Niner Noise
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2020 NFL Draft: 3 out-of-box picks 49ers could make in Round 1

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: D'Andre Swift #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball in the first half against the LSU Tigers during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: D'Andre Swift #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball in the first half against the LSU Tigers during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

. EDGE. Hawkeyes . A.J. Epenesa. 3. player. 878

The 49ers still boast one of the deepest and most talented defensive lines in football. And this will stay the case after re-signing defensive end Arik Armstead, who led the Niners in sacks last year with 10, walk in free agency.

After grabbing EDGE Nick Bosa with the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft, it seems somewhat silly John Lynch would do something again in 2020.

But there’s always the possibility Armstead’s days are numbered in San Francisco. Should San Francisco apply the franchise tag, there’s an argument he could be traded to a defensive-needy team in order to accrue some much-needed draft capital.

Regardless, there’s always the argument in favor of getting even stronger at a position of strength.

Should this be the approach, one could see Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa as a dark-horse first-round candidate for San Francisco.

Epenesa didn’t have the best NFL Combine numbers, which could hinder his draft stock in the Niners’ direction. But it’s hard to overlook the 22 combined sacks he had in Iowa over the past two seasons.

Combined with Bosa, Armstead and EDGE Dee Ford, the Niners could still boast one of the most lethal defensive fronts in the league, likely keeping it that way for years to come.