Day one of Senior Bowl practices is in the books and, unsurprisingly, the members of the San Francisco 49ers' contingent were very interested spectators during Tuesday's sessions.
General manager John Lynch was in attendance along with directors of player personnel Tariq Ahmad and RJ Gillen as the 49ers continue their preparations for a draft in which they are expected to have 10 selections, including the 11th overall pick in the first round.
And they will have seen plenty to leave them impressed following the National and American Team practices. Here are some of the key takeaways from day one from a 49ers perspective.
49ers have chance to get George Kittle long overdue help
George Kittle was once again outstanding in 2024, receiving second-team All-Pro honors after another 1,000-yard season.
But the 49ers' already very multiple offense would have a welcome extra dimension if they had another tight end whom defenses had to respect as a receiver and as a blocker.
San Francisco has made unsuccessful efforts to find a TE2 who fits the bill in recent offseasons, but the opening day in Mobile, AL, suggested this could be the year to find a worthy deputy to Kittle in the draft.
Likely a day-two selection, Miami's Elijah Arroyo was one of the standout players of the day, showcasing athleticism, fluidity as a route-runner and an ability to be a downfield playmaker that was evident in his final season at Miami, which saw him average 16.9 yards per reception and score seven touchdowns.
If Arroyo proves to be out of the 49ers' reach, then LSU's Mason Taylor is another name at the position they could consider.
The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, the Tigers tight end displayed his impressive hands in a strong practice to kick off the week.
While not as athletically gifted as Arroyo, Taylor clearly has a high floor as a tight end prospect and who better to mentor him than the most complete player at that position in the NFL? Time will tell if the 49ers take advantage of a tight end class with some very intriguing prospects.
Potential next Dominick Puni shines extremely bright
Last year, the 49ers selected an offensive lineman whom they believed could play every position up front, Dominick Puni, in the third round. They put him at right guard and watched him excel to the point where he was named to the All-Rookie Team.
The opening National Team practice of the week allowed Lynch and Co. to get a long look at a prospect who literally did play every position on the O-Line in his collegiate.
North Dakota State's Grey Zabel was unquestionably the star of one-on-one drills between the offensive linemen and defensive linemen. Zabel was a rock in pass protection and, in the team period, displayed his athleticism on the move on run plays.
Zabel spent five years with the Bison and, while he played the entirety of his 2024 season at left tackle, he is familiar with all three spots on the interior and spent time at right tackle.
Many believe Zabel's best position in the NFL will end up being center, an area widely regarded as a weak spot for the 49ers after a disappointing season for Jake Brendel.
Yet, with a lack of depth of tackle and a potential hole at left guard, it doesn't necessarily matter where the Niners see Zabel at the next level. Regardless of his position, he deserving to be entering the thoughts of every team as a potential top-50 pick.
Zabel wasn't the only offensive lineman from a smaller school to catch the eye. Sacramento State's Jackson Slater also flashed athletic ability that should interest the 49ers, while Alabama A&M tackle Carson Vinson more than held his own against a host of prospects from FBS schools, including stopping a spin move from potential first-round pick Shemar Stewart at the end of the American Team practice.
Despite hitting a home run on Puni, the 49ers have received criticism for not paying enough attention to the O-Line. Zabel, Slater and Vinson made a very compelling case that they should look to some smaller school prospects to reinforce the trenches.
Lynch witnesses exhibition of pass rush power
Lynch was right at the front of the crowd for the National Team one-on-ones between offensive and defensive linemen, yet the most impressive play from a pass rush perspective came from the American Team D-Linemen.
Ole Miss' Walter Nolen, the best defensive tackle on show in Mobile, demonstrated his proficiency as an explosive interior rusher blessed with tremendous quickness, his skill set enabling him to win with power and beat offensive linemen to their inside shoulder.
Interviews are likely to be more important for Nolen, who comes in with some character questions, than drills. However, for a team as needy at defensive tackle as the 49ers, Nolen's strong start will have piqued their interest.
South Carolina's T.J. Sanders, meanwhile, had one of the highlight reel reps of the day when he pancaked an offensive linemen with a devastating transformation of speed off the snap to power.
The 49ers drafted a Gamecock defensive tackle in the first round in 2020 in Javon Kinlaw. Sanders is a much smaller player at 290 pounds and might not have the frame the Niners are looking for given their struggles in run defense last year, but he left no doubt over his ability to create interior disruption with a rep that should stick in the minds of San Francisco and every other team in attendance.
Knockback power is a defining trait that the 49ers have long since valued above most others in their D-Linemen and, despite losing his last rep of the day to Vinson, Texas A&M's Stewart confirmed that he has such force in spades.
Stewart's power was already clear on tape, but he reaffirmed his status as an edge rusher with rare physical gifts for a man of his 281-pound frame on day one in Mobile.
Stewart's explosiveness at that size should be enough to have 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek salivating. There are concerns over his run defense that the 49ers will need to consider, but the chance to allow Kocurek to develop Stewart's pass-rush skill set is likely to be a severely tempting one.
