Moving day at the NFL draft
Both the 49ers and Raiders were on the move Friday on Day 2 of the draft in Arlington, Texas. The 49ers traded up to get Washington wide receiver Dante Pettis, shown running the ball against Cal. The Raiders moved up to take Arden Key, an edge rusher from LSU.
The 49ers were very busy Friday ... and then the second day of the NFL draft started.
On Friday morning, hours before making their first pick in the second round, the 49ers traded right tackle Trent Brown to the Patriots and signed strong safety Jaquiski Tartt to a two-year contract extension.
Then, they began the second day of the draft by doing what they’ve done all offseason: invest in their offense.
With their first pick, the 49ers selected University of Washington wide receiver Dante Pettis in the second round (No. 44 overall) after trading up 15 spots in a deal with Washington.
The 49ers view Pettis as a chess piece in Kyle Shanahan’s offense who can also flourish on special teams: He owns the NCAA record with nine puntreturn touchdowns and averaged 20.4 yards on 21 runbacks last year. As a receiver, he had 116 catches, 1,583 yards and scored 22 touchdowns in his final two seasons.
“You talk about a dynamic
player,” said general manager John Lynch.
Shanahan talked about Pettis having the versatility to fill the roles of his top three wideouts: speedy Marquise Goodwin, shifty slot receiver Trent Taylor and gritty possession receiver Pierre Garcon, who will turn 32 before the season opener.
“We think Pettis does a little bit of everything,” Shanahan said. “... He’s a guy that brings a lot of versatility to our team.”
The 49ers have invested heavily to provide quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with support this offseason. Before selecting
Pettis, their only lucrative freeagent contracts were given to a center (Weston Richburg) and running back ( Jerrick McKinnon) before they used the No. 9 pick on right tackle Mike McGlinchey on Thursday.
After selecting Pettis, however, they shifted their focus by using their two third-round picks on defensive players: BYU inside linebacker Fred Warner and Southern Miss safety Tarvarius Moore, whom they envision playing cornerback in the NFL.
The selection of Warner comes with Reuben Foster’s future with the team murky because he faces three felony charges, including one for domestic violence.
Warner (6-foot-3, 236 pounds) has 32-inch arms and excellent movement skills (4.64-second 40-yard dash). A three-year starter, he excelled in coverage in college, where he was a team captain who led the Cougars in tackles his final two seasons and returned two of his seven career interceptions for touchdowns.
“We covet length,” Lynch said. “... It closes down passing lanes, so guys that have great length and great ability to move — it shrinks the field. And we think Fred is one of those guys that can shrink the field.”
Moore (6-2, 190) is a unique prospect: A No. 95 overall pick who wasn’t among the 336 players invited to the NFL combine.
However, after a solid college career, he began soaring up draft boards with a stunning display of athleticism at his pro day. He twice ran a verified 4.32-second 40-yard dash, and had a 38.5-inch vertical jump and 11-1 broad jump. His 40 would have tied for the fastest among the 58 defensive backs at the combine, his broad jump would have ranked fifth, and his vertical jump would have been eighth.
“When (you study a player) not invited to the combine, you think you have a sleeper,” Shanahan said. “And then the guy goes and runs a 4.32 at his pro day, and all the sudden, he’s not so much of a sleeper.”
Said Lynch: “You have to be able to run to play corner in this league, and he can flat out run.”