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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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Xavier McKinney, Alabama
Xavier McKinney #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Draft a surprise

General manager John Lynch is not averse to picking a surprise in the first round in prior drafts. One might recall tackle Mike McGlinchey being selected before incumbent right tackle Trent Brown was traded to the New England Patriots.

A surprising selection, to be sure.

A tackle could be considered here, too. There are up to four offensive tackles who could be selected in the top half of the first round, and Joe Staley can’t play forever as much as every 49ers fan wishes he could.

But a much more attractive pick could potentially be Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. The 49ers re-signed Jimmie Ward, but fellow safety Jaquiski Tartt is out of contract after next season.

McKinney would need to learn the strong safety position for the 49ers defense or else Ward would need to move over, but he could be a pick for the future.

Also don’t rule out someone falling to the 49ers that simply cannot be passed up. Derrick Brown has been mentioned before, but top cornerback prospect Jeffrey Okudah had a disappointing combine and could potentially be worth monitoring.