
6 | New York Jets | cycloneallnightlong | Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State |
7 | Chicago Bears | lateefthetruthspeaker | Danny Shelton, DT, Washington |
8 | Atlanta Falcons | berg03 | Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky |
9 | New York Giants | thecraphead | Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska |
10 | St. Louis Rams | VikesFanatic | La'el Collins, OL, LSU |
11 | Minnesota Vikings | e.vogel15 | Marcus Peters, CB, Washington |
12 | Cleveland Browns | Wayne Joseph | Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia |
13 | New Orleans Saints | Austin Blanch | Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa |
14 | Miami Dolphins | SkolChad | DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville |
15 | San Francisco 49ers | Malte | Kevin White, WR, West Virginia |
16 | Houston Texans | Vikes4lyfe | |
17 | San Diego Chargers | MDFDisc | |
18 | Kansas City Chiefs | Zach_The_Gamecock | |
19 | Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) | Wayne Joseph | |
20 | Philadelphia Eagles | AVeazey24 | |
21 | Cincinnati Bengals | misterloveSKOL | |
22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Typically Lazy | |
23 | Detroit Lions | just_rob | |
24 | Arizona Cardinals | Siberia101 | |
25 | Carolina Panthers | SweetTooth | |
26 | Baltimore Ravens | lmoe12 | |
27 | Dallas Cowboys | paulser21 | |
28 | Denver Broncos | SpencerN | |
29 | Indianapolis Colts | CCNorseman | |
30 | Green Bay Packers | CCHOF5yearstoolate | |
31 | New Orleans Saints (from Seattle) | Austin Blanch | |
32 | New England Patriots | raging_cloner |