The 2020 draft will be a new experience for 49ers general manager John Lynch. For the first time since he took over in 2017, the team won’t have a top 10 pick. They pick No. 31, and then they’re off the clock until early in the fifth round. Lynch and the 49ers are slated to go another 108 picks without a selection.
While Lynch has been aggressive moving up in drafts, including a trade up into the back end of the first round to select linebacker Reuben Foster in 2017, it stands to reason they’ll be aggressive in the opposite direction this year.
Scooping up additional draft capital is going to be essential, which likely means a move backward instead of picking 31st overall.
Moving back in the draft doesn’t necessarily mean the 49ers won’t find a quality player with their first selection, especially if their first pick is in the second round. Here are eight players who may be available early on Day 2 of the draft that San Francisco might target.
RB JK Dobbins, Ohio State
The 49ers under head coach Kyle Shanahan have had a lot of success finding running backs late in free agency and in the undrafted free agent pool. With other needs lingering, it’s easy to see them passing on a running back until later in the draft, but a trade back into the middle of the second round where Dobbins falls to them might be too good of a value to pass up. Dobbins was a monster for all three years with the Buckeyes. He racked up 4,459 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 645 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He also has the athleticism, vision and versatility to be effective in Shanahan’s scheme. Running backs are losing value in the NFL, and the 49ers could take advantage with a very good player falling to them.
DE AJ Epenesa, Iowa
Epenesa’s value has started to fall after a less-than-stellar combine. If he does fall into the second round and the 49ers lose defensive end Arik Armstead in free agency, it’d be easy to see them trying to replace Armstead with Epenesa. He has good size at 6-5, 275 pounds, and can stay on the field for all three downs – a staple of what made Armstead so effective. Epenesa posted 26.5 sacks in three years with the Hawkeyes, along with 36 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and seven fumble recoveries. He may not be as dominant as Armstead, but he should be able to step into a significant role on the defensive line right away.
C Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU
The interior of the 49ers’ offensive line is perhaps the biggest question mark on the roster. Cushenberry led a terrific LSU offensive front during their run to the national championship, and he could help shore up some of the 49ers’ issues in pass protection on the interior. He can increase his value a ton if he can play multiple spots along the line, but there’s also a chance he can step in and start at center from Day 1 if Weston Richburg isn’t ready after a knee injury ended his season in Week 14. Center specifically isn’t San Francisco’s most pressing need, but they need to start building better depth on the interior, and Cushenberry might fill a need while being the best player available in the second round.
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
A strong NFL combine could wind up pushing Mims too far up the board for San Francisco. He ran a blazing 4.38 40 at the combine after measuring in at 6-3, 207 pounds. That’s a combination of size and speed the 49ers’ offense needs badly. Mims over his final three seasons with the Bears had 182 receptions for 2,901 yards and 28 touchdowns. Versatility may be a little bit of an issue, but Mims’ ability to stretch the field vertically and dominate in the red zone should outweigh those concerns. Using another early Day 2 pick on a receiver is a risky move, but the 49ers need help at that position in the playmaking department.
S Ashtyn Davis, Cal
It’s hard to find a better physical tool set for a free safety in the 49ers’ defense than what Davis brings to the table. He’s 6-1, 202 pounds, and ran track at Berkeley. He was a special teams ace for the Golden Bears before working his way into a starting safety job for his final two seasons. Davis finished his career with seven interceptions, 12 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. If San Francisco loses Jimmie Ward in free agency, Davis could step in right away and compete for the starting job with Tarvarius Moore. If he doesn’t win it, his special teams background should still allow him to be a contributor.
WR Brandon Aiyuk, ASU
A 4.5 40-yard dash could push Aiyuk’s stock down far enough that San Francisco can target him sometime on Day 2 of the draft. He’s not a tall receiver at 6-0, but he’s built like a tank at 205 pounds. Aiyuk is a good route runner who managed to be effective at all three levels for the Sun Devils. In his two seasons as a junior college transfer, he posted 98 catches for 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns. If Shanahan believes Aiyuk can be as versatile as Deebo Samuel, it’s easy to see where the 49ers could plug him in as an additional playmaker right away.
CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
San Francisco needs to start injecting some youth and better depth into their cornerback room. Gladney is the type of Day 2 prospect who can compete with Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley for the starting job right away. He could also benefit from a year as a reserve and step into a starter’s role in his second season. Gladney is super aggressive and looks bigger on tape than his 5-10, 191-pound frame. While that misses the mark of the typical physical profile the 49ers want at corner, he finds a way to be around the football and has a swagger that would fit nicely in a confident 49ers secondary.
DE Jonathan Greenard, Florida
Watching Greenard play football is exhausting. His motor helps make up for his 6-3, 263-pound frame. Still, he moves very well and sets the edge against the run about as well as he gets after the quarterback. If the 49ers are aiming to replace Armstead, being good at both is essential. Greenard is a more natural edge rusher than Armstead though and may not have the size to kick inside. Still, he’d give the 49ers a much-needed depth piece on the edge that can be on the field for all three downs. He’s even more valuable if he can play multiple spots along the line. Ideally the 49ers won’t have to add an edge defender early, but it’s a reality that they could easily face if they’re unable to get Armstead signed to a long-term deal.
