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San Francisco 49ers: What the Week 13 win over Bears means for the 2018 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Kicker Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates, including Joe Staley #74, after scoring the game winning field goal against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Kicker Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates, including Joe Staley #74, after scoring the game winning field goal against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers pulled off their second win of 2017, beating the Chicago Bears 15-14 in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s starting debut. But what impact does the win have for the Niners in the 2018 NFL Draft?

Those San Francisco 49ers fans wishing for the team to tank in order to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft were dealt a bit of a blow in Week 13.

The Niners walked away from Chicago with a 15-14 victory over the Bears — a game that saw San Francisco net five field goals, zero touchdowns and one particularly fun showing from a newly minted starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo.

San Francisco’s victory now puts the team at 2-10 on the season. Paired with losses from bottom-dwelling teams like the Cleveland Browns (0-12) and the New York Giants (2-10), the Niners managed to push further away from the top pick in April’s draft.

If the season ended today, this is what the draft order would look like in the top five:

Draft
Draft /

With the their win, paired with New York’s 24-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders, the 49ers have now shifted from No. 2 in the draft order up to No. 3.

It’s important to note the tie-breaker here is the strength of schedule, not any head-to-head contests (San Francisco is 1-0 versus New York this season, but that doesn’t matter in determining draft order).

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

49ers Won’t Get Pick No. 1 in the 2018 NFL Draft

Sunday’s victory all but ensured the Niners won’t wind up picking first in the 2018 draft, barring some sort of crazy trade-up we don’t foresee happening.

Instead, that opportunity will go to the Browns once more in all likelihood. Based off their remaining schedule, it’s hard to see anything more than just one victory, let alone two.

Here’s Cleveland’s schedule between Weeks 14 through 17:

  • vs. Green Bay Packers (6-6)
  • vs. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)
  • at Chicago Bears (3-9)
  • at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-2)

Maybe the also-lowly Bears fall to the Browns. And the Steelers could be resting their starters in Week 17. So there are some chances for Cleveland to pull off two wins. It’s just highly unlikely.

The Giants are an interesting team to watch too. Having just fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese, New York’s finish to the season will be a challenge. They play all three of their NFC East rivals, plus another game against the Arizona Cardinals, to round out 2017.

Any upsets in the making? Not likely.

Meanwhile, the 49ers could still wind up winning one of their last four games, which would likely push general manager John Lynch out of the top-two spots on draft day.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo Shakes Up 49ers’ Draft Needs

Prior to the 2017 NFL trade deadline, quarterback was high atop the Niners’ long list of needs in the draft.

Not so much anymore after Garoppolo’s debut.

Sure, there remain questions about a long-term deal or whether he’ll receive the franchise tag. But it’s pretty clear Garoppolo will be in a 49ers uniform in 2018. So we can cross that need off the list.

Yet that doesn’t mean San Francisco can be picky during the draft.

Here’s a short list of the Niners’ needs next year in no particular order:

  • Offensive line
  • Running back (if Carlos Hyde leaves via free agency)
  • Wide receiver
  • Cornerback
  • Edge rusher
  • Linebacker/defensive line depth

A possible chemistry between Garoppolo and slot wide receiver Trent Taylor — evidenced in Week 13 — crosses this particular need off the list too. But there are plenty of others, and San Francisco could stand for a true No. 1 threat on the outside to pair with the veteran, Pierre Garçon, who is on injured reserve with a neck injury.

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Having a higher pick in the NFL Draft could make things slightly easier. But as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport pointed out on KNBR 680’s Murph and Mac Show Monday morning, “You can find good players anywhere in the draft.”

What is likely more important than draft position is seeing Garoppolo develop his chemistry with players like Taylor and others.

Next: 49ers stock report after beating the Bears in Week 13

That’ll have much more long-term ramifications on the team’s success next year than a spot higher in the NFL Draft.