5 predictions for John Lynch, 49ers in 2020 NFL Draft

No. 5: 49ers will get a top wide receiver at No. 13

There has been much made out of what the 49ers will do with the No. 13 overall selection in the 2020 draft, with most of the conversation centering on the Niners taking one of the draft’s top wide receiver prospects with the selection.

The top three — Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs of Alabama and CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma — are all fairly different in terms of their skill sets. Jeudy is considered the most refined route runner of the group, Ruggs is the burner while Lamb is a bigger target in the open field.

Still, the addition of any of the three would bring a new dimension to the 49ers offense, and various mock drafts have any of the three dropping into the Niners laps in their current position.

And given the way the draft board ahead of the 49ers looks like it could fall, it stands to reason they could be in line to change the red hue of any of these wideouts.

Of course, anything could happen on draft night, but just a cursory glance at the top-12 picks leading up the Niners selection at No. 13 suggests that there might not be a lot of competition for those receivers as you might think.

Sure, there are plenty of teams ahead of the Niners who could use a talent like Jeudy, Ruggs or Lamb, but many have other needs like a long-term option at quarterback (Bengals, Dolphins, Chargers), a defensive gamechanger (Redskins, Lions, Panthers, Cardinals, Jaguars), or an offensive lineman (Giants, Cardinals, Jets).

In reality, the Niners will have to wait out the maybe the Jaguars (No. 9), the Jets (No. 11) and the Raiders (No. 12) in terms of teams who could be in play for receiving talent.

But I believe there will be at least one of those options available, possibly even two, and if that’s the case, the 49ers should be able to add a shiny new receiver to Kyle Shanahan’s offense for 2020.