Draft week is finally upon us. We are just days away from the San Francisco 49ers going on the clock with the No. 9 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. With that, here's the final round up of expert predictions for what the 49ers will do with the pick.
Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
"Love Ward's fit in San Francisco, and this would be a dream pick for general manager John Lynch. How important was that coin flip with Oakland at the combine?"
Curtis Conway, NFL.com: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
"Edmunds is a freakish athlete who could play off the edge or at the second level."
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
"With the 49ers stating that Reuben Foster's status with the team is under 'great scrutiny' in the wake of the domestic violence charges filed against him, picking Smith should be an easy decision for GM John Lynch."
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
"I think the Niners will try to trade out of this spot, but if they stay put, Fitzpatrick can fill the shoes of Eric Reid, who remains a free agent.
R.J. White, CBS Sports: Fitzpatrick
"In the first round they snap up Fitzpatrick, a slot corner/free safety who can move around the defensive formation and have success in a fluid role if the team wants to use him creatively."
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UTSA
"The 49ers go with a pass rusher (in the first round)."
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Edmunds
"They have issues at linebacker with the Reuben Foster situation. Edmunds could also help on the edge."
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
"Sutton is an alpha wideout for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: Ward
"Many consider Ward to be the best cover corner in this draft, and that's certainly something the Niners could use."
Dane Brugler, nfldraftscout.com: Ward
"Although he doesn't have ideal size, Ward plays bigger than he looks and suffocates the catch point, forcing throws to be pinpoint if they have any chance of being completed."
Rob Rang, nfldraftscout.com: Fitzpatrick
"Fitzpatrick possesses an ideal blend of instincts, athleticism and size, which helped him line up wherever Nick Saban most needed him on a game-by-game basis at Alabama."
Peter King, MMQB: Smith
"As a sideline-to-sideline playmaker in this draft, Smith has no peer."
Doug Farrar, Bleacher Report: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
"The 6'0", 196-pounder put up eight interceptions last season after registering no picks in the previous two years."
Luke Easterling, USA Today: Smith
"Smith is one of the most complete players in this draft, with the athleticism, instincts and physicality to instantly transform an entire defense."
Dan Kadar, SB Nation: Edmunds
"The potential and athleticism of Edmunds is too high to pass up."
Tony Pauline, draftanalyst.com: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State (at pick No. 12 following a trade with the Buffalo Bills.
Maurice Moton, Bleacher Report: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
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Final Tally (17 total)
Fitzpatrick - 3
Ward - 3
Smith - 3
Edmunds - 3
Nelson - 1
Vander Esch - 1
Jackson - 1
Sutton - 1
Davenport - 1
