Niner Noise
FanSided

5 early candidates for 49ers first pick in 2020 NFL Draft

By Elvis Jerez

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Terrell Lewis #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates beating the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime and winning the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama won 26-23. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Terrell Lewis #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates beating the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime and winning the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama won 26-23. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell  (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell  (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers will enter the 2020 NFL Draft with only six picks, so they need to make every pick count- especially the first one. Niner Noise offers five early candidates the 49ers might select with their first pick, 31st overall.

What a difference one year makes.

The San Francisco 49ers went from being the second-worst team in the league in 2018 to being the second-best team in the league the following year. If the 2019 season is any indication, it would seem the Niners are going to be a playoff-caliber team going forward.

But the NFL is fluid and dynamic.

Teams need to adjust and improve on a seasonal basis, and there are plenty of gems to be found in any given draft class. But for the first time in a few years, the 49ers don’t have a bevy of picks from which to continue building their championship team.

The 49ers have only one pick — one — in the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft. Of course, this is true barring any trades, deals or other negotiations between now and during draft day. Per NBC Sports, the 49ers have a total of six picks for this draft class:

  • Round 1, Pick 31
  • Round 5, Pick 139 (Denver)
  • Round 5, Pick 159
  • Round 6, Pick 191
  • Round 7, Pick 195 (Detroit)
  • Round 7, Pick 223

As fans, it’s nice not having the stress of watching the team make the right decision with an early pick in this year’s draft. Plus, a late first-round selection allows the 49ers the flexibility of either moving up or down the draft board and the latitude of not having to take the best player available who may not necessarily fill a pressing need.

It’s a balancing act for any team. A team must pick from among the available candidates, without overreaching and while meeting their current roster needs. Teams who can do this successfully could be playoff contenders, those who can’t are the Cleveland Browns.

In no particular order, the most glaring needs for the Niners at this stage of the 2020 season are safety, wide receiver, cornerback, tackle and possibly an edge rusher if pending free-agent EDGE Arik Armstead plays elsewhere.

The article will focus on the scenario where the 49ers decide to keep their 31st overall selection in the first round. With a little luck and without reaching too much, here are five candidates they could welcome with their first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.