3 dream scenarios for the 49ers in the 2020 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers are hinging on some top-level talent falling to them late in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft, which is one dream scenario to watch for general manager John Lynch and Co.
Unlike recent years, the San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to be picking early in the 2020 NFL Draft. And after dishing out second-, third- and fourth-round picks last year for EDGE Dee Ford and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, the Niners aren’t scheduled to pick again until Round 5 after their No. 31 overall pick.
This paints a tough picture for general manager John Lynch. Coming off a Super Bowl loss, San Francisco doesn’t have a ton of needs on the roster. But Sanders, a scheduled free agent, could ultimately leave. And the 49ers don’t have a lot of proven options on the roster to replace him. Defensive end Arik Armstead and safety Jimmie Ward are also poised to hit the free-agent market, too.
And there’s always the need to find both depth and long-term replacement options for aging, more-expensive players as well.
How Lynch and the front office go about tackling their draft needs is contingent on a number of things, the Niners’ actions in free agency being no exception. With the team selecting 31st overall, there are 30 other possibilities which will ultimately determine what Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan want to do.
That said, there’s room for some dreaming here.
Seemingly each year, projected top-15 prospects often fall well out of the predicted range where they are expected to be drafted. Other teams get desperate, too, often reaching or trading up for players not on too many other teams’ big boards.
As such, the 49ers can hope for some dream scenarios to come true on draft day. Here are three to watch.