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San Francisco 49ers: Post-NFL Draft Win, Loss Predictions for 2017 Season

By Peter Panacy

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrate during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrate during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the bal against Los Angeles Rams defensive back Cody Davis (38) during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the bal against Los Angeles Rams defensive back Cody Davis (38) during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2017 NFL Draft is in the books, and the San Francisco 49ers are making preparations for the regular season. It’s still way too early, but Niner Noise dishes out a wins-and-losses prediction for the upcoming year.

The 2017 NFL Draft now provides one more piece of evidence how the San Francisco 49ers will fare this upcoming season.

Going from a 2-14 team a year ago to a playoff contender isn’t likely. Heck, even five wins this year would be a dramatic improvement.

Still, general manager John Lynch’s haul in the draft provided a number of excellent upgrades that give the Niners a chance to make some real headway against the competition they’ll face in 2017.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Not long ago, shortly after the 2017 NFL schedule was released, Niner Noise provided an all-too-early look and win-loss prediction for each one of the 49ers’ upcoming regular-season games. The conclusion then was a 6-10 finish.

The draft provides a little more information now. Based off Lynch’s newest class of draftees, we should assume the defense will be much better. Defensive end Solomon Thomas and linebacker Reuben Foster immediately make the front seven better. And don’t count out cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon either.

And there are a few offensive playmakers as well.

Sure, there are unknowns ahead. Training camp and the preseason can provide all sorts of X-factors, like injuries, risers and fallers. But we don’t know that yet.

So let’s take a look at version 2.0 of our win-loss prediction, also based off other teams’ drafts, and see if San Francisco can make some headway.