7 prospects working out today at the NFL Combine confirm that they’ve met with the 49ers

We will focus on linebackers and defensive linemen since they’re working out on Thursday

Defensive linemen and linebackers are scheduled to work out this afternoon at the NFL Combine. The San Francisco 49ers would be wise to leave this draft with three or more defensive linemen while adding a linebacker also makes sense with Dre Greenlaw’s status up in the air.

Since those are the two positions working out today, let’s focus on the prospects who have confirmed they’ve met with the Niners at the Combine.

One is Walter Nolen, a defensive tackle from Ole Miss and a 49ers fan at heart. There are two other players projected to go in the first round along the defensive line who have caught the attention of the Niners.

Nic Scourton – Texas A&M – Edge rusher

Scourton isn’t 21-years-old, and is listed at 6’4, 285 pounds. He primarily lined up at edge rusher for the Aggies last season. He finished the year with four sacks and four quarterback hits. He did have an elite pass rush win rate at 17.1 percent.

Scourton is far from a polished product, as you’d expect at his age. He’s expected to test well for a 285-pounder. Scourton dropped into coverage occasionally, so athleticism isn’t an issue.

My qualms with Scourton, at least as a first-rounder, is that he does not have much of a pass rush plan and, at his size, doesn’t win with power as you’d expect. He looks more like a role player. Or, in NFC West terms, more of a Byron Young than a Jared Verse.

James Pearce – Tennesee – Edge rusher

Pearce looks the part at 6’5”, 243 pounds. His pass rush win rate was off the charts at 23 percent. Unlike other prospects, it looks like Pearce wins that often when you watch him. He had eight sacks and four quarterback hits last season but had 13 sacks and 11 quarterback hits in 2023.

From his hand placement to hand usage, Pearce has an argument for being the top pass-rushing edge rusher in the class. Despite being 245 pounds, Pearce has plenty of pop in his hands, which helps him hold up against the run and walk offensive tackles into the quarterback’s lap.

Shemar Turner – Texas A&M – Defensive tackle

If the 49ers are looking to get back to their violent ways up front, adding any of the three prospects from the Aggies defensive line is a good start. As you can see from Rohan’s tweet above, Turner may have talked himself out of favor in his interview.

The 6’4”, 300-pound senior did not have the production to warrant a top-50 pick last year. Turner had two sacks and one quarterback hit in 314 pass-rushing snaps. His pass-rush win rate was 6.2.

I thought Texas A&M had a very distinct style of play, but each of their prospects left plenty to be desired. Turner is no different.

Oluwafemi Oladejo – UCLA – Edge rusher

The 49ers may want Oladejo to bulk up. The potential Day 2 draftee checked in at 250 pounds. Plus, he’s 6’3”. Those are not the measurements the 49ers have looked for at edge rusher.

He did have a productive 2024, with seven sacks and seven quarterback hits, but his 10.6 percent pass rush win rate suggests that he was not wreaking as much havoc as his sack numbers indicate.

The final two prospects who have confirmed that they’ve met with the 49ers who are working out on Thursday:

CJ West – Indiana- Defensive tackle
Nick Martin – Oklahoma St – Linebacker

We will have updates on the testing numbers and highlight anybody who stands out on Friday.