Predicting 49ers starting lineup after 2020 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
With the San Francisco 49ers making five key rookie additions in the 2020 NFL Draft, Niner Noise offers early predictions how the team’s lineup will look in Week 1.
The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books, and the San Francisco 49ers will see some pretty notable roster shakeups in comparison to the 2019 squad which made it all the way to Super Bowl LIV.
Chief among these are the big three: defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and left tackle Joe Staley, who left the team via a trade, free agency and retirement, respectively.
Yet the nature of turning over rosters on a year-to-year basis is part of the NFL landscape, and head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad is no different. Pulling off some noteworthy additions via the draft is one way to do it, although general manager John Lynch wasn’t afraid to pull off some major blockbuster trades during the draft itself.
As for the rookie draft class, it stands as follows:
- Round 1: DT Javon Kinlaw
- Round 1: WR Brandon Aiyuk
- Round 5: OL Colton McKivitz
- Round 6: TE Charlier Woerner
- Round 7: WR Jauan Jennings
There’s a lot to take place between now and Week 1, including any offseason workouts pending, training camp and the preseason. There could also be additional roster moves as well.
But for now, Niner Noise offers up predictions for what the starting lineup could look like by the time Week 1 rolls around.
Special Teams
Kicker: Robbie Gould
Punter: Mitch Wishnowsky
Long-Snapper: Kyle Nelson
No surprises or drama here. San Francisco will carry over the same special teams battery it had in the latter half of 2019, notably when long-snapper Kyle Nelson returned from suspension.
There are going to be questions about return duties, specifically whether or not wide receiver Richie James winds up assuming the role again.