2017 NFL mock draft: San Francisco 49ers pick Forrest Lamp

The good thing about being a bad team is that you can go in almost any direction in the NFL draft and not go wrong.

In the first round of the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft, the San Francisco 49ers targeted Ohio State safety Malik Hooker with the second overall pick. Suffice to say, that was a good direction because Hooker is a top-five-rated player.

Here in the second round, San Francisco can target any number of players. There are no quarterbacks worth the 34th pick, but there are good pass rushers and defensive backs available. David Fucillo of Niners Nation goes in another direction.

Fucillo: The 49ers have numerous needs on defense, and there remains a ton of defensive talent on the board. However, in a draft that is not quite as deep on the offensive side, grabbing a guy some think could be the best offensive lineman in the group is an easy call. I did not anticipate he would be here, but sitting there at 34, it’s a chance to further lock down the offensive line.

The 49ers drafted Joshua Garnett last year and signed veteran Zane Beadles. There is no world in which Beadles is an answer, and the 49ers need to lock in young line depth. They acquired Jeremy Zuttah via trade, which could lead to Daniel Kilgore moving to guard, but Kilgore’s deal is inexpensive enough that grabbing a high-quality guard still makes sense.

There is enough defensive depth in this draft that the 49ers can find more impact defensive options later in the draft. And with the four notable quarterbacks going in the first round, that position came off the board. Running back and wide receiver remain intriguing here as well, but I am comfortable waiting to see what slips further down.

Analysis: If you’re truly devoted to the notion of taking the best player available, then Lamp has to be the pick. He may not be this year’s version of Zack Martin, but being Cody Whitehair isn’t bad either. On a team that is at the start of a rebuild, getting a surefire starter in Lamp will pay off. I agree on waiting for a running back and wide receiver. In this range the value doesn’t fit the need, but it should in the third round. Then after that it would be imperative they draft defensive players.

At noon ET we’ll be back with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Big Cat Country making the No. 35 overall pick.