Kurtenbach: Grading the 49ers’ Day Three 2022 NFL Draft picks [LIVE]

This NFL Draft doesn’t have the same buzz as last year’s for the San Francisco 49ers, but that’s not to say that it can’t have a big impact.

Here, I’ll give my take on every pick the 49ers make, as they happen:

Round 4 • Pick 134

Spencer Burford • OL • Texas-San Antonio

NFL Comparison: Dan Feeney

What I like: He’s mean and he’s versatile. Sometimes that’s all you need in an offensive lineman, especially one that is being brought in for depth. Burford is a ruthless dude on the field and he has the footwork to work in Kyle Shanahan’s wide-zone blocking scheme, which might get even wider with Trey Lance as the team’s starting quarterback.

What I don’t like: A lot of the positive qualities that Burford showed came against lower-level opponents in Conference USA. Will he be a viable “road grader” when he’s facing NFL defensive line?

There were also multiple offensive linemen that I thought would have been a better option for either immediate playability, long-term upside, or both.

Burford hasn’t shown that he can play center, either. The Niners might have a grand plan, but in selecting a guard, it would be ideal to have someone who can slide over to center, not tackle.

I also seriously question if Burford can play tackle at the NFL level, even for a few snaps.

What it tells us: The Niners still value versatility above all when it comes to offensive line depth. Burford will be pegged as Daniel Brunskill’s replacement

Value: No problems here. He was considered a last-ditch Day 2, early Day 3 pick. That’s where he went.

Grade: B

Sorry, but I can’t get upset about picking a player that has strong tape and versatility on the offensive line. And on Day 3, it’s not as if you’re going to land a starting-caliber player. This is a totally fine pick, concerns and all.

Round 5 • Pick 172

Samuel Womack • CB • Toledo

What I like: Womack pulled it out of the mud. An undersized walk-on at Toledo, he worked his way up to be one of the more productive defensive backs in all of college football. Last season, he was second in the NCAA in pass breakups.

What I don’t like: He’s undersized and while he has nice shadowing ability, his tackling was extremely questionable in the Mid-American Conference. That doesn’t bode well for a transition to nickelback, which might be his only route to the field with the 49ers.

What it tells us: The Niners operate quite differently than most other NFL teams.

Value: Yikes. Womack was considered a seventh-round pick at best. He was not a part of any mock drafts on NFL Mock Draft Database. And they take everyone.

For the Niners to take someone with a minimal market (at best) at 173 is downright ridiculous. I received five text messages after this pick from folks around the NFL and not one of them was favorable. Three were “LOL.”

Grade: D

If the 49ers thought they were replacing K’Waun Williams, this is probably not the guy. If they need an outside cornerback, there is a chance Womack can be an asset. His production at Toledo can’t be brushed aside.

What knocks this pick down is the downright terrible value. NFL teams should go and get their guys — especially on Day 3 — but to draft a player with such a minimal market at No. 173 is puzzling. Especially, too, when the Niners have plenty of picks remaining.

I’ll say this for Womack. He has been doubted before — he had no Division 1 offers coming out of college. Now he’s in the NFL. Perhaps he can prove everyone wrong again at this level.

Round 6 • Pick 187

Nick Zakelj • OL • Fordham

What I like: He’s a tall, heavy offensive lineman who is light on his feet. He has great get-off at the line of scrimmage and he can engage and move at the same time.

What I don’t like: That lightness on his feet is not mitigated by elite technique or a robust base. Which is to say that he can be pushed around a bit.

What it tells us: The Niners are keen to develop a left tackle. With Trent Williams fighting in injuries at the end of last season and Mike McGlinchey coming back from a quad injury, depth is vital. Zakelj believes because he lacks prototypical tackle arm length, he’ll likely play guard. Either way, he’s a bit of a project, but a worthwhile one.

Value: Fine. There aren’t a lot of open-source evaluations of Zakelj — typical for an FCS player — but those who did watch him thought this was a good spot for him.

Grade: B-

Another example of the Niners operating on a different plane than most when it comes to the draft. This is a fair-value pick that carries some higher upside in San Francisco’s offense than elsewhere in the NFL