2019 NFL Mock Draft: Odell Beckham trade throws first round into chaos

This pick for the 49ers likely comes down to the two guys who are likely at the top of everyone’s draft boards – Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa and Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Who do the 49ers have the higher grade on?

For me, at at the moment, I would lean toward San Francisco drafting Williams after pulling off a trade with the Chiefs and investing a big contract into edge rusher Dee Ford. With DeForest Buckner on the other side, the Niners would be seemingly set off the edge for 2019. Adding a monster in the middle like Williams could give them a young, dynamic front-seven that could provide a defensive identity to build around.

Williams helped himself a lot at the combine, solidifying his standing as one of the best overall players in this draft class. He ran a lightning quick 40-yard-dash for his size, and looked nimble and agile in all the on-field drills. He was a dominant force for Alabama last season, becoming a unanimous All-American and taking home the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman.

Williams was just a redshirt sophomore, so he would still have plenty of room to grow, a scary proposition for opposing NFL coaches. He has the potential to impact the game from the middle of a defense much like Aaron Donald and Fletcher Cox have done for the Rams and Eagles, respectively. The Niners get a up-close look of Donald twice a year, and they’ve seen what he has been able to do to their divisional rival’s defense.

Buckner is coming into the final year of his rookie contract, so the 49ers might not want to invest the money in him that it’s going to take to keep him in the Bay Area. He’s coming off of a 12-sack season, and will probably command a hefty pay-day on the open market next offseason. They could draft Bosa, who would be held on a much more team-friendly deal for the next four years, and then potentially look at trading Buckner for more draft capital.

They could also be a prime trade-down target, with them potentially prioritizing offensive players, such as a wide receiver or offensive linemen, and No. 2 overall would be much too high to invest in one in this class.

If they stand pat, the decision should come down to Bosa or Williams, and I’d lean toward them selecting the Alabama product at the moment.