San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 NFL draft targets after free agency moves

The 49ers addressed some key needs with their moves in NFL free agency, tweaking their big board a bit for the 2021 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to lose the overwhelming majority of their important free agents this offseason.

Despite having roughly 40 players hitting the NFL free agency market in 2021, Niners general manager John Lynch was able to retain some of the most critical pieces to his roster, namely Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams along with fullback Kyle Juszczyk and cornerbacks Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley.

Additionally, San Francisco was able to bring on EDGE Samson Ebukam as well as making a key upgrade at center with the veteran, Alex Mack.

The 49ers are still likely to make some more minor moves in the coming days and weeks. But the splash pickups and re-signs are likely done, meaning Lynch and Co. will start shifting their focus to the 2021 NFL Draft later this April.

The Williams and Mack pickups all but eliminate the need for the Niners to go after an offensive lineman in Round 1, where San Francisco holds the No. 12 pick overall. So, with these notable additions and re-signings now complete, who are the 49ers’ top draft targets?

Here’s the Niners’ five biggest after NFL free agency’s moves.

49ers NFL Draft Target No. 5: Tight End Kyle Pitts, Florida

San Francisco still has some pressing needs in the NFL Draft, but there were surely a lot more before free agency began.

So it wouldn’t be out of the question for Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to want a luxury item. And in this case, one of the best would be Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

Pitts isn’t just the best tight end in this year’s class. He’s arguably the best pass-catcher out of the group. And at 6-foot-6 and 246 pounds with breakaway speed, excellent route-running abilities, solid hands and tremendous mismatch potential, he could be the next elite-level weapon despite whatever cast of players surrounding him.

True, the 49ers already have an All-Pro tight end in George Kittle. But Pitts would allow for one of the most dynamic and explosive offenses to take the field, giving quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo yet another key weapon to ensure the Niners offense doesn’t suffer any sort of regression.

With offensive tackle no longer a need, San Francisco can hope a player like Pitts falls to No. 12 overall.

#Kyle.