While a lot of NFL draft experts have the 49ers drafting an offensive lineman with the 31st overall pick this year, the actual selection is rarely predictable. San Francisco picks Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten in the most recent mock selection by ESPN senior analyst Mel Kiper. Kiper, a long-time draft expert, revealed Thursday the reasoning for the pick.
During their video chat, Kiper expressed his belief that Rosengarten is underappreciated and not receiving sufficient recognition for the year he had. I am aware that he is projected to be in the second or third round. We'll see how things work out, but I've always had him in the late first. I like him.
He played right tackle for the Huskies for the most part (1,935 snaps), left tackle for three snaps, and right guard for five plays. He was 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds. During his two years at Washington, Rosengarten gave up five hits, twenty-seven rushes, and zero sacks.
Kiper thinks that Rosengarten's holding penalty in the national championship game might be affecting attitudes, even though PFF ranks Rosengarten as the 19th-best tackle in the draft. The penalty canceled a 32-yard pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Rome Odunze.
"It seems like everyone keeps bringing it up," Kiper remarked. "In general, though, his two years spent guarding Michael Penix Jr.'s blind side were excellent." Even if the 49ers don't select Rosengarten, Kiper thinks they'll still select an offensive lineman to bolster depth behind Colton McKivitz and to secure a possible successor for Trent Williams when he retires.
The other offensive linemen, I have [Arizona's] Jordan Morgan, who I’ve mentioned at that point would be a possibility, [and] Patrick Paul from Houston," added Kiper.
Kingsley Suamataia of BYU is one of those guys on whom opinions vary widely, but who is undeniably talented. Even though I have him slated for the second round, I think anyone could argue for him to start in the late first or early second. It would be Suamataia if you were looking to cultivate an athletically gifted tackle with talent.
If moving Rosengarten to left tackle is the ultimate aim, picking him, who played right side all four years of college, carries some risk. Switching positions does necessitate some adaptation, but 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster is known for getting the best out of his players. However, according to Kiper, the 49ers will address the obvious necessity to guard Brock Purdy's blind side early in the draft.
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