49ers’ NFL Draft class: Scot McCloughan dishes on Mykel Williams, C.J. West, more

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Scot McCloughan is a meat-and-potatoes kind of scout.

When he was leading the San Francisco 49ers’ front office from 2005 to 2009, he signed veteran thumpers like Larry Allen and Justin Smith and drafted strong-armed players like Parys Haralson and Joe Staley.

For McCloughan, bigger is better, might is right, long arms are strong arms, etc., etc.

So it’s no surprise the former general manager had high praise for the 49ers’ top pick in the draft, Georgia’s Mykel Williams. McCloughan ranked Williams as the No. 2 defensive end in this year’s class after Penn State’s Abdul Carter, who was selected No. 3 by the New York Giants.

“I like him a lot,” he said of Williams. “He’s a no-nonsense player. He’s been on really good defenses, and he was one of the better players on those really good defenses. He’s been around a lot of big games, and he showed up. Even if he’s not a starter on Day 1, he’s in the rotation no matter what.”

McCloughan had Williams rated about the same as Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant — one of the largest defenders in the draft — and slightly ahead of Texas A&M defensive end Shermar Stewart and Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, whom McCloughan also liked from a talent standpoint. He said he had no issue with either Williams’ or Stewart’s lack of sack production in college.

“Everybody says that — ‘Sacks, sacks, sacks!’” he said. “It doesn’t matter. What matters are disruptions. The quarterback runs out of the pocket because (Williams) gets back there, and somebody else makes the sack. Or he’s throwing the ball away.”

Following his stint with the 49ers, McCloughan, 54, evaluated talent for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders. These days, he works as a draft consultant for a handful of teams, and agents also hire him to analyze clients. That means he scouts most — but not all — of the top prospects each season. For example, this year he didn’t do evaluations on 49ers draft picks like linebacker Nick Martin, cornerback Upton Stout, receiver Jordan Watkins, safety Marquese Sigle, guard Connor Colby and receiver Junior Bergen. Among the team’s undrafted free agents, Nebraska receiver Isaiah Neyor was the only one he assessed.

“He’s a pretty good player,” he said of Neyor. “He’s got a chance.”

McCloughan had Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins rated as a mid-second-round pick, which is roughly where the 49ers took him. He said Collins isn’t as athletic and twitchy as Grant, who ended up being drafted No. 13 by the Miami Dolphins, but that he sees Collins at minimum becoming a rotational player for San Francisco.

“He’s a tough guy, a run stopper,” McCloughan said. “He’s not going to ever be a good pass rusher. But he plays hard. He’ll help them this year, I guarantee it.”

The next player McCloughan scouted was Indiana defensive tackle C.J. West, whom McCloughan rated as a third-rounder, and the 49ers picked up in the fourth. He said West’s quickness jumped out. Weighing 316 pounds, he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.95 seconds at the combine while his 1.73-second 10-yard split was the fifth fastest among the defensive tackles.

McCloughan said he could envision a scenario in which Collins and West are on the field at the same time, with West featured as the three-technique lineman, the role Javon Hargrave had for the 49ers in 2023.

“Is he a starter? Who knows?” McCloughan said of West. “But he’s the type of guy who’s going to be around for a while and you can’t get rid of him.”

Another good value, according to McCloughan, was Oregon running back Jordan James, whom he rated as a third-round talent and the 49ers drafted in the fifth round.

“He’ll fit (Kyle) Shanahan’s offense perfectly,” he said. “Because he’s a zone-type runner. It’s one cut — boom — hit it and get it.”

McCloughan likened James to Buffalo Bills tailback — and 2022 second-round pick — James Cook, though the 49ers rookie isn’t as fast. McCloughan said James is smooth as a receiver and knows how to block.

“He’s not great at anything, but he’s good at everything,” he said. “I just wish he was bigger.”

McCloughan also liked seventh-round pick Kurtis Rourke, the quarterback out of Indiana. McCloughan said he had doubts about Rourke’s athleticism but not his toughness. He threw for 2,827 yards last year despite an ACL injury that required surgery at season’s end. Rourke is on track to be cleared at the beginning of training camp.

“There are some qualities to him that intrigue me: intelligence, toughness, seeing the field, instincts. He’s played a lot of games.” McCloughan said. “What he lacks in athleticism and arm strength, he makes up in instincts. He’s like (Brock) Purdy — the same stuff.”

As for Neyor, McCloughan liked the 6-4 receiver’s size, athleticism and playmaking ability.

“He has some traits that are cool,” he said. “I would have taken him instead of (Junior) Bergen in the seventh (round). That’s just me. But maybe they had him locked into a deal.”

(Photo of Mykel Williams: Justin Ford / Getty Images)

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