Breaking down 49ers’ position-by-position draft wishes for now, long run in the beginning seemed on NBC Sports activities Bay House
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers way the 2024 NFL Draft from a function of energy.
The group is more potent than maximum at a large number of positions, so there may well be no spaces the place they’re determined for a rookie to step in as a starter for the outlet of the common season.
“You are now not at all times drafting for the instant,” 49ers basic supervisor John Lynch mentioned on Monday. “Every so often it is drafting for long run wishes. So we need to be cognizant of that.”
The 49ers input the week of the draft with 10 scheduled alternatives, together with six picks throughout the first 135 slots. Their first 3 alternatives are scheduled at Nos. 31, 63 and 94 general.
Mentioned Lynch, “You get started asking of yourself, ‘What number of of the ones could make our group and the way can we need to way that?’ That is a part of what makes this complete factor so amusing and relaxing. I do suppose a energy of this draft, to me, is that a large number of top class positions are sturdy. In order that’s thrilling.”
The draft figures to permit the 49ers the versatility to industry up and industry again at quite a lot of spots over the process Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Listed below are the 49ers’ position-by-position draft wishes — for now and the longer term:
Quarterback
Who’s right here: Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Allen
Present want: Purdy was once fourth within the NFL MVP balloting after his first complete season because the starter. There might be festival at No. 2 between Dobbs and Allen. No rookie is prone to have a shot on the backup function.
Having a look forward: A 12 months from now, the 49ers and Purdy gets to paintings on a multi-year contract extension. Dobbs and Allen are each on one-year contracts, so the 49ers will reconsider the backup jobs a 12 months from now.
What to anticipate: The 49ers will upload a fourth quarterback. They may be able to be anticipated to both use a overdue draft select or signal an undrafted rookie.
Operating again
Who’s right here: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Patrick Taylor
Present want: The group has a forged team of 3 operating backs and fullback. They’ll glance so as to add a rookie or two for some intensity, and would possibly even herald a fullback-type participant for the offseason program and coaching camp.
Having a look forward: McCaffrey is underneath contract in the course of the 2025 season. Mitchell might be an unrestricted unfastened agent after this season, and Mason might be a limited unfastened agent. There might be a chance for a tender participant down the street.
What to anticipate: The 49ers may use a Day 3 select on a operating again. In all probability, they’ll hit the undrafted marketplace to herald a operating again or two to compete for the roles at the follow squad.
Huge receiver
Who’s right here: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Trent Taylor, Ronnie Bell, Chris Conley, Danny Grey, Tay Martin
Present want: Within the not likely match the 49ers industry Aiyuk, the group would have a right away, determined want for every other vast receiver. Whilst it’s, the 49ers can use extra intensity. For example, the Inexperienced Bay Packers closing season had 4 younger vast receivers who stuck any place from 28 to 64 passes for between 422 and 793 yards. After Aiyuk and Samuel, the 49ers’ next-productive receiver was once Jennings, who had 19 catches for 265 yards. They want an injection of ability.
Having a look forward: It may well be tough for the 49ers to stay Aiyuk and Samuel in combination past this season. Subsequently, they want no less than a pair receivers within the pipeline to stay well-stocked at this function.
What to anticipate: We imagine Aiyuk will stay with the group in the course of the weekend. However there isn’t a around on this draft this is off-limits for the 49ers to choose a large receiver. The candy spots for them may well be with their alternatives within the 1/3 and fourth rounds.
Tight finish
Who’s right here: George Kittle, Eric Saubert, Cameron Latu, Brayden Willis, Jake Tonges
Present want: The 49ers wouldn’t have a lot at the back of Kittle, and that’s why they signed limited unfastened agent Brock Wright to an be offering sheet. When the Detroit Lions matched the be offering to retain Wright, the 49ers’ plan was once foiled. Until Latu, the third-round choose from a 12 months in the past, displays much more than what he did throughout his first coaching camp, the 49ers want to pop out of this week with a in reality excellent participant.
Having a look forward: Kittle nonetheless has some excellent years forward of him, however you by no means know when a backup may well be referred to as upon to be the starter. And, at this time, the 49ers haven’t any backup who’s even just about being thought to be a starter.
What to anticipate: The 49ers will make a choice a good finish sooner or later on this draft. With 3 scheduled alternatives within the fourth around, that turns out like a great place for the 49ers to make their transfer for a good finish.
Offensive line
Who’s right here: Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore, Spencer Burford, Brandon Parker, Ben Bartch, Nick Zakelj, Corey Luciano, Sebastian Gutierrez, Isaac Alarcon
Present want: The crowd that led the best way for one of the crucial best offenses within the NFL closing season returns intact. This team will have to be higher this season via continuity. And there’s nonetheless a variety of room for growth, in particular at the proper aspect.
Having a look forward: Banks and Feliciano have contracts that expire on the finish of the season, so the 49ers may well be on the lookout for two new beginning guards a 12 months from now. Williams can not play ceaselessly. Can he? Although the 49ers signed McKivitz to an extension, he must play at a degree top sufficient to carry onto his task.
What to anticipate: The 49ers may deal with the offensive line at any spot throughout the first two days of the draft. This is, it might by no means be too early for the 49ers to choose an offensive lineman. It may well be tough for a rookie to return in and win a right away beginning task, however the 49ers should pop out of this draft with a participant (or two) able to being a long-term starter at any spot at the line.
Defensive position
Who’s right here: Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Drake Jackson, Kalia Davis, Robert Beal, T.Y. McGill, Austin Bryant, Raymond Johnson, Sam Okuayinonu, Alex Barrett, Spencer Waege, Earnest Brown
Present want: The 49ers parted tactics with a large number of defensive linemen, together with Arik Armstead, throughout the primary 5 weeks of the brand new league 12 months. And so they added so much, too. The defensive position underperformed closing season, so that they want to get extra manufacturing from a bunch that doesn’t have as many giant names.
Having a look forward: The 49ers set themselves up for the longer term after they got Collins, Floyd, Gross-Matos and Elliott on multi-year contracts. Hargrave is scheduled to make $19.9 million in base wage in 2025, so he’ll be taking part in this season to stay at the group a 12 months from now.
What to anticipate: The 49ers can by no means have too many defensive linemen. If there’s a participant they in reality like when it’s time for them to select, they’ll undoubtedly snatch him — whether or not that’s the primary around or the 7th.
Linebacker
Who’s right here: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, De’Vondre Campbell, Ezekiel Turner, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Dee Winters, Jalen Graham, Curtis Robinson
Present want: Greenlaw goes via bodily treatment in his quest to be able early within the common season after maintaining a torn Achilles within the Tremendous Bowl. If Greenlaw is sidelined for a minimum of the primary 4 video games of the season whilst at the “bodily not able to accomplish” listing, it’s anyone’s bet who will be the 1/3 linebacker with Warner and Campbell.
Having a look forward: Greenlaw and Campbell are signed handiest via this season, so the 49ers must way this draft with a watch towards the longer term.
What to anticipate: The 49ers decided on Winters and Graham within the draft a 12 months in the past. And it’s vast open for them to take every other linebacker within the middle-to-late rounds this week, too.
Cornerback
Who’s right here: Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Isaac Yiadom, Rock Ya-Sin, Darrell Luter, Samuel Womack, Ambry Thomas, Chase Lucas, Kemon Corridor
Present want: The 49ers’ two greatest weaknesses closing season have been consistency and energy at the defensive position and discovering someone who may play nickel again. Lenoir is a superb nickel again, however preferably, the 49ers want to stay him at the out of doors.
Having a look forward: That is the place it will get difficult. The 49ers will attempt to get certainly one of their beginning cornerbacks locked as much as a multi-year extension ahead of the outlet of the season. At this time, Ward and Lenoir are each scheduled to hit the open marketplace after this season. It’s imaginable the 49ers will want two new starters for the 2025 season.
What to anticipate: This can be a function the place the 49ers should plan for the existing and the longer term. Right now, they want to upload a participant able to beginning instantly at nickel again. In addition they want to upload a long-term starter at cornerback. The 49ers have now not decided on a cornerback within the first two rounds within the Lynch-Shanahan technology. That would alternate this week.
Protection
Who’s right here: Talanoa Hufanga, Ji’Ayir Brown, George Odum, Erik Harris, Tayler Hawkins
Present want: Hufanga is anticipated to be able throughout coaching camp after maintaining a torn ACL in November. Even with a wholesome Hufanga, this isn’t a deep team. There is a chance for the 49ers so as to add a tender, dynamic protection who may step in and play nickel again as a rookie.
Having a look forward: Hufanga enters the general 12 months of his contract, so that is indubitably a function by which the 49ers have momentary and long-term wishes.
What to anticipate: This draft units up for the 49ers to select one of the crucial best gamers on the protection function in the second one or 1/3 around.
Particular groups
Who’s right here: Okay Jake Moody, P Mitch Wishnowsky, LS Taybor Pepper
Present want: There’s no want to determine a expert after making an investment a third-round select in Moody closing 12 months.
Having a look forward: Moody and Wishnowsky determine to be round for some time.
What to anticipate: The 49ers may upload a camp leg, however that’s the level of any hobby they may have in a kicker or punter.