NFL Draft Update: Will 49ers Solomon Be As Good As Seahawks Bennett?

The San Francisco 49ers chose Thomas with the third pick in the NFL draft

Let me say this, Solomon Thomas has a bit of Michael Bennett in him. He is versatile and aggressive and athletic. The one aspect that separates Bennett from almost any other defensive lineman is that he is smart and is able to adapt. Bennett is like a pitcher who has great stuff but smart enough to know when to throw what. Can Thomas do this?

Thomas projects to be a very good player. There is a chance he makes several Pro Bowls over his career. One issue he has, though, that Bennett did not have was Thomas has no one to really learn from. When Bennett came to Seattle after Tampa Bay, he was a learned and wised man. He also had help. Cliff Avril is pretty good himself.

Thomas will be a good player on a bad team. Possibly for several years. Will Thomas make the 49ers better? Yes. Would nearly anyone with talent make San Francisco better? Of course. The 49ers were awful last year. They will be terrible in 2017 as well. Thomas, though, may be an important player in five years. San Francisco should be better in 2021. Seattle may not be as good as they are now. 12s might be sick of seeing Thomas in five years.

Or Thomas could never have much help and not become the player he has the potential to be. Solomon might be as good as Bennett. But Solomon has of yet no Avril. Tough start to his career.