PITTSBURGH — From the outside looking in, the49ers took a couple of big swingson draft weekend by reaching for players many draft pundits predicted would be available well beyond where they were actually drafted.
But then, isn’t that the beauty of theNFL draft, which is the epitome of the old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?
Contrary to what social media might suggest, there really isn’t a singular, definitive master draft board ordained by the football powers that be, then passed down to general managers and scouting departments across the league.
In fact, there are32 different draft boards, and each looks subtly to dramatically different than the next.
So, while the masses might deem the top of the49ers’ drafta series of reaches, the 49ers will tell you they stayed true to their board every step of the way.
“That’s where we had them,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said about whom he drafted and at what point. “And we had a lot of conviction.”
It will take years to sort it all out, but the 49ers believe they landed a Day 1-caliber wide receiver able to stretch the field in Ole Miss’ De’Zhaun Stribling and a rotational pass rusher inTexas Tech’s Romello Heightin the third round. They also selected Indiana running back Kaelon Black in the third round.
The 49ers believe Height has traits that could make him a key part of their defensive line.
“You turn on that tape, and we do a lot of evaluation just based on how hard, how relentless does a guy play,” Lynch said. “We feel like Romello is at the top of this draft in terms of the effort, the tenacity, the relentlessness with which he plays with.”
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