Solid Starter
Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee – Round 7 
The 49ers were a difficult team to do the Rookie Forecast because they had zero picks in the second, third and fourth rounds. Thus, I had very limited options to pick for bust potential and solid starter. A third-day pick not panning out is not a true bust because the vast majority of player selected on the last day of a draft don’t end up sticking in the NFL. Thus, this is a very aggressive and risky selection on my part because Jennings may not even make the team out of training camp. I think this is the first time I’ve ever picked a late-round pick to become a solid starter, but this pick is made out of default, so I would not be surprised if I’m wrong.
That being said, the 6-foot-3, 206-pound Jennings was an excellent value in the late rounds. While he ran slow at the combine, Jennings is not a speed receiver and uses his size to be effective. In 2019, Jennings totaled 57 catches for 942 yards and eight touchdowns. He has a nice skill set and played well at the Senior Bowl, showing off mismatch size with a physical attitude on the field. He had some off-the-field issues while at Tennessee, which also played a role in him sliding in the 2020 NFL Draft.
San Francisco has a wide open competition at wide receiver across from Deebo Samuel. First-round pick Brandon Aiyuk will be given a lot of reps and playing time because of his draft status, but I could see where he might disappoint given that he is a lesser version of Samuel. I think the 49ers could end up wanting to diversify their receivers and have some size to go with Samuel. Dante Pettis has been a disappointment as a second-round pick, and Jalen Hurd was on injured reserve after being a third-round pick in 2019. I think Jennings could beat them out to be one of the top three receivers. Three-wide receiver sets are the most commonly used formation in the NFL, so if Jennings is on the field with Aiyuk and Samuel, that would make him a starter. I think there is a real possibility that Jennings surprises at the next level and is a seventh-round steal for San Francisco.
2019: Deebo Samuel, WR
2018: Fred Warner, LB
2017: Reuben Foster, LB
2016: Joshua Garnett, G
2015: Jaquiski Tartt, S
2014: Marcus Martin, C
2013: Tank Carradine, DE
Most Likely To Bust
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State – Round 1 
San Francisco general manager John Lynch went from the TV booth to running the 49ers’ front office back in 2017. Lynch had zero scouting experience, and it has showed in his drafts, which has had some real duds. In 2017, Lynch spent the third-overall pick on Solomon Thomas, who was a predictable bust – see below. In the same draft, Lynch traded into the first round for Reuben Foster. Thomas is a mega bust, while Foster is now playing for the Redskins, as San Francisco ignored the off-the-field issues that caused many teams to pass on him. I think the Aiyuk pick could be another blown first-round pick because many other teams had him graded much lower on their draft boards.
One team said they had Aiyuk graded as a late third-round/early fourth-round pick, while others felt he was a second-rounder. Here’s how one college director described Aiyuk, “I think Aiyuk is a third-round pick. That’s what his film and workout says. However, someone might reach and overdraft him.” That is what San Francisco did when they traded up to take him in the first round. Aiyuk (5-11, 201) is put together well and has some quickness, but for the NFL, he does not have elite speed. You can see him getting caught from behind on 2019 Pac-12 tape. Aiyuk also has had some injury issues. I think he could end up being a contributing NFL receiver, but may not be the playmaker who Lynch thinks they are getting.
I could see Aiyuk being a lesser version of Deebo Samuel, and over time, the 49ers may want a more diverse receiving corps with some size and game-breaking speed to go with Samuel. With only Aiyuk and Javon Kinlaw to select from for this category, I think Aiyuk has more bust potential for the NFL.
2019: Jalen Hurd, WR
2018: Dante Pettis, WR
2017: Solomon Thomas, DE
2016: Rashard Robinson, CB
2015: Eli Harold, OLB
2014: Chris Borland, ILB
2013: Eric Reid, S
Potential Boom Pick
Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina – Round 1 
John Lynch has invested heavily in the defensive line since taking over as general manager for the 49ers. He inherited two good linemen in Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, traded for Dee Ford, and used two top-three selections on Solomon Thomas and Nick Bosa. Thomas is a bust, while Bosa had an excellent rookie year, but San Francisco could not afford to re-sign both Armstead and Buckner. The team signed the cheaper player in Armstead and traded away the more valuable player in Buckner, netting the Indianapolis Colts’ first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. With that selection, Lynch continued to invest in the defensive line by taking Kinlaw to replace Buckner.
Kinlaw is dangerous in the pass rush. He is a quick defender at the point of attack with the ability to fire his gap to get penetration upfield. Using his superb length, Kinlaw does a phenomenal job of keeping guards from getting into his chest, keeping them at an arm’s length and making it difficult for them to sustain blocks. With his natural and functional strength, he can push through blocks and can close in an instant on the quarterback. For the NFL, he could stand to expand his variety in his pass-rushing moves to get after the quarterback.
Kinlaw is a solid run defender too. He has a strong, thick lower body to hold his ground at the line of scrimmage. Kinlaw fills his gap and can be tough to move. He is able to eat up his block and prevent holes from opening up. Regularly, he would shed his block to stuff a run near the line of scrimmage or fire into the backfield to disrupt a run off the snap. He also will give an effort to make tackles in the ground game downfield.
Kinlaw landed in a great situation with the 49ers, where he will be surrounded by good talent. With Nick Bosa, Dee Ford and Arik Armstead on either side of him, Kinlaw should see plenty of one-on-ones and should be able to clean up on quarterbacks stepping up in the pocket to avoid the edge rush. With his upside and good talent around him, Kinlaw could be a boom pick for San Francisco.
2019: Nick Bosa, DE
2018: Mike McGlinchey, OT
2017: Akhello Witherspoon, CB
2016: DeForest Buckner, DE
2015: Arik Armstead, DE
2014: Carlos Hyde, RB
2013: Marcus Lattimore, RB
Future Depth Player
Colton McKivitz, OT, West Virginita – Round 5 
During the 2020 NFL Draft, the 49ers traded for Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams after losing veteran Joe Staley to retirement. While Williams slides into the starting left tackle position, San Francisco could use some depth given that Williams has not played a lot of football over the past couple of years. Taking McKivitz in the fifth round makes a lot of sense to provide some depth for the 49ers. While I don’t believe that McKivitz will develop into a starter, I think he could end up being a solid backup swing tackle who could be serviceable as a backup. McKivitz was a quality value on Day 3 to give the 49ers some tackle depth.
2019: Kaden Smith, TE
2018: Kentavius Street, DE
2017: Joe Williams, RB
2016: Jeff Driskel, QB
2015: Mike Davis, RB
2014: Bruce Ellington, WR
2013: Vance McDonald, TE
Walt’s 2020 NFL Draft Grades:
14. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina – B+ Grade
The 49ers were desperate to trade down after Henry Ruggs was chosen at No. 12. They moved down once, and they tried to do so again, but ran out of time. I figured they might “settle” for the better receivers, CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy, but they opted instead for Javon Kinlaw. I worry a bit about Kinlaw’s injury history, which is why this isn’t earning an “A” grade. However, Kinlaw is very talented, and he could end up being a great replacement for DeForest Buckner.
25. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State – C- Grade
Brandon Aiyuk is a fine player to pick at this juncture, and he obviously fills a need with Emmanuel Sanders gone. However, I don’t like the trade up for him, especially when considering how few resources the 49ers have outside of the first round. There’s a decent chance Aiyuk would’ve been available for the 49ers at No. 31, and if not, they could’ve snatched one of the many other talented receivers available.
153. Colton McKivitz, OT, West Virginia – B- Grade
Here’s more tackle help in the wake of Joe Staley’s retirement. Colton McKivitz, however, is a right tackle only. He’s pretty stiff and seems like he doesn’t have much upside, but he could end up being a solid backup.
190. Charlie Woerner, TE, Georgia – D Grade
Charlie Woerner had just nine catches in 2019, so I imagine the 49ers are looking at him as a special-teamer and a deep backup. This is someone they could’ve obtained as a UDFA.
217. Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee – C+ Grade
The 49ers traded away Marquise Goodwin, so it makes sense that they’d target a receiver late in the draft. Jauan Jennings is another prospect with speed concerns, but he has nice size (6-3, 215) at least. I don’t think he’ll make the 53-man roster, but crazier things have happened.
2020 NFL Draft Team Grade: B- . Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
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