2020 NFL Draft: All you need to know about the 49ers
Here is everything you need to know about the 49ers' outlook entering this week's NFL Draft.
The sting of losing Super Bowl LIV wasn’t eased by any incoming heroes in free agency. The 49ers’ draft class won’t totally do the trick, either.
What this week’s draft does offer, at least, is a reminder of new beginnings, whenever it that the 49ers are cleared to reconvene and break COVID-19 quarantine.
The new recruits will fill a rebuilt roster’s scant holes, then join a slew of incumbent starters to avenge last season’s Lombardi Trophy fumble to the Kansas City Chiefs. At least that is the plan.
“We have one of the better rosters in football in my mind, and so it’s going to be real hard for draft picks to make this (team),” general manager John Lynch said on Monday’s media video call. “I don’t think it’d be a great year to have 10 draft picks.”
Let’s scout out what could make this a great 2020 draft, from where they’re (currently) slotted to pick before potential trades and who might fill positions of need:
DRAFT INFO
WHERE: NFL teams must select from their respective, private residences. The coronavirus pandemic scuttled plans to host the draft in Las Vegas.
HOW: Virtually, electronically, telephony. The 49ers converted Lynch’s guest house into a nine-monitor, three-phone draft room. Coach Kyle Shanahan will be on one of those monitors for private chats and as tuned in as Lynch.
WHEN: Round 1: Thursday, April 23 at 5 p.m. PT
Rounds 2 and 3: Friday, April 24 at 4 p.m. PT
Rounds 5, 6 and 7: Saturday, April 25 at 9 a.m. PT
PLAY CLOCK: Time limits are 10 minutes for Round 1, 7 minutes for Round 2, 5 minutes for Rounds 3-6, and 4 minutes for Round 7.
THE PICKS
Round 1: 13 (via Indianapolis for DeForest Buckner), 31
Round 2: None (to Kansas City for Dee Ford)
Round 3: None (to Denver for Emmanuel Sanders)
Round 4: None (to Denver for Sanders)
Round 5: 156 (via Denver in Sanders trade), 176
Round 6: 210
Round 7: 217 (via Detroit in 2018 Eli Harold trade), 245
Analysis: Gaining the 13th pick came at a steep cost: Buckner. “What are we going to do with it?” Lynch rhetorically asked. “We’ve got to do great things because we certainly lost a great player.” The 49ers are free on Friday’s Day 2 unless, as expected, they deal back into Rounds 2 through 4.
Saturday’s brings a double dose from their sweet spot, the fifth round, where they’ve unearthed George Kittle (2017), Trent Taylor (2017), D.J. Reed (2018) and Dre Greenlaw (2019). “We joke around that we’ll trade anything just not those fifth rounders. Those have been those have been good to us,” Lynch said.
THE NEEDS
The 49ers’ top-five needs are:
5. Tight end
The temptation was to list safety here as the fifth need, but there’s more starting-caliber depth there than at tight end. Adding a complement to George Kittle from either a receiving or blocking perspective is an attainable goal. Ross Dwelley did a commendable job last season and Daniel Helm has potential, but they could use competition. Levine Toilolo bolted for the New York Giants.
4. Offensive line
Left tackle Joe Staley is expected to suit up for Year 14, so they could hold off on using their top pick on his successor, which they essentially already did two years ago drafting Mike McGlinchey. Where this unit needs fortification is on the interior, in the wake of center Weston Richburg’s latest knee recovery and right guard Mike Person’s release. The 49ers brass loves Daniel Brunskill’s versatility, and adding another potential starter to the mix is imperative.
3. Defensive line
This is where the 49ers invested their top pick in four of the previous five drafts, scoring big last season with rookie-of-the-year Nick Bosa. Arik Armstead (2016 top pick) and Solomon Thomas (2018) must help cover for Buckner (2017), along with a few others, but the 49ers know they must strengthen that 3-technique spot and maintain a respected defensive front.
2. Wide receiver
Yes, the 49ers are expected to select a wide receiver for the 18th consecutive year. But will they do it in the first round? Touted as one of the draft’s deepest receiver classes in ages, perhaps the 49ers wait to strike for one. Or not. They’ve aggressively added receivers the past two drafts, using second-round picks on Dante Pettis (2018) and Deebo Samuel (’19) plus a third-rounder on Jalen Hurd (’19). They don’t regret renting Emmanuel Sanders for last season’s stretch run, but they still have to replace and even improve upon that reliable option.
1. Cornerback
The 49ers’ top four cornerbacks from last season are unsigned beyond this season. That may be a good thing in some cases. Extensions may be coming in others. And a long-term starter might arrive in the first round, where the 49ers historically balk at drafting a cornerback. That Ronnie Lott pick in 1981 worked out, though.
Lynch is “aware” of the cornerback uncertainty. But he extolled the presence of Super Bowl starters Richard Sherman and Emmanuel Moseley, along with 2019 redshirt rookie Tim Harris. As for their 2017 third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon, Lynch said. “This is a big year for Ahkello. No doubt about it. He’s got to go show it on the field.”
THE TARGETS
Lynch, perhaps sandbagging, said he and Shanahan spy just six “foundational” players in this draft. We’ll offer 10 here:
Cornerback
Jeff Okudah (Ohio State): His 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame fits the 49ers’ look, and his coverage ability makes him the Buckeyes’ latest first-round corner, following most recently Denzel Ward, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, Eli Apple and Bradley Roby.
C.J. Henderson (Florida): Same size as Okudah, Henderson may be a better press corner. Critics question his tackling ability, so alert the 49ers’ safeties.
Wide receiver
CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma): Racking up yards after the catch in the Big 12 won’t be so easy to duplicate in the NFL, though Shanahan’s scripts will help.
Henry Ruggs III (Alabama): The 49ers have been chasing after him, before and after his 4.27-second speed in the combine’s 40. Such speed is a missing element to the 49ers, especially once Marquise Goodwin is unloaded.
Justin Jefferson (LSU): Don’t sleep on this national champion. He’s more versatile than you think, and the slot is still a spot the 49ers have uncertainty.
Jerry Jeudy (Alabama): The 2018 Biletnikoff Award winner is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He apologized at the combine for wearing a Star of David necklace to his media session, having related the Judaism symbol to his nickname, “Jeu.”
Defensive line
Derrick Brown (Auburn): He could go as high as No. 3, but if he falls 10 spots into the 49ers’ lap, they should nab this athletic force for their interior.
Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina): Will the 49ers be scared off by his wear and tear, including injuries to his hips, knees and back?
K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU): Perhaps the 49ers need edge-rushing insurance if Dee Ford breaks down again, and a similar-sized Chaisson (6-3, 254) could be it.
Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State): Last year proved the 49ers can never have enough defensive lineman and this 6-5 prospect could slide to No. 31.