5 Players the 49ers Should Avoid in the 2017 NFL Draft

Sep 17, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) catches a pass and rushes for a touchdown against the USC Trojans during the first half of a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers need to make sure they steer clear of these five prospects in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft.

To say the 2017 NFL Draft is important to the San Francisco 49ers is a bit of an understatement. It’s critical.

Armed with the No. 2 overall pick — and up to 11 selections total — new general manager John Lynch is in a good position to land top-tier talent when the draft kicks off on April 27 in Philadelphia.

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But mistakes are just as likely as home-run picks, and Lynch would be wise to avoid a number of prospects otherwise projected as first-round talent.

For the purposes of this slideshow, let’s stick to the first round. Yes, the Niners are slated to pick second overall. But let’s also open up the possibility they trade down to any point in Round 1.

Remember, each and every drafted prospect is nothing more than an investment. There are no guarantees in the NFL, and this is highlighted best in the draft itself. Perhaps more than any other pro-football avenue.

The NFL Draft is a craps shoot anyway. And for a Niners team in dire need of talent, Lynch can’t afford to make too many mistakes.

With that in mind, here are five prospects Lynch and the 49ers would be wise to avoid in the NFL Draft.

Nov 3, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Takkarist McKinley (98) and linebacker Jayon Brown (12) tackle the scramble of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau (13) in the first half at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5: EDGE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA

6-foot-2, 250 pounds

The 49ers won’t be drafting UCLA edge rusher Takkarist McKinley at No. 2 overall. He’ll slip way down late into Round 1 or, perhaps, the early stages of Round 2.

Assuming the Niners have a pick there, McKinley is a player the Niners need to avoid.

Sure, McKinley has tremendous pass-rushing potential. His 10 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss over 11 games for the Bruins last year is a testament to that.

But that’s about it to his game. And there are some major concerns about how well he’ll project to the NFL level, courtesy of his draft profile on CBS Sports:

CBS Sports also brings up questions about McKinley’s run-stopping abilities.

With San Francisco’s run defense ranking dead last in the NFL last year, McKinley doesn’t exactly address the biggest problem the Niners have this offseason.

And there seems to be a real risk he turns into the next Tank Carradine — highly touted in college but never able to translate it over to the pro level.

Sep 30, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) rushes the ball against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Husky Stadium. Washington won 44-6. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Running Back Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

6-foot-0, 200 pounds

The 49ers need offensive playmakers, and that’s all running back Christian McCaffrey was at Stanford.

One could argue he should have been the Heisman Trophy recipient in 2015, and he certainly backed it up with another impressive season a year ago. Just take a look at his numbers, courtesy of Sports Reference:

CBS Sports’ Rob Rang compared McCaffrey to veteran running back Reggie Bush. And that’s where McCaffrey to San Francisco doesn’t make much sense.

Sure, the Niners could use some help to back up No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde. And McCaffrey doubling as a wide receiver might help.

But considering his 6-foot-0, 200-pound stature, the former Stanford standout is a bit of a tweener — good at multiple things but not necessarily going to be great at one particular area at the next level.

Not worth a first-round investment.

Apr 1, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines saftey Jabrill Peppers (5) smiles during warm ups before the Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Safety Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

6-foot-1, 250 pounds

Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers certainly will be enticing on draft day. His versatility to line up in the secondary, and within the front seven on the inside or outside, makes him an attractive option for defenses looking for interchangeable pieces — valuable commodities in today’s NFL.

Despite a solid 2016 season, in which he finished fifth in Heisman voting, Peppers probably would have benefited from one more year at Michigan.

CBS Sports’ Rob Rang called him a “tweener,” not possessing the ideal bulk to regularly line up as linebacker.

And Peppers’ coverage skills? Well, they’re not exactly great either. All one needs to do is go back and look at Michigan’s game versus Ohio State and watch the Buckeyes’ Curtis Samuel burn him badly.

Sure, Peppers will make plays at the NFL level. But he’s not a ballhawk, totaling just one interception over three collegiate seasons.

With San Francisco already having young defensive backs like Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward poised to be the safety tandem of the future, Peppers would likely be a wasted pick.

Unless former general manager Trent Baalke was still in town.

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is pressured by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) in the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2: Defensive Lineman Jonathan Allen, Alabama

6-foot-3, 291 pounds

One could make the argument Alabama defensive lineman is the best player coming out in this year’s NFL Draft.

Even more than Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett.

Whatever the case, Allen is a top-five pick. He’s a pocket-wrecking force, much like the 49ers’ own Justin Smith before his retirement prior to 2015.

Here’s the problem — San Francisco needs a nose tackle along its D-line. Allen isn’t one.

Just ask Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller:

In his tweet, Miller is referring to 49ers defensive ends Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner. Buckner certainly came on strong last year and, if it weren’t for his shoulder injury, Armstead likely would have been a solid force as well.

Adding Allen doesn’t make much sense, even if the Niners switch to a 4-3 defensive front.

Sep 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) looks to pass in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1: Quarterback Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina

6-foot-3, 220 pounds

In weak quarterbacking NFL Draft classes, it seems as if every year prospects are propped up to become top-10 picks even if they aren’t warranted as such.

This is the case with North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, and it isn’t hard to find a mock draft out there projecting him to the 49ers at No. 2 overall.

Trubisky’s numbers, courtesy of Sports Reference, last season do enough to suggest he’s a first-round talent:

But he’s only a one-year starter. So questioning his experience is a definite must.

CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler also pointed out Trubisky’s tendency to stare down targets and not work through his reads — sounding an awful lot like another 49ers quarterback. His accuracy on deep throws isn’t great, and one could easily call into question his poise within the pocket when under pressure.

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At No. 2 in the draft, the value simply isn’t there for San Francisco.

The Niners need a quarterback, and it’s possible they take one with their first pick. But Trubisky is too much a risk at this point, and the move only makes some sense if the 49ers trade down.

Even so, the team would be wise to use that pick on other areas of need and look to draft a quarterback in Rounds 2 or 3, like Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes or Cal’s Davis Webb, to fill the need.