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2016 NFL Draft: 5 Players the San Francisco 49ers Must Target

By Peter Panacy

Aug 30, 2014; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley (78) waits between plays during the game agains the Rice Owls at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 48-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley (78) waits between plays during the game agains the Rice Owls at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 48-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Braxton Miller (5) runs with the ball against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Braxton Miller (5) runs with the ball against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers have a substantial amount of needs in advance of the 2016 NFL draft. With a sizable chunk of picks, which collegiate prospects need to be on the Niners’ target list?

The 2016 NFL draft will be one of utmost importance for general manager Trent Baalke and the San Francisco 49ers.

Coming off a 5-11 season and a last-place finish in the NFC West, the 49ers are in need of substantial upgrades at nearly every position across the board. Take your pick of any Niner position and, chances are, San Francisco could use some help there.

Fortunately, the 49ers are in a good position to make some headway here.

San Francisco will be armed with as many as 12 draft picks (four of them compensatory), and the team owns the No. 7 overall pick. In addition, six of these picks are within Rounds 3 through 5, which provides Baalke with the opportunity to land some substantial mid-range talent and/or trade off the picks as necessary.

To do either will mean the 49ers’ big board will have to accurately and adequately depict the team’s needs and the best players available to supplement each position.

While Baalke will likely look to draft the best player available when the 49ers’ number is called, a number of prospects should absolutely be on the Niners’ target list.

Here are the top five.

Next: QB Vernon Adams