San Francisco 49ers appear to have made replacing Charles Omenihu a 2024 NFL Draft priority

By contrast, the underrated hole Omenihu left wasn't filled and still remains an issue for the 49ers as they enter the 2024 NFL Draft. As it happened, a 49er defensive line that, outside of Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead, had largely struggled in the postseason, performed extremely well for much of the agonizing overtime loss to the Chiefs.

Yet the influence Omenihu had down the stretch in 2021 and then again in 2022 was not replaced. Clelin Ferrell did an admirable job at defensive end before tearing his ACL in Week 18, but the Niners did not have a player last year who could replicate Omenihu's impact in being able to play defensive end on base downs and then kick inside on clear pass-rushing downs.

In the pre-draft process, though, the 49ers have sent clear signals they are set to add a rookie with the skill set to potentially play the Omenihu role.

San Francisco has hosted top-30 visits with two players who could fit the mold, Western Michigan's Marshawn Kneeland and Brandon Dorlus of Oregon.

Kneeland an easy projection to make

There's a little bit of projection involved with Kneeland, who didn't play significant snaps lined up as an interior defensive lineman in college. Kneeland, per MockDraftable, compares best athletically to Frank Clark, a former Chiefs defender in whom the 49ers have previously been credited with an interest and who has shown the versatility to play as a defensive tackle sporadically.

Most of Kneeland's work as an interior pass rusher in college came when he lined up off the ball, which he did regularly in an impressive display of his versatility. He also proved successful in creating disruption attacking to the inside on stunts with excellent lateral quickness for a man of his 267-pound frame.

His standout trait, however, is his power. Kneeland can generate tremendous push with his bull rush. He gets off the ball well and does a superb job transforming speed to power, which is complemented by an array of moves that came to the fore in a dominant showing against Eastern Michigan. The long arm, two-hand swipe and rip move are all part of his repertoire along with, most enticingly, an extremely athletic swim move that he uses regularly at the top of his rush.

Kneeland does a lot of his best work at the top of his rush, consistently showing the ability to redirect and, occasionally, to bend and flatten to the quarterback. There is nuance to his game as a pass rusher, with Kneeland regularly marrying his hands to clever footwork while also demonstrating an understanding of the importance of attacking half a man as a bull rusher.

The problem is that he too often doesn't use that nuance, instead trying to simply rely on pure power.

Still he is an extremely well-rounded player who frequently plays with great leverage that aids him as a pass rusher and against the run. Kneeland sets a strong edge and uses the power in his hands well to disengage from blocks. He ranked fifth among 2024 edge rushers in Pro Football Focus run defense grade and was sixth in the class in run stops (27).

His experience playing on the interior may be limited but, between his ability to keep contain and make plays against the run and his success attacking pass protectors inside and out, Kneeland is a strong candidate to play the Omenihu role, though they might find a better one, and at a more reasonable price, in Dorlus.

Dorlus' appetite for destruction

Dorlus was used in a far more varied role during his time with the Ducks. Last season, per PFF, he played 253 snaps in the B gap, 159 over tackle and 160 outside tackle.

And he proved extremely adept at pass rushing from each of those spots.

His 46 pressures were the most among interior defensive linemen in the 2024 class last season, Dorlus winning consistently with leverage, jarring power in his hands and clever use of footwork to get linemen to flash their hands and help set up his plan of attack.

With a push-pull move, the arm-over, club-rip and cross-chop all part of his arsenal, Dorlus has a range of ways to defeat pass protection, many of them similar to how Kneeland found his success as a pass rusher in college. Dorlus also wins frequently by attacking half a man when bull rushing and has the lateral quickness to excel on stunts.

Where he could serve to improve is in making his get-off more consistent. Dorlus doesn't always display great explosiveness off the snap, but his dominant performance against Washington was a great example of how destructive he can be when he does.

Kneeland has the edge over Dorlus as a run defender. Dorlus uses his hands extremely well to shed blocks in the run game, but the consistency in holding his ground and avoiding being washed out is something he will need to improve at the next level. 

Still, with more experience of playing different spots along the line, Dorlus would appear the more likely candidate to fit the Omenihu role from the jump as a rookie. On top of that, he could be available as late as the third round, whereas Kneeland is viewed as a fringe first-rounder.

Robinson in the mix?

The 49ers are also reportedly showing interest in another fringe first-rounder in Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson, per Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.

Robinson is arguably the best fit for the Omenihu role, having played as 5-tech on a three-man front, as the defensive end on a four-man front and as a stand-up pass rusher during his time with the Tigers.

An outstanding run defender, Robinson does an excellent job of staying low and controlling the leverage battle with arm length in the 84th percentile for edge rushers. 

With an impressive get-off, imposing knock back power and exceedingly active and violent hands, Robinson fits the mold of a 49er pass rusher perfectly. 

Having proven he has enough flexibility to win around the edge and the quickness to win to the inside shoulder of pass protectors, Robinson has a strong case for possessing the archetype profile for a defensive lineman hoping to occupy the same role as Omenihu did.

Cost would again be the question with Robinson, and the interest doesn't appear to be as concerted as with Kneeland and Dorlus. But it is clear that, having landed Omenihu for the bargain price of a sixth-round pick back in 2021, the signs point to the Niners being ready to spend a much higher draft choice to finally replace him.