If the San Francisco 49ers will stay with Jimmy Garoppolo as a defender for the 2021 season, it is imperative that they get better protection and, in Daniel Jeremiah’s last simulated draft, he tells them to do just that.
Jeremiah qualified Rashawn Slater for the Northwest offensive for the 49ers with the 12th overall choice in the first round.
Using a first-round choice on the offensive line makes a lot of sense for San Francisco. Garoppolo was fired with seven percent of his relegations in 2020, if he had taken enough photos to qualify, that would have been equal to Kirk Cousins in the 12th highest percentage in the NFL.
An injury to Garoppolo’s ankle pressured Nick Mullens into service for most of the season. Mullens was hit on 31.4 percent of hitting, the biggest pressure of any defender in the league. Not all pressures are the same and some will be attributed to quarterbacks, but the Niners’ problems at the beginning were clear. Right-back Mike McGlinchey took a year off, while San Francisco did not find a combination inside the line to contain the pressure in the middle.
The 49ers prioritized hiring Trent Williams to the left, but even if they succeed, Slater may still be at the table because of his versatility. He can play in all positions of the line, which means he can start his career on the inside while serving as a possible replacement for McGlinchey if the choice of the first round of 2018 suffers more difficulties.
In addition to this positional flexibility, what would Slater bring to San Francisco?
What Slater would bring for 49ers
A key feature that is sure to attract Niners is Slater’s athleticism. In the racing game, he can reach the second level in a hurry, climbing efficiently to face the linebackers he regularly dominates, showing a consistent desire to end the blocks with authority.
Slater’s mobility makes him an asset in the screen game, where he can step out in front of his receiver and make way for the open field.
In protecting the pass, Slater’s athletic ability is most evident in his lateral movement. Slater is extremely fast in his set of passes, with the speed of his foot allowing him to be aligned against the opponent’s pass rushers.
Slater plays with impressive leverage and a good pad level, he has strong, fast hands that allow him to fight pass-rush movements while he can absorb bull races and close them with his ability to anchor.
In addition to the idea that Slater could operate at the heart of the NFL is his awareness of looking for work and taking on new assignments, doing so with a composure that belies his two years of experience at the university level.
Looking at Slater’s traits
Although he has occasionally been susceptible to edge rushers who are quick to win on the inside, this small weakness has not translated into much pressure on the defenders he protected. Slater did not allow a single withdrawal in 2019 and gave up just five pressures, for Focus on professional football.
Athleticism, reliability and flexibility are the characteristics that Slater would offer 49ers. An offensive line with leaks that lacked solutions in the interior and did not reach its potential last year could use all three.
Regardless of how the free agency performs and the position they imagine it to play, Slater should be near the top of the San Francisco recruiting board as the Niners seek to recover in 2021.