Predicting 49ers’ 2019 offensive starters with NFL Draft picks
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers are likely to go defense heavy in the 2019 NFL Draft, yet a few draftees could find their way into the starting lineup this season. Here are some predictions.
The San Francisco 49ers own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and there’s about a 99-percent chance that selection will be used on a defensive player.
If general manager John Lynch doesn’t trade out of the spot, of course.
Defense is certainly the Niners’ top priority this offseason, which was reflected in some of the moves Lynch pulled off at the opening of free agency, namely trading for former Kansas City Chiefs EDGE Dee Ford and signing linebacker Kwon Alexander.
Yet there were offensive moves, too, which included bringing aboard wide receiver Jordan Matthews and running back Tevin Coleman.
Ford and Alexander will play critical roles for San Francisco’s defense this season, essentially shoo-in starters, which were predicted and broken down here.
As far as the offense goes, however, things get a bit trickier. A would-be trade out of the No. 2 overall pick opens up the possibility of an offensive player joining the Niners in Round 1. But it’s likelier to see the offense targeted either in Rounds 2 or 3, where the 49ers are slated to pick at Nos. 36 and 67, respectively.
Will either one of those two rounds generate a player who might end up cracking San Francisco’s starting offensive lineup in 2019?
In this article, Niner Noise breaks down some early predictions how head coach Kyle Shanahan will formulate his starting offense this season, while offering up some insight as to which rookies (with names) could make it to the very top of the depth chart once training camp and the preseason are finished.