San Francisco 49ers: 5 options for the No. 1 pick in 2019 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers would hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft if it started today. Assuming that placement stays, here are five options to consider.
If the 2019 NFL Draft started today after Week 11, the San Francisco 49ers would wind up with the No. 1 overall pick.
Not a bad consolation prize for a team that had some high expectations coming into the year but, for all the reasons, now find themselves looking at the reality of a 2-8 record this deep into 2018.
In case you were wonder what the current draft order is, including both record and the tie-breaking strength of schedule, here you go:
Updated 2019 NFL Draft order:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 19, 2018
1. 49ers (2-8)
2. Cardinals (2-8)
3. Raiders (2-8)
4. Jets (3-7)
5. Giants (3-7)
6. Bills (3-7)
7. Buccaneers (3-7)
8. Jaguars (3-7)
9. Browns (3-6-1)
10. Lions (4-6)
The Oakland Raiders’ Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals helped swap out the Nos. 1 and 2 spots, giving the Niners the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft. Assuming that stays place between now and the end of the season, general manager John Lynch will have a number of choices from which to pick regarding how to use that first selection.
So let’s have some fun here and dish out five different scenarios and choices Lynch and Co. could make, again assuming the No. 1 pick stays put in San Francisco and the rest of the draft order holds as is.
Here are five options for the 49ers with that top pick.
No. 1: Select Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa
There’s one strategy that almost universally holds true for every NFL Draft — select the best player available, period.
San Francisco needs talent at a number of positions, particularly on defense. Thankfully, the 2019 class is laden with defensive talent, particularly up front and in the pass-rushing department. And with the 49ers edge rush still lacking despite three first-round investments (DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead) playing along the defensive line, the No. 1 overall pick would certainly award a unique opportunity to grab the best option out there.
Some may argue, particularly with his 2018-ending abdominal injury, Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa shouldn’t be the consensus No. 1 prospect in this year’s draft class.
But let’s just leave The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s take right here:
My midseason Top-32 Draft Board goes up tomorrow w/ plenty of changes.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 16, 2018
Spoiler alert, but #OhioState pass rusher Nick Bosa remains at No. 1 and I don't anticipate that changing throughout the process.
Bosa would be the prolific EDGE the 49ers defense has lacked since the days of Aldon Smith, immediately upgrading the pass rush and making the Niners’ defensive front seven complete.