2 of 7

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

In last Thursday's mock draft, CBS Sports analyst Jared Dubin selected Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner for the 49ers.

“The 49ers took Buckner’s former Oregon teammate Arik Armstead last season,” Dubin wrote, “but Buckner is like if Armstead did everything 15 to 20 percent better. Pair them on the same defensive line again, and you’ll get some nice results.”

Buckner seems to be the most popular pick for San Francisco in recent mock drafts, but the Niners likely won't take him. Hear me out.

If the Niners were to draft Buckner, he would be an interior pass-rushing specialist in his rookie season like Armstead was last year. Buckner and Armstead can’t hold their ground yet against double-team blocks in the running game, but both can rush the passer. They’d make an excellent tandem in the middle of the defensive line on third down and 2nd-and-long.

However, the Niners already have a pass-rushing tandem in the middle of their defensive line: Armstead and Tank Carradine. Don’t forget about Carradine—the Niners sure haven’t.

“I think Carradine is going to have a very good season this year, I really do,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke told a group of Bay Area reporters last Wednesday, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

Baalke said Carradine weighs 273 pounds—down 20 pounds from last season—and is considerably quicker rushing the passer. And although Carradine is quicker and leaner, he will remain an interior rusher and will not move out to the edge.

“(Carradine) is a 5-technique, slide him into 3-technique, hand in the dirt, rush the passer,” Baalke said. A 5-technique is a defensive end in the base defense, and a 3-technique is a defensive tackle in the nickel defense. Buckner would be the latter if the Niners were to draft him, which means he would take Carradine’s job. It's doubtful the Niners intend to block Carradine’s opportunity to play.