SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The 2023 NFL draft ended Saturday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The San Francisco 49ers made eight of the draft’s 259 picks, beginning with the No. 87 selection of the third round on Friday night.
ESPN's pick-by-pick analysis of each of the 49ers' selections is below.
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 3, No. 87 overall: Ji'Ayir Brown, safety, Penn State
My take: The 49ers have a loaded starting 22 but are in position to begin planning for the future, and Brown makes sense as they begin looking ahead to life after Tashaun Gipson Sr. Gipson signed a one-year deal in the offseason but at 32 years old, he's much closer to the end than the beginning of his career, and Jimmie Ward -- the previous free safety before Gipson -- departed for the Houston Texans in free agency. Like Ward, Brown has experience playing deep post at safety and lining up over slot receivers. That versatility can come in handy regardless of how soon the Niners intend to get him on the field.
Will he start as a rookie? Probably not, but it can't be ruled out. Brown played 35 games for the Nittany Lions and posted 153 tackles, 19 passes defended and 10 interceptions in Happy Valley. Brown could theoretically push Gipson in training camp, but if he's not ready to start, he can contribute on special teams for a year, then be ready to step in for Gipson in 2024. It's the same blueprint the Niners used after drafting Talanoa Hufanga in 2021 and prepping him to take over for Jaquiski Tartt.
Round 3, No. 99 overall: Jake Moody, kicker, Michigan
My take: Since coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch arrived in 2017, the 49ers have had the peace of mind that comes with veteran kicker Robbie Gould. But they let Gould depart in free agency this year, and though he remains unsigned, San Francisco has been intent on getting younger (and cheaper) at the position. In Moody, the Niners get the player widely regarded as the best kicker in the draft. The 99th pick in the draft is rich for a kicker (it's the highest a kicker has been drafted since 2016) but it will be worth it if Shanahan doesn't have to think about who his kicker will be for the next decade or so.
Will he start as a rookie? Yes. Unless Moody just suddenly forgets how to kick a football through some uprights in the next few months, he will replace Gould. The Niners traded for Zane Gonzalez, so they do have some competition in place for him if they decide to go that route, but it would take a significant series of events for anyone but Moody to be the team's kicker in 2023 and beyond.
Round 3, No. 101 overall: Cameron Latu, tight end, Alabama
My take: For most of the past few years, the 49ers have talked openly about finding someone who can help lighten George Kittle's load and extend his prime. But they hadn't been able to find the right player and mostly relied on veterans behind him. In Latu, the Niners hope they finally have the player who can give Kittle the occasional breather, offer some more options in two tight end sets and, perhaps, become an eventual replacement for the do-everything Kittle. Like with the Brown pick earlier, this is a pick who can help now but was also made with an eye toward the future.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time? Latu should be able to contribute right away. Kittle is entrenched as the starter, but Latu will battle the likes of Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner for the snaps behind him. If Latu can beat out either, he should get opportunities to play in year 1. As for becoming a starter, Kittle is under contract through the 2025 season and still playing at a high level. But the Niners would love Latu to develop into an option whenever Kittle's career nears its end.
Round 5, No. 155 overall (from Miami): Darrell Luter Jr., cornerback, South Alabama
My take: The 49ers haven't hesitated to load up on cornerbacks in the middle and late rounds of the NFL draft, so adding Luter should come as no surprise. Luter excelled in press coverage in 2022, allowing a QBR of just 19.8 and at 6-feet, 189 pounds, he's a bigger corner who should fit on the outside behind starters Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir. The Niners don't have many proven commodities for depth on the outside, so Luter should have a chance to earn a role quickly if he can offer some help on special teams as well.
Round 5, No. 173 overall: Robert Beal Jr., DE, Georgia
My take: There was never any doubt the 49ers would spend at least one pick on the defensive line. The only surprise might be that it took this long to do it. San Francisco is loaded on the defensive line and Beal is considered a developmental prospect but the Niners don't need much from him in the short term. The competition for snaps behind starters Nick Bosa and Drake Jackson will come down to Clelin Ferrell, Kerry Hyder Jr., Austin Bryant and Beal. That means it will be hard for Beal to make an impact right away but if he can offer some pass-rush specialization and help on special teams, he should have a chance to stick on the roster.
Round 6, No. 216 overall: Dee Winters, LB, TCU
My take: After losing Azeez Al-Shaair in free agency, the 49ers had a need for more help at linebacker alongside Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. They found Greenlaw in the fifth round in 2019 and hope that lightning strikes again here with another speedy linebacker. Winters ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and had 7.5 sacks in 2022. Veteran Oren Burks is slated to start at strong side linebacker, but Winters should have a chance to push for playing time quickly while contributing on special teams.
Round 7, No. 247 overall: Brayden Willis, TE, Oklahoma
My take: The 49ers doubled down on tight ends by adding Willis after taking Alabama's Cameron Latu at the end of the third round. Willis is more of an H-back type than Latu but he will have a path to making the roster as well. The Niners have kept four tight ends multiple times in recent years and only George Kittle appears to have a spot locked in. If San Francisco keeps four again, that means there's three spots for the likes of Latu, Willis, Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner.
Round 7, No. 253 overall (compensatory selection): Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan
My take: Wide receiver is a sneaky need for the Niners with Brandon Aiyuk closing in on needing a lucrative contract extension and Deebo Samuel already highly paid. They may have to decide between those two in the next couple of years, plus Ray-Ray McCloud and Jauan Jennings are slated to be unrestricted and restricted free agents after the season, respectively. Jennings actually provides a blueprint for Bell as a former seventh-round selection who carved out a role in the slot and now is a consistent factor in the offense. Snaps will be hard to come by for Bell as a rookie but there's a path to a bigger role down the line if he can show his 2021 ACL injury is a thing of the past.
Round 7, No. 255 overall (compensatory selection): Jalen Graham, LB, Purdue
My take: Graham played a variety of roles for the Boilermakers but the Niners will likely ask him to come in and compete with Winters and others for a role as an off-ball linebacker in their 4-3 scheme. It might be difficult for both linebackers to make the team but Graham profiles as a weak side linebacker who could offer depth behind Dre Greenlaw and will undoubtedly need to make his mark on special teams in order to land a roster spot.