3 no-nonsense strategies John Lynch, 49ers must employ in NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
General manager John Lynch doesn’t have to overthink the 49ers’ actions in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft, and he should stick to these three strategies.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch is undoubtedly preparing hard for the 2022 NFL Draft, which officially kicks off on Thursday, April 28.
Barring some crazy unforeseen developments, the Niners will be inactive on day one, thanks to last year’s trade-up for quarterback Trey Lance and the fact San Francisco doesn’t have a first-round pick with which to operate.
The 49ers aren’t slated to pick until the back end of Round 2, No. 61 overall.
For the most part, the Niners still possess a playoff-caliber roster despite the highly anticipated transition to Lance from veteran starter Jimmy Garoppolo, who might possibly be a trade-chip piece at some point during the draft itself.
Maybe, no one truly knows, but Lynch hasn’t shied away from making aggressive trades during the draft before, and perhaps this April will finally reveal a would-be Garoppolo transaction.
Regardless, San Francisco does have a decent amount of positional needs to fill. It’s a good year to be in need of an outside pass-rusher, as there are plenty in this year’s class and the 49ers have a need there. A number of good-quality defensive backs should be available, too, even some on day three of the draft where the Niners have five picks scheduled.
Still, Lynch and Co. can’t afford too many mistakes and gaffes. It’s kind of hyperbole, but this is arguably the most crucial draft Lynch has had since joining the team in 2017, and to keep San Francisco in playoff contention, he’ll need to follow these three simple draft strategies later this month.