San Francisco 49ers: 5 key storylines to watch in 2020 offseason
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: How the 49ers Navigate the 2020 NFL Draft
Between 2017 and 2019, the 49ers were frequently armed with early picks in nearly every round of the NFL Draft. After falling short in Super Bowl LIV, the Niners now have the No. 31 overall pick.
And that’s the last selection before two picks in Round 5.
This has led many to believe John Lynch will trade out of the first round to acquire more draft capital in the middle rounds. San Francisco isn’t exactly hurting for immediate-impact players, meaning taking riskier fliers on day-two picks is an avenue Lynch and Co. could easily take without too much reservation.
But even if that winds up being the case, what are the players and positions the 49ers look to address in the draft?
A lot of the decisions hinge on the team’s actions in NFL free agency, particularly if players like Arik Armstead, Emmanuel Sanders and/or Jimmie Ward are re-signed. Of those players’ three positions, safety and wide receiver are easily the most pressing. So is cornerback, where Richard Sherman is hitting a contract year, and fellow corners Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley haven’t exactly solidified themselves as bona fide starters.
Offensive line depth and a long-term replacement for Joe Staley should also be on the list.
Yet it’s hard to imagine Kyle Shanahan avoiding taking a shot at one of the deepest wide receiver draft classes in recent memory.
A shotgun approach — using a trade down to stockpile more picks — would allow the 49ers to solve more of those questions than by simply staying at No. 31.
But that’s something not likely to be determined until the end of Round 1 anyway, yet it’ll remain a key storyline until the draft starts on April 23.