It looks like the San Francisco 49ers might have gotten some of the hits they needed in the 2024 NFL draft. One of their handful of productive rookies stands out above the rest.
Pro Football Focus is beginning its list of the top 101 players from the 2024 NFL season, and 49ers rookie offensive lineman Dominick Puni made the cut at No. 100 overall.
Puni was given the right guard job in training camp because of a couple injuries ahead of him, but it was clear early in his tenure that he was the team’s best option at that position. The third-round pick out of Kansas was the highest-graded rookie offensive lineman by PFF.
It wasn’t immediately clear when the 49ers selected Puni what his role with the club would be. They needed to upgrade at right tackle and right guard. Puni was a very good left guard in his first season with the Jayhawks, but an even better left tackle when he slid outside in his second year there.
Puni wound up starting all 17 games for San Francisco at right guard. He earned an 80.5 overall grade from PFF, and particularly excelled as a run blocker where he was given a very strong 81.5 grade.
He was up-and-down as a pass blocker, allowing 35 pressures and three sacks, but overall he acquitted himself well at a new position in his rookie season in the NFL.
It’s good news for the 49ers that their third-round pick produced in Year 1. It’s even better news that his arrow still appears to be pointing up heading into 2025.