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San Francisco 49ers: What You Need to Know for 2016 NFL Draft

By Bryan Knowles

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) throws a pass past Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (86) in the second quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) throws a pass past Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (86) in the second quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

What About Trades?

With so many picks, the 49ers might be very active in moving up and down the board, highlighting players they want and moving up and down to grab them at affordable prices.

Teams like the New England Patriots, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints may be trying to move up, with plenty of picks late in the draft and needs higher up. Teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals may be trying to move down, with fewer picks to play with. The 49ers may serve as a sort of facilitator of these things; eight of their picks are tradeable and they can slide around the board somewhat at their leisure.

To give an example of the flexibility the 49ers have, here’s a rather extreme but still plausible series of trades and picks the 49ers could make to get high-quality players at every single one of their many, many needs.

Day 1

With the 49ers on the clock at pick #7, they make a deal to trade back with the Tennessee Titans. They give up the seventh overall pick, and receive in return Tennessee’s first- and second-round picks, #15 and #45 overall.

On the clock with Tennessee’s pick at #15, they turn and trade down again, this time catching the Green Bay Packers. They give up Tennessee’s original #15 and Denver’s original sixth-round pick (#207), and receive Green Bay’s first-, second- and fourth-round picks (#27, #57 and #125). Green Bay’s not a team that trades up very much, but similar deals could be made with other teams in this area.

With the Green Bay’s original first-round pick, #27 overall, the 49ers select Connor Cook, QB, Michigan, a solid fit and a four-year starter. With a pick late in the first round, the 49ers won’t feel pressured to force Cook into the lineup, and they’ll be able to sit and let him develop and fight for the job on his own terms.

Day 2

With their original second-round pick at #37, the 49ers select Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama; a player ready to be plugged in immediately and upgrading the center of the line.

With Tennessee’s second-round pick at #45, the 49ers continue to upgrade their offensive line by taking Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana; he’ll start at right tackle as a rookie and be groomed to take over the left tackle role.

With Green Bay’s second-round pick at #57, the 49ers finish an offensive overhaul by selecting Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh; not a number-one receiver but a promising possession receiver to replace Anquan Boldin, and another target for Chip Kelly’s offense.

In the third round, on the clock at pick #68, the 49ers trade down with the Philadelphia Eagles, giving up that #68 pick for Philadelphia’s third- round and a couple of fifth-round picks (#79, #153 and #164 overall).

With Philadelphia’s third-round pick at #79, the 49ers start addressing their defense with Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois; a great down-the-line playmaker still growing into the position after originally coming into junior college as a receiver.

The 49ers then start trading back up. They trade both their own and Green Bay’s fourth-round picks (#105 and #125) to the Arizona Cardinals at #92, moving back into the third round to take Nick Kwiatkoski, ILB, West Virginia, a great, explosive tackler who can play multiple linebacker slots.

Day 3

The 49ers get started early in the fourth round. They trade both their own and San Diego’s fifth-round picks (#142 and #145) to the Los Angeles Rams moving up to #113 overall, where they select Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama; a nickel corner and potential return weapon.

They then get to work again, trading the two fifth-round picks they got from Philadelphia (#153 and #164 overall) to the Houston Texans to move up to #119 overall, taking Connor McGovern, G, Missouri, who can cover multiple slots on the offensive line.

At this point, they could probably trade away their two remaining sixth-round picks (#178 and #207 overall) for fifth-round picks in 2017, and use their four compensatory picks on flyers at positions of lesser need—your running backs, tight ends, interior defensive linemen, safeties and so on. This sort of rapid movement would give the 49ers a better chance of getting quality contributors than simply using the seventh pick, would re-stock the draft class for next year, and would cover all notable needs. That would be my roadmap if I were in the San Francisco draft room.

Next: Quarterback is the 49ers' Biggest Need

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