Mock draft projections on Day 2: Will the 49ers draft for need or BPA today?

58. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

If there’s a tackle worth taking in Round 2 this year, it’s Tiernan. The hulking 6-7, 323-pounder has an outstanding work ethic and an even better anchor.

90. San Francisco 49ers (from HOU via MIA): Dani Dennis-Sutton, edge, Penn State It would be tough to be upset with this haul. The value for Tiernan at No. 58 far outweighs any of the first-round tackles. He’s 6’8″, 323 pounds, with elite lower body strength (98th percentile vertical). But his arm length and hands almost guarantee Tiernan will be a guard. He’s started 44 games. Most of those (380 came at left tackle, so he should be ready to play right away. The former basketball player in high school tells me Tiernan has the movement skills to be a spot starter at the very worst on the left side. The second round may be a tad rich, but it’s unlikely Tiernan would be there in the 90s. McNeil-Warren’s lack of a second gear would worry me when it comes to man coverage. I feel like he’s more limited than some believe. He has the instincts and lives around the ball, so he’d still be an upgrade, but it wasn’t surprising to see him fall out of the first round. Toledo put him in positions to excel, and he took advantage. Dennis-Sutton would be the best selection the Niners make if he falls to 90. That’s an ideal dart throw at the end of the third. ESPN also had the 49ers selecting McNeil-Warren: The 49ers moved out of Round 1, but the chance to take the player I originally predicted for them is still here as McNeil-Warren slips to Round 2. After watching rival Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori neutralize offenses, former safety and 49ers general manager John Lynch can draft his own version. McNeil-Warren ran a 4.52 with a 1.58 10-yard split at 201 pounds. Emmanwori ran a 4.38 with a 1.49 split and had some of the best jumps of all time at 220 pounds. While it’s true McNeil-Warren is best playing as a rover where he can read the quarterback, Emmanwori’s size and speed allow him to do things, like beat George Kittle, McNeil-Warren simply cannot. At 58, the Niners took Clemson wideout, Antonio Williams: San Francisco added Mike Evans in free agency, and they like Ricky Pearsall as a deep threat, but an intermediate option from the slot is needed. Williams is a precise route runner with consistent hands and yards-after-catch ability. Friends don’t let friends draft players sub 190 pounds. Williams has the long speed, but his 10-yard split of 1.55 is in the 10th percentile. His 3-cone was 42nd percentile. Slot receivers need burst and change of direction if they can’t box you out. One of the top player comps on mockdraftable for Williams athletically is Ronnie Bell. Do with that information what you will. No thanks. In the third round, the 49ers redeemed themselves: **90. San Francisco 49ers (from HOU/MIA)**: Markel Bell, OT, Miami I’d take Bell at 58. His growth as a player is getting ignored. He’s tall. Like, NBA tall. at 6’9 1/4. But this kid can play. There will inevitably be plays where Bell is vulnerable to leverage. However, there are endless examples of him playing with pad level, causing pass rushers to take the long way because of his length, and Bell driving people out of their gaps in the run game because his technically sound and brings his hips and feet with him on contact. Big, big fan of Bell. CBS Sports had the 49ers taking a pass rusher, I think was an outstanding collegiate player who will not cut it in the NFL: 33- EDGE, R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma Thomas is a personal favorite in this draft class and has been on my radar since his high school days, when he was a late riser. He brings so much energy to the field and is relentless in pursuit of the quarterback. There are so many in this class who can set the edge, but not push the pocket or push the pocket, but not set the edge. Thomas is one I’d want in my corner to potentially grow into that well-rounded starter. Asking a 241-pounder to play on the line of scrimmage every down and expecting him to hold up when he has the arm length of a wide receiver. Good luck with that. However, things take a turn in the second round: 58 – WR Chris Bell, Louisville Among Day 2 options at the wide receiver position, Bell has arguably the most potential. He has great size and is dynamic with the ball in space. There is absolutely some boom or bust potential with him coming off an injury, but he could develop into something more than the complementary receiver often found on Day 2. I’ll take it a step further. Drop the “Among Day 2 options.” In this class, Bell has the most potential. The bust talk is a bit silly to me. We don’t have access to medicals. We can only see what Bell did on the football field. If the 49ers took him at 33, I wouldn’t bat an eye. PFF had the 49ers coming away with two quality players in the second round:

**33.****San Francisco****49ers****: WR Denzel Boston,****Washington**

The 49ers could opt for a tackle or edge defender here, but they displayed heavy interest in receivers with their documented top-30 visits — which makes sense given their need for more depth at the position. Boston’s blend of separation skill, contested catch ability (career 76.9% rate) and run-blocking prowess (77.1 grade in 2025) feel like too much to pass up for Kyle Shanahan considering the team lacks reliably healthy options out wide.

**58.****San Francisco****49ers****: EDGE Gabe Jacas,****Illinois**

After acquiring Denzel Boston at the top of the second round, San Francisco will presumably add a defensive playmaker at Pick 58. Jacas’ 88.0 PFF pass-rush grade and 14.9% pass-rush win rate are needed on a 49ers front that ranked 23rd in pass-rush grade at the position — especially after losing Bryce Huff to retirement. I’d take Boston over Maki Lemon and Omar Cooper Jr. every day of the week, while Jacas plays hard on early downs and creates enough havoc on third downs to suggest his floor is high.