The 2026 NFL Draft is merely hours away, and the San Francisco 49ers will still have a lot of waiting to do before their number is called at No. 27 overall.
That said, general manager John Lynch still has plenty of needs to address, including but not limited to addressing the pass rush, finding help in the secondary, long-term wide receiver options and getting younger along the offensive line.
O-linemen have been a popular choice for the Niners as of late, even after Lynch reached an extension agreement with future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams. And while the first round will have plenty of uncontrollable wild cards long before San Francisco selects, there should be plenty of likable linemen available when the 49ers are finally on the clock.
And that's the route FanSided's Mike Luciano went with his final seven-round mock, giving the Niners a true bookend who could ultimately serve as Williams' replacement.
49ers draft Max Iheanachor with 1st-round pick
While Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu has been a frequent mocked target for Lynch and Co., Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor has gained some steam in the days counting down to Round 1.
Sure, Iheanachor enters the draft as a right tackle. But, with incumbent Colton McKivitz boasting zero in guaranteed money on his contract after 2026, it's possible San Francisco would explore this route as a long-term upgrade.
With the additional possibility of landing an heir apparent to Williams, too, which is what Luciano argued:
Not only could San Francisco stand to make a major upgrade at the right tackle spot, but they also need someone who could give John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan a Trent Williams succession plan they can be proud of. Iheanachor has some nearly boundless athletic potential, which will put him over some competitors in the same spot.
The 49ers haven't used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman since selecting Mike McGlinchey back in 2018, but that trend could change with the crop of blockers getting older and increasingly expensive.
49ers round out mocked 2026 draft class with promising WR, key depth elsewhere
On the clock late in Round 2, at No. 58 overall, Luciano doesn't overlook the Niners' need to find some long-term options at wide receiver, having them grab Louisville's Chris Bell:
A healthy Bell is a first-round talent. With running back size and wide receiver playmaking skill, Bell could be the true Deebo Samuel replacement Kyle Shanahan has been begging for years to acquire.
Despite signing veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk earlier this offseason, neither projects as a long-term solution. Evans is well beyond age 30, and Kirk arrived on a one-year deal.
To round out San Francisco's draft class, the FanSided draft expert picked the following:
- Round 4, No. 127 overall: Tim Keenan III, DT, Alabama
- Round 4, No. 133 overall: Jalen Farmer, IOL, Kentucky
- Round 4, No. 138 overall: Bud Clark, SAF, TCU
- Round 4, No. 139 overall: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
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