NFL Draft 2017: 5 Biggest First Round Steals
By Joel W. Cade
Defensive Line. Stanford. Solomon Thomas. 5. player. 42.
The San Francisco 49ers traded their second-round pick to the Chicago Bears. In return they received the Bears first round pick (3), the Bears third round pick (67), fourth round pick (111) and the Bears first round pick in 2018. On top of trading their pick for that haul, they picked the player they wanted all along at number three.
Solomon Thomas is a third-year sophomore from Stanford. His name has been linked to the 49ers for the past few weeks leading up to the draft. His versatility to rush from the edge and from the defensive interior is exactly what the 49ers need moving from a 3-4 base scheme into a 4-3 base scheme.
This is also the third year in a row that the 49ers chose defensive line early in the draft. They chose Arik Armstead in 2015 and DeForest Buckner in 2016. Armstead and Buckner both fit the mold of a 3-4 defensive end.
Moving to a 4-3 they will transition from the 5 technique to a pure defensive end with run responsibilities. Thomas will most likely be kicked inside into a 3 technique which is the key to a 4-3 front and where he excelled at Stanford.
The 49ers improved their defensive line significantly while picking up a major haul of draft picks. The 49ers robbed the Bears blind.