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2017 NFL Draft: A Way-Too-Early Look at the San Francisco 49ers Plans

By Peter Panacy

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and Connie Payton announce the number eight overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and Connie Payton announce the number eight overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 23, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks at a press conference during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks at a press conference during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Predicting the 2017 NFL Draft Order

Equally as important, although almost impossible to predict right now, will be where the 49ers draft in 2017.

Barring a trade — and even then, we can’t be certain — we won’t be able to tell where San Francisco will draft in Round 1 or at any point thereafter until the regular season (postseason too) is finished and the draft order has been set.

So, what many analysts do is to use various power rankings and prediction machines to determine what the draft order may look like. Is it perfect and guaranteed to be accurate? No. The football isn’t round. And anyone with a computer and an opinion can provide you with some insight here.

But let’s try to assess where the Niners wind up drafting in 2017. To do this, let’s take a look at CBS Sports’ Rob Rang and Dane Brugler — two favorite NFL Draft analysts, whose information is frequently seen here on Niner Noise.

More from Niner Noise

Both predict San Francisco to hold the No. 2 overall spot in the NFL Draft next year.

This is bad because, well, it means the Niners are predicted to have an even worse season in 2017 than last year. And when you consider the schedule, it’s not hard to see why.

Yet this means San Francisco will benefit from holding a very high pick. Could the team trade down and acquire even more picks (like the Tennessee Titans did in 2016)? There’s a strong argument to taking such an approach.

At any rate, here is the CBS Sports’ top-five teams to draft:

  1. Cleveland Browns
  2. San Francisco 49ers
  3. San Diego Chargers
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars
  5. Tennessee Titans

Next: Determining the Needs