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49ers NFL Draft plans: 5 options for No. 13 overall pick

By Jeremy Wohlfart

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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South Carolina Gamecocks
Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina Gamecocks (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Draft a replacement for DeForest Buckner

DeForest Buckner will be missed, but the real question is what will the 49ers do to fill this very significant loss in their defensive line?

D.J. Jones showed a lot of growth during the season, but he got hurt and hasn’t a long history of production. Solomon Thomas is a bust, but he has a chance to redeem himself in his preferred position at defensive tackle.

However, if the Niners look outside of their current roster, there is an option in South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw or even Auburn’s Derrick Brown.

Kinlaw has impressed scouts with his body of work in South Carolina, and he has the ability to get after the quarterback with 10 sacks in his last two seasons with the Gamecocks. The 49ers defense thrives on pressure coming from the front four, and Kinlaw can be an instant replacement for Buckner.

But an even better prospect than Kinlaw is Derrick Brown, and the question is can he possibly fall to the 49ers?

If there is a run on the deep offensive tackle and wide receiver groups early on, Brown is a possible candidate to slip in the draft. We saw something similar last year when the talented Ed Oliver fell to No. 9 and the Buffalo Bills.

It would be hilarious to see yet another early pick on the defensive line, but it’s a strong possibility.