The 49ers enter the 2020 draft in a precarious spot. They have just one pick in the top 150, and a potential for a couple of key holes to fill depending on how free agency shakes out.
Unless they opt to pick in the first round, then try to use most of their later draft capital to move up into the late third early fourth and roll with a draft class of only a couple players. That seems less likely than the scenario where general manager John Lynch trades down from No. 31 to acquire more picks in the middle rounds.
What might the 49ers fetch in that kind of trade? We went through using the DraftTek trade value chart to figure out a ballpark estimate of what San Francisco’s No. 31 selection might fetch in some hypothetical trades.
Trade with Cowboys
Cowboys get: No. 31
49ers get: Nos. 51, 82 and 120
This would be an ideal scenario for the 49ers, where they keep all of their late picks, and move down 20 spots to pick up three selections, including one each in the second, third and fourth rounds. For Dallas, they could acquire a first-round talent with a fifth-year option, which is ideal for a team running into some salary cap issues with their top players.
While it wouldn’t allow them to snag a high-end talent late on Day 1 or early on Day 2, it would give them substantially more draft capital to work with to maneuver around the board. This would take San Francisco from six picks to eight, with one each in Rounds 2, 3 and 4, two in Round 5, one in Round 6 and two in Round 7.
This year’s draft class is supposed to be deep at wide receiver, so the 49ers could still address that need with a good player later in Round 2, then they can go to work filling out the fringes of their roster with those other mid-round picks.
Trade with Browns
Browns get: Nos. 31 and 156
49ers get: Nos. 41 and 90
Moving down only 10 spots and giving up an early fifth while picking up selections in Rounds 2 and 3 is another ideal scenario for San Francisco. Convincing the Browns to part with the later of their two third-round choices may take a little more than the 156th pick, but the 49ers have enough late draft capital to even out the deal.
This would give the 49ers a chance to either pick at 41 and get a quality player, or move a little further down in the second while accumulating more draft capital.
How early they need to pick will depend some on what kind of talent they retain in free agency. If they get back both Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward, the necessity of picking as early as possible diminishes some.
Trade with Lions
Lions get: Nos. 31
49ers get: Nos. 35 and 149
Detroit is in a spot where adding an extra first-round pick with the fifth-year option could accelerate their rebuild, especially if there’s a quarterback available that they want at that spot. Getting a fifth year is crucial. They can jump up four spots to No. 31 while parting with the 35th pick and the 149th pick – which is their first of two fifth-round choices.
San Francisco’s willingness to part with their first-round pick for a second and a fifth may depend on the trade market, and they’d ideally. get more for it. However, a pair of picks in the top 150, including a third Round 5 choice, gives them more maneuverability than they had before. If this is the type of offer on the table when the 49ers are on the clock, it’d be worth it for them to take the deal and try to move up with their additional draft picks later.
Trade with Broncos
Broncos get: Nos. 31 and 176
49ers get: Nos. 46, 77 and 134
Tapping into Lynch’s connection to John Elway and the Broncos may be the best route while exploring a trade back. Denver is loaded with picks, including three in Round 3, two in Round 4 and three in Round 7.
The 49ers can offer them their late first and an early fifth in exchange for the Broncos’ second rounder, the first of their three Round 3 picks, and their second of two Round 4 choices.
This allows Denver to hold on to a ton of valuable draft capital while also moving back up into the first round. For the 49ers, they pick up a pick in each of the following three rounds. This gives them the flexibility to either start picking up players with picks in the top 150, or start moving up and down the board to target specific players as the draft churns on. They don’t have a ton of glaring holes to fill, so having the ability to go get specific players will be key.
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