San Francisco 49ers: Three options at edge rusher in the first round of the draft

The San Francisco 49ers have recently showed interest in a first round edge rusher, could the team elect to select an edge rusher in the first round? If so, which one?

The San Francisco 49ers have several big needs, one of which being edge rusher. The team has drafted interior defensive linemen in the first round for three straight seasons but has yet to find their edge rusher of the future. Perhaps one of these interior linemen could make the move to defensive end but if not, the team needs to address that position in the draft.

The 49ers recently brought in edge rusher from Boston College, Harold Landry, for a pre-draft visit. This makes the possibility that the team will go edge rusher in the first round that much more likely.

With the presence of prospects like the aforementioned Harold Landy, Marcus Davenport and Arden Key, the team has options if they are electing to go this route in the first round. The decisions of which player to take, and whether or not to trade back will be difficult.

The team currently owns the ninth overall pick, but none of these players are close to the ninth best player in the draft. This mixed with the fact that the 49ers are seemingly interesting entertaining the idea of addressing the position in the first round makes a trade down seem likely.

Regardless of whether this were to happen or if they decide to just stay at nine, the chances of them picking one of Davenport, Landry or Key is not an incomprehensible scenario.

Here is a breakdown of each of these three edge rusher prospects and how they would fit with the San Francisco 49ers.