The extension of the 49ers’ championship window will rely heavily on how they fare in the 2020 NFL draft. Both their 2018 and 2019 classes have been good, and helped the team land in Super Bowl LIV. Getting back to the Super Bowl quickly will rely heavily on the production they get from their 2020 class.
We won’t know how that class shapes up until we see the prospects in NFL games, but here’s how the team can walk away from the 2020 draft with an A grade.
Trade down a couple spots from 13
This step comes with the caveat that a top prospect doesn’t slide to San Francisco at this spot. If that’s the case, then they should take that player. In the more likely event that doesn’t happen, there’s more value in moving down two or three spots and scooping up some mid-round picks. If they can get to the 15 or 16 range while adding a Day 2 choice, it’s an early win.
Trade down again at 31
Moving down from 31 is another way to pick up Day 2 or early Day 3 draft capital. Accumulating more picks has less to do with ensuring a sizable draft class and more to do with loading up with ammunition to navigate the board on Days 2 and 3 to target specific players rather than hoping certain prospects fall. Moving down on Day 1 means the 49ers can be more aggressive moving up through the rest of the draft.
Find a DeForest Buckner replacement
San Francisco won’t find a player that’s as impactful as Buckner right away, but they need to add some depth at defensive tackle. Buckner was playing a ton of defensive snaps. The personnel left probably can’t effectively make up for that loss. Getting a capable defensive tackle that can play a substantial number of snaps right away would give the 49ers the best chance of replicating the formula that got them to the Super Bowl last season.
Find an Emmanuel Sanders replacement
Sanders left for New Orleans in free agency, leaving a substantial hole at the top of the 49ers’ depth chart at receiver. Getting a player on the opposite side of Deebo Samuel who can stretch the field, but also make tough catches over the middle is essential to buoying the 49ers’ offense in 2020. They have a slew of question marks at receiver, and investing in the position in the draft for an 18th consecutive year gives them the best shot of replicating the passing attack that got them to the Super Bowl. This year’s receiver class is deep, so there’ll be early-round options, but they may be able to find a difference maker in the middle rounds.
Add to the cornerback competition
With Ahkello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Sanders and Richard Sherman under contract 2020, finding a Day 1 starter isn’t imperative. On the other hand, those three are all set to hit free agency after the season. If the 49ers wind up with a corner who earns a starting job as a rookie, they’ll be in good shape for the potential shift exodus of corners after the season. Ultimately, they need to add some young talent that at least competes for a starting job right away. They should be able to do that in any of the first few rounds.
Snag a long-term right guard
While the starting right guard job isn’t the most pressing matter, it’d be a nice addition to the draft class. Daniel Brunskill and Tom Compton are the top two candidates for the job, but a versatile prospect that can slot in at right guard for at least the next four years would take the issue off the table for the next couple offseasons. An added bonus would be a player that can slide over to center or left guard in a pinch.
Get a backup tight end upgrade
With George Kittle starting, the 49ers don’t need to look for a new starter at that position. The depth behind him doesn’t have the same assurances. Ross Dwelley is okay, but he’s pretty limited as a pass catcher. Levine Toilolo left in free agency, and Daniel Helm was an undrafted rookie who didn’t play last year. San Francisco has to track down a backup for Kittle who offers more in the passing game. They don’t have to be dominant by any stretch, but a player opposing teams have to at least think about in two tight end sets could make the 49ers a more well-rounded, deceptive offense.
