The 2026 NFL Draft is merely hours away, and the San Francisco 49ers will (potentially) have a new shiny prospect to talk about at the conclusion of Round 1.
That is, of course, assuming general manager John Lynch opts not to trade out of the first round, and there's speculation he'll do just that to stockpile additional draft capital.
If he doesn't, things could go in several different ways by the time the Niners are first on the clock at No. 27 overall, meaning Lynch and Co. can merely go with the best-player-available strategy or attempt to land an immediate-impact player at a position of need.
Considering San Francisco is armed with just six picks, four of which are in Round 4, it's understandable why getting the first couple of picks right is paramount.
Let's try to mock out what will happen for the 49ers in our final mock draft with just hours to go until commissioner Roger Goodell kicks off festivities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using our trusty Pro Football Focus mock-draft tool.
Niner Noise's final 7-round mock for the 49ers ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
In all likelihood, USC's Makai Lemon won't slip to the late 20s, but PFF's simulator allowed him to be available at No. 27 overall. Hence, the pick. The Niners would run to the podium to get this selection in, should something like that actually happen.
Lemon, arguably the No. 3 receiver in this year's class, shouldn't be discounted despite San Francisco adding both Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency last month. Evans is on the wrong side of 30 years old, while Kirk signed a one-year deal. The 49ers still need to pair an up-and-coming pass catcher with third-year pro Ricky Pearsall, and one might argue Lemon has far more upside than the former.
This is a rare case of the Niners addressing a position of need, albeit not the biggest one, while also grabbing the best player available with their top pick.
It'd work, even if it's a slim possibility Lemon falls that far.
Round 2 was provocative as there were three likable prospects available whom San Francisco could target here: Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis, LSU safety A.J. Haulcy and Oklahoma defensive end R Mason Thomas.
Thomas ended up being the pick, simply because he's higher up the big board, fits a desperate need and would have a clear-cut path to being the No. 2 pass-rusher opposite Nick Bosa right out of the gate.
True, Thomas needs to add some functional mass to his frame, but his explosiveness and violence would be a lot of fun to watch, especially if there's little pressure on him to be a premier pass-rusher right out of the gate.
Resolving left tackle Trent Williams' contract situation alleviated the need for a day-one left tackle, but finding an heir apparent still has to be on the 49ers' minds.
What's still a need, though, is an immediate starter at left guard after losing Spencer Burford to free agency, meaning someone like Duke's Brian Parker II could be in play once Round 4 rolls around.
Parker, who's listed as a tackle but has the flexibility to bump inside to guard from the get-go, could end up being a Williams insurance plan.
Or, just as likely, a long-term fit at center to eventually replace the aging Jake Brendel.
Doubling down on offensive linemen in Round 4 isn't necessarily a bad thing, considering it's a tall order to truly identify a day-one starter, even if Parker has promise.
The Niners have long admired Iowa's offense, particularly its zone-blocking scheme, meaning left guard Beau Stephens would compete directly with Parker for primary starting duties. And while the former doesn't have the positional versatility, he does project to be a potential starter at left guard if Parker winds up taking over at tackle or center in a year or two's time.
San Francisco enters 2026 with uncertainty at running back, primarily with Christian McCaffrey aging quickly and the depth behind him very much in question. Second-year pro Jordan James saw scant action late last year, while Isaac Guerendo appears to be on the way out, leaving only Patrick Taylor Jr. (a special teams ace) as the fallback.
Nebraska's Emmett Johnson is stocky and physical. And while he won't win many footraces, his elusiveness and versatility as a pass catcher should make him a fun-to-watch piece in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.
This might be the biggest reach of this mock, but Arkansas' Julian Neal is one of Niner Noise's favorite sleepers from this year's class. And, considering the 49ers aren't scheduled to pick beyond No. 138 overall, who cares if they reach on a prospect they (should) like a lot.
Neal, who grew up in San Francisco, has excellent speed and certainly doesn't mind both tackling and bringing down running backs. Plus, there's the possibility of doubling him as a safety if needed; a position the 49ers should address.
On top of that, if the Niners are no longer sold on Renardo Green on the boundary, Neal is an excellent contingency plan.
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