ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper released his first mock draft on Thursday morning. Unsurprisingly, he has the 49ers taking an edge rusher with the No. 2 overall pick in Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen.
Here’s what Kiper said of the pick via ESPN:
“The 49ers took defensive linemen in the first round in three straight years (2015 to ’17), but DeForest Buckner is the only true star of the group. And none of those picks has the edge-rushing potential of Allen, who racked up 17 sacks for the Wildcats this season. If you’re talking about pure pass-rushing ability, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Allen is right up there with Bosa. San Francisco needs to add offensive weapons this offseason, but none is worth taking this high.”
Allen was expected to play for the Kyle Shanahan coached South team in the upcoming Senior Bowl, but pulled out of the game. Allen is considered the second best edge rusher in the upcoming draft behind Nick Bosa of Ohio State, who is projected by Kiper to go No. 1 to the Arizona Cardinals.
Allen was highly decorated during his senior season at Kentucky, winning the Chuck Bednarik Award, awarded to the top defensive player in college football, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the best defensive player in the NCAA, and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Allen was graded as the best edge rusher and the fourth best player in all of college football by Pro Football Focus.