The 2023 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and the 49ers’ greatest draft class in the last 20 years may be more recent than you may believe. Although there is some competition from the 2005 draft class, the 2019 NFL draft is the 49ers’ greatest draft class of the last 20 years.
2019 the Greatest Draft Class in the last 20 Years
In 2019, the 49ers picked eight players, and of those eight, five have had an impact on the team, and four remain starters. Here is a look at the 49ers’ greatest draft class in the last 20 years.
49ers DE Nick Bosa (97) – Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Round 1 Pick 2: Nick Bosa
Defensive end Nick Bosa was one of the best things to happen for the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers went 4-12 in 2018, resulting in them getting the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. The following year, Bosa made an immediate impact, and the team went 13-3 on the way to the Super Bowl in the 2019 season.
Bosa is up for a big contract extension, and it is well deserved. In just four years, including the 2020 season, where he only played two games, Bosa has had 43 sacks, 116 solo tackles, and 106 quarterback hits just in the regular season. He has also had two fumble recoveries and even an interception, where he returned it for 46 yards. Although Bosa has not yet broken the franchise record for most sacks in a single season, he is on the hunt.
Round 2 Pick 36: Deebo Samuel
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel was also drafted in the 2019 NFL draft. Samuel was picked in the second round, and although he has missed time with injuries, he has done well for this team. Samuel is one of the top weapons for this team, making him a factor as to why the 2019 draft is the greatest draft class for the franchise in the last 20 years.
In four years, Saumuel has had 233 receptions for 3,230 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in the regular season. He has also rushed the ball for 782 yards and 14 touchdowns. It is his dual-threat ability that gave him a big contract extension during the 2022 off-season, and why this is the greatest draft class in the past two decades.
49ers WR Deebo Samuel (19) – Stan Szeto/USA TODAY Sports
Round 3 Pick 67: Jalen Hurd
Wide receiver Jalen Hurd was upset for the team in this draft. Hurd was meant to be the large receiver the team needed but got hurt in the preseason with a back injury. Hurd was never able to see a regular season and was eventually released by the team. Hurd has yet to play for another team. While the greatest draft class in the last 20 years, it could have possibly been better if Hurd did not have his back injuries.
Round 4 Pick 110: Mitch Wishnowsky
Punter Mitch Wishnowsky may be one of the more underrated draft picks in 2019 compared to the others. Wishnowsky has had to punt the ball 236 times for 10,668 yards, averaging 45.2 yards per punt. He has al a 42.8% average of punts in the 20, over 50% being in the 2022 season. Wishnowsky is a big reason that the opposing teams have to start so far back, giving an edge to an already strong defense.
49ers LB Dre Greenlaw (57) – Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Round 5 Pick 148: Dre Greenlaw
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is one of the late-round draft picks that the 49ers hit the mark on. Paired with Fred Warner and Azeez Al-Shaair, who is now with the Tennessee Titans, the 49ers have had one of the strongest linebacker cores in the league. Greenlaw did miss much of the 2021 season but came back strong in 2022.
In his four years, Greenlaw has had 326 total tackles, 217 of which are solo. He has also had 13 tackles for loss and two sacks. He has also had two fumble recoveries and three interceptions for 86 yards and one touchdown. Greenlaw was one of the late-round gems that add to why this was the greatest draft in the last 20 years for the 49ers.
Round 6 Pick 176: Kaden Smith
Kaden Smith is a tight end that was drafted by the 49ers in 2019 but never played for San Francisco. Smith ended up with the New York Giants, where he played from 2019 to 2021. Smith did not play in the 2022 season. Although Smith’s time with the 49ers did not work out, he has at least got playing time in the NFL.
Round 6 Pick 183: Justin Skule
Offensive tackle Justin Skule may not be with the 49ers anymore, but he was valuable for the team. The 49ers have had injuries on their offensive line quite often, and Skule played in 15 games in 2019 and 16 games in 2020. Skule was a valuable player when it came to injuries on the line. While he may not be the greatest offensive lineman, he was needed depth and is one of the reasons 2019 has been the greatest draft class in the last 20 years.
Round 6 Pick 198: Tim Harris
Cornerback Tim Harris was another player that did not play too much with San Francisco. He was active for two games in San Francisco in 2020 when the team was riddled with injuries. He was also active in 2021 for a game with the Cleveland Browns. Luckily, he was just a sixth-round pick that did not hurt the team. While 2019 is still considered the greatest draft class, the team could have used a strong cornerback.
The San Francisco 49ers have not hit on every draft pick during the 2019 NFL draft, but they did with many of them. This draft class was a big factor in the turnaround for the team, who have made playoffs each year except for one since this draft. Many of these players remain the 49ers’ starters. This is the greatest draft class in the last 20 years for the franchise, and hopefully, the team can get a ring with these players that remain in San Francisco.
