The San Francisco 49ers selected Kansas guard Dominic Puney with the No. 86 pick in the second round of Friday’s NFL draft.
Fans of the team have been yearning for someone who can protect Brock Purdy, and they finally got that in the person of Pooney, who played both left tackle and left guard for the Jayhawks. Pooney’s speed — a slow 40-yard dash in 5.35 seconds — suggests guard could be his position in the NFL, and AthleticDane Brugler categorizes it as such. He was Brugler’s fifth-best guard in the draft.
The 49ers traded up eight spots to get Pune, sending their third-round pick (No. 94) and a fourth-rounder (No. 132) to the Philadelphia Eagles to get him.
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“Beast” breakdown.
Puni is ranked #56 on Dane Brugler’s Top 300 Bigboard. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
“Puni runs with his feet and directs defenders into the play with a shaky but measured mentality to make split-second adjustments on the fly.” Although he has some limitations in space as a pass blocker, he plays tough and mobile to meet different types of shots.
“Generally, Puni will give himself trouble by bending at the waist or letting his pads go up, but he plays hard and powerful and sends a rough message with his hands while remaining controlled through contact.” He can play tackle if needed, but is best as a starting guard or center in the NFL.”
Nick Baumgardner appreciates the selection
It’s a little surprising that Puni made it this far down the line. The former Kansas standout is a guard/tackle prospect who has a lot of work to do in pass protection in college, but also translates well as a guard. A big man (33 3/8 hands, 10 1/8 hands), Pooney needs to make sure he’s consistent in his turn — especially if he sticks to the outside — but there’s a lot of potential here. Probably even inside the center.
degree: B+
How it suits him
It’s possible Puney could displace current right guard John Feliciano this season. But he’s more likely to serve as an interior backup in 2024 and then step into a starting role next season. Feliciano is only signed for the current season, while left guard Aaron Banks is also slated to become a free agent in March.
Pooney cross-coached draft pick, guard and center at Kansas, suggesting he could be tapped at either of those positions as a tight end. He started 13 games at left guard in 2022 and 12 games at left tackle last season and didn’t allow a sack in either of those contests.
Rookie Impact
Puni is another draft pick who has played a lot of snaps in college. He had 18 starts at Central Missouri with 25 more at Kansas. According to Brugler, he was known for his calm, steady demeanor at Kansas and performed well — at various positions, including center — at the Senior Bowl in January. At 24, he’s also a bit older than a typical rookie.
The 49ers don’t need him to have a big role in 2024, but the qualities listed above suggest someone who can handle the added responsibility as a rookie.
Depth chart impact
Feliciano came on strong late in the 2023 season and will be difficult to displace at right guard, especially considering the majority of Puni’s college experience has been on the left side. However, Pooney will likely get reps in the offseason at both guard positions and will have a chance to be the top backup at both positions. If he continues to progress, he could take over a starting role during the season.
They could also choose…
The 49ers have yet to tap into the deep bloodlines that run through the draft. They were believed to be the favorite for Christian McCaffrey’s youngest brother, Rice receiver Luke, who went to the Washington Commanders with the last pick of the third round. Meanwhile, Jerry Rice’s son, USC receiver Brendan Rice, will still be available when Day 4 begins.
The 49ers could also add another tight end. Penn State’s Theo Johnson and TCU’s Jared Wiley remain on the board.
Quick assessment
After passing on offensive linemen in the first two rounds, the 49ers got a versatile in the third in Pune. While he didn’t have the best time in the 40-yard dash, Kyle Shanahan said his 4.4-second shuttle time stood out for a team that wants its interior linemen to shoot quickly.
Pune’s experience at all five positions on the offensive line could come in handy if the 49ers have a rash of injuries at any position in 2024. However, his future appears to be as a starting guard, either on the right side or, if Aaron Banks is not I have no second contract, left.
(Photo: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
