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San Francisco 49ers: 3 options for first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft

By Peter Felsch

Commissioner Roger Goodell names a pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 NFL Draft (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Commissioner Roger Goodell names a pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 NFL Draft (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers find themselves at 1-9 after a win last week. Niner Noise breaks down three scenarios with their first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers (1-9) find themselves in a sticky situation for the 2018 NFL Draft after pulling off a win last week against the New York Giants.

The Niners are currently slated to select second overall, and there are several ways the team could go with this pick. Here at Niner Noise we break down three scenarios for general manager John Lynch and Co. with their first-round pick.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Take best player available in top three

With quarterback Jimmy Garappolo in the picture, it’s hard to imagine the Niners taking a flier on any of the unproven signal-callers in this class. In a perfect world, the best option would be to draft Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. This is hands down the best player in the draft and has been a home-run threat all year for Penn State.

It shouldn’t go unnoticed that current RBs Carlos Hyde and Matt Breida have been a solid one-two combination this year. Barkley, who is a once-in-a-decade-type of talent, might be too hard to pass up if he falls to the Niners here.

They could also choose to go pass rush here and take North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb, but the Niners have selected defense in the last three first rounds, so this pick would leave the fanbase in a frenzy.

Trade down and stockpile picks

The truth is the 49ers are years away from contending, and this is the perfect time to gain depth and focus on the young core moving forward.

There are plenty of teams in need of a franchise quarterback in Round 1 and would be potential suitors for the 49ers to swap picks for a mid to late rounder and additional capital later in the draft.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: General manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers answers questions from the media on Day 2 of the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: General manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers answers questions from the media on Day 2 of the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

While this isn’t the sexiest pick, the Niners desperately need help with their depth, as evidenced this year with how many injuries occur weekly. There are plenty of serviceable players to find in the middle-to-late stages of the first round, getting more value rather than take a risk on best-player-available approach.

In order to solidify a proper rebuild, the Niners need to protect the QB, whoever that will be. They have to bolster the line and could look at offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, who is a bruiser out of Western Michigan.

Reach for a high-ceiling wide receiver or defensive back

If the Niners manage to squeeze out one or two more wins, they could find themselves around the four-to-six range in the top 10 and could reach based on potential alone. They recently traded away cornerback Rashard Robinson for a fifth-round pick in the draft and have a lack of any top-tier talent at the position.

More from Niner Noise

Minkah Robinson from Alabama could be a top-10 pick and has all the physical tools that are coveted at corner. Another dynamic player to keep an eye on in the first round is wide receiver Courtland Sutton from SMU. He has flown under the radar, due to his level of competition, but has shown flashes of a true premier wideout, that of which has been lacking for the Niners for nearly a decade.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: Identifying the 5 best players in 2017 so far

It’s going to be a wild offseason for the 49ers, and each week has large implications for the future. Stay tuned on Niner Noise for more comprehensive coverage.