Niner Noise
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49ers 2020 NFL Draft: Best day-three options

By Robert Smith

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 12: Lamar Jackson #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Rashod Bateman #13 of the Minnesota Gophers go for a pass intended for Bateman during the third quarter of the game at TCF Bank Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gophers defeated the Cornhuskers 34-7. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 12: Lamar Jackson #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Rashod Bateman #13 of the Minnesota Gophers go for a pass intended for Bateman during the third quarter of the game at TCF Bank Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gophers defeated the Cornhuskers 34-7. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Lamar Jackson #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Lamar Jackson #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

After a very active first round for the San Francisco 49ers, with a trade back and trade up yielding Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Ayuik, the team was left with no Day 2 selections in the 2020 NFL Draft. Niner Noise will look at the best options remaining for the team heading into Day 3.

The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2020 NFL Draft with seven picks, two of those being at Nos. 13 and 31. Rampant speculation and rumors had the team taking either a wide receiver, defensive tackle or a cornerback. Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, his teammate Henry Ruggs III or Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb were the consensus top-three wide receivers, with Auburn’s Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw the standout defensive linemen.

Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson was also considered a potential first-round option for the team before the draft began.

As the draft progressed, the 49ers were in perfect position to snag Jeudy or Lamb to pair with last year’s rookie sensation, Deebo Samuel. When the team was on the clock at No. 13, the 49ers were able to make a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to move back one slot to No. 14. Along with swapping draft positions, they acquired a fourth-round selection in the process.

After the Bucs selected offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs, the team still had two of the top three receivers (Ruggs went to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 12) to choose from.

However, general manager John Lynch stayed consistent with the team’s philosophy of building the team through the trenches. The selection of Kinlaw provided San Francisco the opportunity to fill the hole left by the trade of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts earlier this offseason.

Many in the Niner fanbase were curious why the team passed on a wide receiver at No. 14, but that question was answered soon after when the team swapped its 31st pick with the Minnesota Vikings for the 25th pick, the fourth-round pick acquired in their trade back to No. 14 with Tampa Bay, and pick No. 245 to take Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Getting two potential impact players in the first round for a team coming off a Super Bowl appearance was solid work by the front office, but their work is far from over. Even after the trade that sent their fifth-round pick (No. 156) to the Washington Redskins for offensive lineman Trent Williams, the team will still have two picks. Barring potential trades of current players (i.e. wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, running back Matt Breida or wide receiver Dante Pettis) for more selections on Day 3, the team will have pick Nos. 210, and 217 to fill out their roster needs with the draft.

We take a look at five options for the 49ers who may be there when they are on the clock.