San Francisco 49ers: Dos and don’ts for the 2020 NFL Draft

49ers Dos for the NFL Draft

The DeForest Buckner trade opened up a door for an entirely new array of options for San Francisco in this draft, namely just because the team now boasts the No. 13 overall pick.

It could be just the opening move in an array of transactions between now and the end of the draft.

So what should be on John Lynch’s to-do list?

Do Take the Best Trade-Up Package

It doesn’t matter if it’s for the No. 13 overall pick or the No. 31 overall pick. San Francisco needs to entertain trade-down options.

Teams looking to grab quarterbacks could be clamoring for the No. 13 pick, and additional draft capital can still be used to land top-tier cornerbacks, offensive linemen or wide receivers, even if it means passing on players like Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs or CeeDee Lamb.

San Francisco 49ers

As far as the 31st pick, even if it means losing out on a would-be fifth-year option, gives the Niners a chance to spend a lot less money on a still-good prospect in Round 2 while adding much-needed pick options later in the draft.

Do Grab the Best Player Available at No. 13

If it’s a wide receiver, fine. If it’s Javon Kinlaw, great. If it’s offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs out of Iowa, wonderful.

While San Francisco doesn’t have a ton of needs, it could still stand for some immediate reinforcements and long-term supplementary options at a number of positions. The point here is the Niners don’t need to overthink their first pick if a likable trade-down option isn’t available.

Do Select Two Defensive Backs

Cornerbacks Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon and K’Waun Williams are all entering contract years, and there aren’t a ton of long-term replacement options currently on the roster.

Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt will also be a free agent in 2021.

Re-signing Sherman and Williams would seem like a priority, but the prospects for doing so could be much more difficult a year from now. Either way, getting both younger and cheaper in the secondary would be a wise move for John Lynch.

Without doing too much complex math, one can understand why at least two defensive backs — one early and one late — should be on the priority list.

Do Entertain Trade Offers for Nick Mullens

Backup quarterbacks are important, yes. And the 49ers have a good one on a cheap contract in Nick Mullens.

But Mullens will be a restricted free agent next year, and the Niners already reportedly turned down trade offers for him this offseason. Yet teams can get more desperate during the draft, especially if one of those teams miss out on the quarterbacks it was eyeing in the early rounds.

This can afford San Francisco the opportunity to get a little more greedy for Mullens, should another team come calling with a worthwhile pick in exchange.