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5 players the 49ers should target in Round 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Trayvon Mullen #1 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates his teams 44-16 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Trayvon Mullen #1 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates his teams 44-16 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers may get some good 2019 NFL Draft hits in Rounds 1 and 2. But finding some notable contributors in Round 3 will be just as important for the future of the franchise.

Barring a trade down, the San Francisco 49ers will likely wind up grabbing Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa, Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams or Kentucky EDGE Josh Allen with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

At No. 36 overall, things get a bit cloudier. Niners general manager John Lynch could target a safety, addressing a key need there, or a wide receiver. Cornerback isn’t out of the question, either. If you’re looking for some second-round targets, just check this out.

But what about in Round 3?

Currently, San Francisco owns the No. 67 overall pick, which is the third pick in the round. In such a deep defensive draft, there’s an excellent chance some top talent, projected to go in previous rounds, winds up falling into the early stages of the third round.

This would be an excellent opportunity for Lynch and Co., who’ll still need to find some impact talent in the round.

It’s hard to gauge how the NFL Draft will pan out, especially getting that far into the results. There are always surprising risers and fallers, which could mean a vast array of players available to the Niners who otherwise weren’t expected to be there.

That said, let’s focus on players projected to be third-round NFL Draft targets, explaining both the need and the fit for San Francisco.

Here are five Lynch and the 49ers should target with their third pick.