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San Francisco 49ers: Biggest winners & losers from the 2018 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame after he was picked #9 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame after he was picked #9 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14 at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14 at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Winner: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo

All quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo does is win, so why not include him here?

OK, enough of the hype. Garoppolo wins for a few more reasons than just that. Dante Pettis is going to be a thrilling piece in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Shanahan schemes his receivers to get open, and Garoppolo more than showed a knack for hitting his targets in limited action last year.

Tack on yet one more big-name weapon at Garoppolo’s disposal.

And then there’s the Mike McGlinchey pick. As Niner Noise’s Rich Madrid broke down in advance of 2017, former right tackle Trent Brown wasn’t exactly a scheme fit for Shanahan’s outside-zone offense. Sure, Brown ranked as Pro Football Focus‘ eighth best pass-blocking tackle last year. But he wasn’t particularly great in the running game.

McGlinchey, on the other hand, should be much more potent in run support. And if the 49ers can get their run game going well this season (their 4.1 rush yards per attempt ranked 17th in the NFL in 2017), that only serves to open things up more for Garoppolo through the air.

Yeah, San Francisco’s draft moves could help turn Garoppolo into the next elite QB.

If you didn’t already think he was at that point.