49ers: Free agency, the NFL Draft and other areas of concern in 2020

Limited Resources in the 2020 NFL Draft

When teams are pressed, financially, they’ll often turn to the NFL Draft as a means to onboard more talent, which is both younger and much cheaper. Top-tier players, playing on rookie contracts, often provide the backbone for a well-balanced, championship-level squad.

Look no further than George Kittle, DeForest Buckner and EDGE Nick Bosa as perfect examples.

But the 49ers invested plenty of their draft capital en route to the Super Bowl, namely by trading away a third- and fourth-round pick in 2020 for Emmanuel Sanders, getting the Denver Broncos’ fifth-round selection in return, while also dishing out a second-round pick to the Chiefs for EDGE Dee Ford.

As a result, the Niners have just one pick on the first two days of the 2020 draft, No. 31 overall. The current selection is as follows:

1. Round 1, No. 31 overall
2. Round 5, No. 139 overall (from DEN)
3. Round 5, No. 159 overall
4. Round 6, No. 191 overall
5. Round 7, No. 195 overall (from DET)
6. Round 7, No. 223 overall

Smart speculation would suggest John Lynch attempts to trade out of the team’s first rounder, perhaps netting a couple of second- or third-round picks in return and a better shot at stockpiling resources, which will be much needed in coming years.

Remember, though, it takes two teams to effectively make a trade.

And if the market for a trade down isn’t overly promising, one can’t just guarantee Lynch makes the move.