The San Francisco 49ers selected Kansas guard Dominick Puni with the No. 86 pick in Friday’s third round of the NFL Draft.
The team’s fans had been pining for someone who could protect Brock Purdy and they finally got that in Puni, who played both left tackle and left guard for the Jayhawks. Puni’s speed — a slow 5.35-second 40-yard dash — suggests that guard might be his NFL position, and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler categorized him as such. He was Brugler’s fifth-best guard in the draft.
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The 49ers traded up eight spots to get Puni, sending their third-round pick (No. 94) and a fourth-rounder (No. 132) to the Philadelphia Eagles to get him.
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‘The Beast’ breakdown
Puni ranked No. 56 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
“Puni runs his feet and steers defenders in the run game with a mauling, yet measured mentality to make split-second adjustments on the move. Though he has some limitations in space as a pass blocker, he plays stout and mobile to answer different types of rushers.
“Overall, Puni will get himself in trouble bending at the waist or letting his pads rise, but he plays big, and powerful and sends a harsh message with his hands while staying controlled through contact. He can play tackle, if needed, but projects best as an NFL starting guard or center.”
Nick Baumgardner grades the pick
It’s a bit surprising Puni made it this far down the line. The former Kansas standout is a guard/tackle prospect who got a lot of pass protection work in college but also translates well inside to guard. A big man (33 3/8 arms, 10 1/8 hands), Puni needs to make sure he’s consistent with his bend — especially if he sticks outside – but there is a lot of potential here. Possibly even inside at center.
Grade: B+
How he fits
It’s possible that Puni could unseat incumbent Jon Feliciano at right guard this season. But it’s more likely that he will serve as a backup on the interior in 2024 and then move into a starting role next season. Feliciano is only signed for the current season while left guard Aaron Banks also is scheduled to become a free agent in March.
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Puni cross-trained at tackle, guard and center at Kansas, which suggests he could be tapped in a pinch at any of those positions. He started 13 games at left guard in 2022 and 12 games at left tackle last season and didn’t allow a sack in any of those contests.
Rookie impact
Puni is another draft pick who played a lot of snaps at college. He had 18 starts at Central Missouri with another 25 at Kansas. Per Brugler, he was known for his calm, steady demeanor at Kansas, and he held up well — at various positions, including center — at the Senior Bowl in January. At 24, he’s also a little older than a typical rookie.
The 49ers don’t need him to have a big role in 2024, but the attributes listed above suggest someone who might be able to handle added responsibility as a rookie.
Depth-chart impact
Feliciano came on strong at the end of the 2023 season and will be tough to displace at right guard, especially considering that the bulk of Puni’s college experience has been on the left side. However, Puni likely will get offseason repetitions at both guard spots and have a chance to be the top backup at both positions. If he continues to make progress, he could take over a starting role during the season.
They also could have picked …
The 49ers have yet to tap into the deep bloodlines that run through the draft. They were thought to be a favorite for Christian McCaffrey’s youngest brother, Rice receiver Luke, who went to the Washington Commanders with the final pick in the third round. Meanwhile, Jerry Rice’s son, USC receiver Brenden Rice, still will be available when Day 4 begins.
The 49ers also could stand to add another tight end. Penn State’s Theo Johnson and TCU’s Jared Wiley remain on the board.
Fast evaluation
After bypassing offensive linemen in the first two rounds, the 49ers got a versatile one in the third in Puni. While he didn’t have the best 40-yard dash time, Kyle Shanahan said his 4.4-second shuttle time stood out for a team that wants its interior linemen to fire off the snap.
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Puni’s experience at all five offensive line positions could come in handy should the 49ers have a rash of injuries at any one spot in 2024. However, his future seems to be as a starting guard, either on the right side or, if Aaron Banks isn’t given a second contract, on the left.
(Photo: Joe Robbins / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
