The biggest news on Monday so far has been the Houston Texans trading DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round pick in 2020 to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson and a fourth-round pick in 2021. The wisdom of that deal for the Texans has been hotly debated — well, actually not hotly debated as much as it’s been universally (and rightly) panned.
After that, the second-biggest news was unquestionably the San Francisco 49ers signing defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to a five-year, $85 million contract and then trading him to the Indianapolis Colts for Indy’s first-round pick, which is the 13th overall.
It’s an interesting move for the 49ers, who have Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and Arik Armstead on their defensive line already. Buckner has been a relative multi-gap force since San Francisco selected him with the seventh pick in the 2016 draft, but given what the Colts gave up, this sets the defending NFC champions up nicely to restock an already stacked roster.
So, what should the 49ers do with that 13th overall pick? They also have the 31st overall pick, so they could ostensibly trade up even higher than 13 if they wanted to, but if they stand pat, there are all kinds of interesting options. Let’s look at positional need and draft possibility.
Receiver: CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III
Last season, tight end George Kittle led the 49ers with 85 receptions. Rookie receiver Deebo Samuel finished second with 57. Emmanuel Sanders amassed 35 catches after he was acquired in an October trade from the Broncos, and he’s probable to walk in free agency. San Francisco gave up its third- and fourth-round picks in the 2020 draft for Sanders, so if they don’t get him back, that’s a questionable impulse buy.
Nonetheless, giving Jimmy Garoppolo more targets at the receiver position makes a ton of sense. At 13, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch would be able to avail themselves of one of the draft’s best receivers in an absolutely stacked group. Lamb and Jeudy are the more well-rounded targets, while Ruggs has speed to burn downfield. Such a receiver would put Shanahan’s passing offense over the top — or, at least as far over the top as Garoppolo’s presence will allow.
Offensive tackle: Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Becton
Left tackle Joe Staley is still one of the best in the league, allowing just two sacks and seven pressures in 257 pass-blocking snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus, but he also missed half the season with a broken leg, and he’ll turn 36 in August. Not that Staley needs to be pushed out the door, but there was retirement talk after the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss. Adding one of the monster mashers in this year’s draft, whether it’s a strength demon line Wirfs or Becton, or a prototype pass-protector like Wills, would be a wise move for the future.
Defensive line: Javon Kinlaw, A.J. Epenesa
Yes, the 49ers are stacked along the defensive line even with Buckner’s departure, with Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and Dee Ford. But if the team wanted to double down on the interior line, there are some interesting options there. South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw is an earthmover who needs some technique work, but has the physical potential to be a top-tier pass-rusher and run-stopper. Iowa’s Epenesa has a higher floor and a lower ceiling, but he has the ability to add edge pressure and kick inside.
Cornerback: C.J. Henderson, Trevon Diggs
Over the last two seasons, Richard Sherman recovered from an Achilles injury and played through hamstring issues to once again become one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. This gave defensive coordinator Robert Saleh a level of surety on one side of the field; things were not quite as consistent on the other. Ahkello Witherspoon was benched for performance issues on more than one occasion, and he allowed seven touchdown passes to just one interception. Emmanuel Moseley was better, especially in the postseason, but Saleh’s defense relies on cornerbacks who can excel more with their own execution than any particular schematic flexibility. Florida’s C.J. Henderson has the size, speed on the bounary, and route-matching ability to fit well in what Saleh wants to do. Diggs, the Alabama defensive back who’s also the brother of Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs, would also present an excellent physical prototype, though he might be available at the end of the second round. The 49ers could also try to take their two first-round picks and trade up for Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah, a sure top-five selection.
Safety: Xavier McKinney, Antoine Winfield Jr.
Safety wasn’t a consistent position for the 49ers, either. Jaquiski Tartt was a rock star when on the field, and coverage felt the effects of his late-season rib injury. Jimmie Ward is an upcoming free agent, and given the overall quality of his performance in 2019, he may or may not be invited back.
Alabama’s McKinney is more of a multi-positional safety, able to do everything from rushing the passer to playing at linebacker depth and in the slot to roaming the deep third. Minnesoata’s Winfield is more of a traditional deep safety with blitzing capabilities, and he may have the best ball skills of any safety in this class.
In my opinion, the 49ers would do best to use their 13th overall pick on the best cornerback or safety available. The right kind of player at that position could redefine an already great defense, there’s receiver depth all the way through the draft, and the defensive line is not as much of a need. Whatever they want to do, the Buckner trade certainly gives them the flexibility to do it.
Touchdown Wire editor Doug Farrar previously covered football for Yahoo! Sports, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, the Washington Post, and Football Outsiders. His first book, “The Genius of Desperation,” a schematic history of professional football, was published by Triumph Books in 2018 and won the Professional Football Researchers Association’s Nelson Ross Award for “Outstanding recent achievement in pro football research and historiography.”
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