San Francisco 49ers: Ranking top 3 offensive needs ahead of NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
With the 2020 NFL Draft weeks away, the San Francisco 49ers will need to make a handful of significant offensive changes to bolster that side of the ball. Niner Noise ranks the top three needs.
Prior to the San Francisco 49ers‘ trade of 2018 Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts, general manager John Lynch was going to have a tough time figuring out how to best use the team’s first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, which was then No. 31 overall in Round 1.
While there aren’t many, the Niners do have some notable offseason needs heading into the upcoming season. And considering this was the only pick Lynch had at his disposal before Round 5, figuring out whether or not to upgrade the offense or reinforce the defense first was going to be a difficult choice.
Yet the Buckner trade netted the No. 13 overall pick from the Colts, which gives San Francisco two first-round selections now. And while Lynch can still take one of nearly an infinite number of routes on day one, there’s an excellent chance he uses that first pick to grab an offensive playmaker.
But at what position? There seems to be a consensus top choice, of course. Yet there’s always the possibility Lynch and Co. go with an out-of-the-box route with either of their Round 1 selections.
The 49ers have some pressing defensive needs, yes, and Niner Noise broke down the top three on that side of the ball here.
Still, the offense might wind up getting more attention, as head coach Kyle Shanahan looks to make his system all the more prolific and dangerous after falling just short in Super Bowl LIV.
As such, Niner Noise ranks out the team’s top three offensive needs in this year’s NFL Draft.