The 49ers were inactive on day one of the 2022 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean there were zero points of interest for John Lynch and Co.
Thirty-two picks out of the 262 total in the 2022 NFL Draft are officially in the books.
The San Francisco 49ers made precisely zero of them.
The Niners aren’t poised to select until the very tail end of Round 2, No. 61 overall, thanks to last year’s move-up for quarterback Trey Lance. And despite there being a flurry of first-round trades over the course of Thursday night, general manager John Lynch wasn’t responsible for executing any of them.
That said, San Francisco did find itself involved in a number of the chief storylines throughout the opening round of the draft, albeit for reasons it might not have initially wanted.
So, with Round 1 completely finished, let’s take a look at some of those key storylines involving the 49ers even though they were inactive throughout the first round.
49ers Round 1 NFL Draft news: Deebo Samuel remains on the roster
There was widespread speculation, if the Niners were ultimately going to move All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, it would have to involve a first-round draft pick plus some change from a team willing to bid on his reported trade request.
The New York Jets were likely among those most interested, and they certainly had the ammunition with two picks in the top 10, Nos. 4 and 10 overall. But after New York grabbed cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson with those picks, respectively, San Francisco fans likely breathed a collective sigh of relief.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported immediately after Gang Green’s second first-round selection that it had offered the No. 10 overall pick to the 49ers for Samuel, plus a mid-round pick swap, but the Niners didn’t bite.
Now, this doesn’t wholly eliminate the possibility of Samuel being moved. But the chances diminish significantly, meaning the Niners are likely now poised to clean up the mess with their disgruntled receiver.
49ers Round 1 NFL Draft news: A.J. Brown trade sets Deebo Samuel’s market
Just because Deebo Samuel wasn’t traded didn’t mean other big-name wide receivers weren’t going to be on the move.
One surprise deal was seeing the Baltimore Ravens trading Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Arizona Cardinals, which was a shocker. But that was fully eclipsed by the Tennessee Titans sending off Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles, then turning that pick into Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks.
Burks is a Samuel-like receiver, yes, so Tennessee has to hope that works out. But the subsequent extension Brown will receive with his new Eagles team is of interest to San Francisco:
Source: New #Eagles WR AJ Brown gets a 4 Yr ext for $100M
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 29, 2022
57M Guaranteed
Samuel’s initial ask was reportedly a new deal worth an annual average of $25 million, which is what Brown will now receive.
However, the possible hangup could have been the more important factor, guaranteed money, which is something the 49ers have historically reluctant to dish out in big numbers.
It’s also important to note both Brown and Samuel share the same agent, so it’s likely the new Philly wideout will set the bench for what kind of offer Samuel will command from the Niners.
Probably something worth at least $58 million now, perhaps more.
49ers Round 1 NFL Draft news: No Jimmy Garoppolo trade, but the door is open
Before Deebo Samuel took over all San Francisco news in the weeks before the NFL Draft, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo commanded all the trade speculation that could have been, even after the 49ers failed to move him at the start of the league new year despite a massive quarterbacking carousel.
The 2022 draft is weak at quarterback, which is nothing new to state, but with a number of teams likely on the hunt for a prospective signal-caller, someone was going to reach, right?
Well, no.
The only first-round quarterback selected was Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, going No. 20 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers, meaning there’ll likely be a run on day two of the draft for many of those same quarterback-needy teams.
Except the Carolina Panthers, who despite owning the No. 6 overall pick, aren’t poised to select again until Round 4.
Carolina could have grabbed a quarterback at that spot to upgrade over the flameout, Sam Darnold. Electing not to do that, grabbing offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu instead, the Panthers can either attempt to roll it back with Darnold again or pursue a veteran via trade.
Possibly someone like Garoppolo, however, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield also has to be considered a possibility, too.
49ers Round 1 NFL Draft news: Packers continue denying Aaron Rodgers receivers
It’s hard to say a lot of teams within the NFC got exceptionally better via the NFL Draft, although the Niners could certainly look at conference-contending teams that may threaten their own bid to make it to the Super Bowl this upcoming season.
Like San Francisco, the Los Angeles Rams didn’t pick in Round 1. But the Green Bay Packers, whom the 49ers beat in the divisional round last season, still needed to grab quarterback Aaron Rodgers more wide receiver help after sending off All-Pro wideout Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this offseason.
With two picks in the first round, one would have thought Green Bay would have at least grabbed some support for Rodgers with some clear-cut talent at the top of this position.
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Instead, the Packers grabbed linebacker Quay Walker and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt.
OK, Green Bay needed to reinforce its defense. Walker, and Wyatt to a lesser extent, will help do that. Yet Rodgers can’t be happy to see yet another year go by without a first-round wide receiver selected.
For now, at least, the Packers’ top two wideouts will be Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb.
Day two of the 2022 NFL Draft kicks off on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. ET from Las Vegas, Nevada.