SF 49ers: Redrafting the entire 2020 NFL Draft class

Niner Noise plays around with revisionist history and redrafts the SF 49ers’ 2020 NFL Draft class with some specific rules to follow.

The SF 49ers may like to have something of a do-over from the 2017 NFL Draft when they made defensive end Solomon Thomas and linebacker Reuben Foster their two first-round picks that year.

Neither player came close to panning out to desired levels, although the Niners did get a steal in Round 5 by grabbing tight end George Kittle.

With the 2020 season now fully in the books, it’s too premature to go back and redraft San Francisco’s class entirely, right? Some argue it takes two, perhaps even three years for a player to fully reach his potential at the NFL level, and the book is still out on a number of players.

But what the heck? Let’s do it anyway. It’s the offseason, and there’s plenty of time for hindsight.

A couple of rules, though. We won’t draft any of the players the SF 49ers actually selected in last year’s NFL Draft. That means no defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, no wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk or anyone else. The next rule is all the team’s trades involving players, such as the one the Niners acquired to get Kinlaw, can take place anyway. This includes the mid-draft deals sending out players like running back Matt Breida and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin.

Remember, this is just a fun exercise. But it’s always entertaining to look at the “what ifs?” in retrospect.

Round 1, Pick No. 13 Overall: Offensive Tackle Tristan Wirfs, Iowa

Original Pick: DT Javon Kinlaw (No. 14 Overall)

Remember, San Francisco already moved defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts, so the No. 13 overall selection is in play.

At the time, the SF 49ers knew veteran left tackle Joe Staley was retiring, but there was a tight lid on that news. And while trying to replace Buckner was a smart move, the Niners could have banked their hopes on Thomas filling Buckner’s void, even though that would have been a tall order, and putting off any additional defensive line needs until later in the draft or even in 2021.

Instead of Kinlaw, San Francisco could have elected to grab Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, who became quite the force for the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wirfs was a plug-and-play starter right away, and the SF 49ers have already been enamored with Iowa offensive players, Kittle being the perfect example.

By doing so, the Niners wouldn’t have had the need to trade for veteran left tackle Trent Williams on day two of the draft, and they certainly wouldn’t be facing a lucrative re-sign free-agent deal on the table in 2021.