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2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 mock after flurry of NFL trade deadline deals

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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Offensive Guard. Notre Dame. Quenton Nelson. 6. player. 42.

The 49ers moved back from No. 2 to No. 6 in this mock NFL Draft, which adds another high pick in Round 2 (San Francisco’s own second-round pick was used in the trade for Jimmy Garoppolo).

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

General manager John Lynch has plenty of needs to fill, and one could argue he goes with an elite edge rusher here, following the run on pass-rushers. Or, perhaps, he looks to upgrade at cornerback.

But one of the biggest issues has been along the offensive line, especially the interior positions. Veteran left tackle Joe Staley has been serviceable, and right tackle Trent Brown is developing nicely. The problem is in between. Right guard Brandon Fusco has been an OK fill-in player but little more. And without 2016 first-round pick, Joshua Garnett, the team has been forced to rely on players like Zane Beadles and Laken Tomlinson.

Neither have worked out well.

Gambling on Garoppolo means the 49ers have to protect their investment. Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson is the top-ranked interior lineman this draft, according to the Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling. Nelson has seen his stock rise this season and isn’t out of the picture for top-10 consideration.

As Easterling notes, he should be starting right away at the NFL level.

San Francisco can then address its other pressing needs with two picks in Round 2 (the Niners own the Saints pick in the second round).