49ers moves in 2020 NFL Draft help Jimmy Garoppolo

In order to get the most out of Jimmy Garoppolo, the San Francisco 49ers focused heavily on offensive additions in the 2020 NFL Draft, which stand to benefit him a lot.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo should be thrilled with what his team did during the 2020 NFL Draft.

Granted, the Niners only brought home five rookies. But the three days between April 23 and 25 ensured Jimmy G would be in the best position to succeed after a heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Yet arguably the biggest move general manager John Lynch and Co. made didn’t involve a rookie at all, rather sending away a 2020 fifth- and 2021 third-round pick to the Washington Redskins in exchange for perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who some would even consider an upgrade over the now-retiring tackle, Joe Staley.

What might have been a massive concern for Garoppolo’s blindside now becomes an asset, and with two relatively cheap mid-round picks. This ultimately allows the 49ers to prompt starting competition along the offensive line at one position: right guard, which figures to be between Daniel Brunskill and Tom Compton.

Back to the NFL Draft class, San Francisco used its top pick on defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to help alleviate the offseason trade of Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.

After that, though, each one of the four remaining prospects was for the offensive side of the ball. Chief among these was the fellow first-round draft choice, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk of Arizona State.

Aiyuk was head coach Kyle Shanahan’s No. 1 receiving target on his big board. This Twitter thread from former NFL cornerback, and current Fourth and Nine film guru Eric Crocker, helps illustrate why Garoppolo can benefit from a player like Aiyuk at his disposal.

Simply put, Aiyuk is a playmaking threat, and the Niners had no shortage of needs at the position for one.

Yet it doesn’t end there.

While his NFL Combine numbers were anything but great, grabbing former Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings in Round 7 was a complete steal. Despite a lack of straight-line speed, no wide receiver forced more missed tackles in college football last year than Jennings, according to Pro Football Focus:

While he’s far from guaranteed a roster spot, Jennings’ traits in this area could potentially blossom into the red-zone specialist needs San Francisco has missed in all three years under Shanahan.

Grabbing former West Virginia offensive lineman Colton McKivitz in Round 5 should help solidify the depth, which was notably tested a year ago. If McKivitz doesn’t see any meaningful field time in 2020, fine. Nothing lost there. But if he is called upon and serves up well enough, it’s all the better.

Also, one shouldn’t overlook Georgia tight end Charlie Woerner who, despite his lack of receiving totals with the Bulldogs, was still one of college football’s better blockers. By putting him on the roster, the 49ers help free up their All-Pro tight end, George Kittle, from his own blocking assignments, allowing him to serve as Garoppolo’s No. 1 pass-catching threat.

Again, not a bad deal at all.

All combined, it’s no surprise NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha cited Garoppolo as one of the winners of the 2020 NFL Draft, writing:

"Garoppolo should’ve been dancing a jig. The 49ers kept their defense strong while also improving their offense in the process. A quarterback leading a team that wants another Super Bowl shot couldn’t have asked for more."

Indeed, Garoppolo should be feeling pretty good about his team’s efforts over the three-day event. In many ways, the Niners offense actually improved from the Super Bowl-caliber roster seen only a few months ago. It got younger, more explosive at wide receiver, multifaceted at tight end and bulked up some much-needed depth.

All to Jimmy G’s benefit.