San Francisco 49ers: Full preview for the 2018 NFL Draft

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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces 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) /

The 2018 NFL Draft is finally here. Our preview will get you prepared with the San Francisco 49ers’ list of selections, positional needs, potential targets and a mock draft.

After many months of preparation, the time has come for NFL teams across the country to enter their war rooms and build on their plot to take over the league.

Armed with 10 picks, last year’s affair was John Lynch and his new regime’s first draft, and the returns on the field after one season have been mostly positive.

Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, selected at No. 3 overall, struggled at times but finished the season strong and flashed glimpses that provide for a promising future. Linebacker Reuben Foster, picked No. 31 overall, was one of the league’s top players at the position.

But Foster has had an offseason marred by trouble with the law. Though with Reuben Foster’s former girlfriend recanting her claim and saying Foster never struck her, the prospects of the second-year player staying with the team have strengthened.

Cornerback Ahekllo Witherspoon (third round pick), tight end George Kittle (fifth round pick), wide receiver Trent Taylor (fifth round pick) and safety Adrian Colbert (seventh round pick) all look set to be key players for the future.

This time around, the 49ers possess nine total picks. Defense will most likely be an emphasis in drafting, as it’s the side of the ball they struggle with the most.

One thing to watch for is what general manager John Lynch does in the first round at No. 9 overall. With quarterback needy teams sitting behind and Lynch’s willingness to make deals, does he execute another draft-day trade?