For much of the 2025 season, it would have been fair to reason the San Francisco 49ers' top priority in the 2026 NFL Draft might be addressing the trenches again, either grabbing offensive or defensive linemen.
After all, 37-year-old future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams can't play forever, and a league-low 16 sacks through 14 weeks indicate the Niners need serious pass-rushing help in light of season-ending losses to defensive ends Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams to ACL injuries.
However, the landscape of San Francisco's needs has changed in recent weeks, shifting the focus from the line of scrimmage out to the perimeter at wide receiver.
Especially with the growing likelihood still-injured wideout Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers are heading toward an inevitable split, and fellow receiver Jauan Jennings is likely going to command top dollar on the free-agent market.
Projected to pick in the late 20s by most mocks at this point, thanks to the Niners' 9-4 record and likely playoff push, would general manager John Lynch and Co. get their hands on a receiver they like, perhaps someone like USC's Makai Lemon or Washington's Denzel Boston?
It might be tougher than you think, at least according to ESPN's latest mock draft.
ESPN mock draft denies 49ers a WR, has them grabbing interior D-lineman instead
ESPN's Field Yates just dropped his most recent mock, headlined by a blockbuster trade by the New York Jets to move up to No. 1 overall to finally land a franchise quarterback, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza.
Way down the list, picking at No. 26 overall, San Francisco might be aiming for a wide receiver in light of its changing list of needs.
Circling both Lemon and Boston, though, the 49ers are denied the chance in Yates' mock.
Lemon is the second receiver to depart the board, going behind the New York Giants' mocked selection of Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson at No. 7 overall, grabbed by the receiver-thirsty Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20.
And if the Niners thought they'd pivot to Boston thereafter, the Buffalo Bills deny the chance by swiping him away one pick before Lynch is on the clock.
Instead, San Francisco again gets back to its roots by grabbing yet another defensive lineman, Florida's Caleb Banks, a pick about which Yates detailed:
"Simply put, the 49ers need more disruptors on defense. They currently rank dead last in sacks (16), 30th in pass rush win rate (29.3%) and 30th in pressures (111). The injuries to Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams obviously impacted that, but the defensive line could still use more help in 2026. Banks' evaluation is a little tricky because he logged just 90 snaps in three games this season before fracturing his foot. He has a huge frame, with over 35-inch arms, and generates major shock at the point of attack. Banks is the type of player that could help the 49ers put teams into less favorable passing situations."
True, it might seem a bit redundant after using three of their first five picks on D-linemen a year ago, yet the 49ers still need both playmakers and depth on their D-line.
Honing in on someone like Banks as a no-WR contingency plan would certainly address that, even if it does postpone the Niners' need to wholly infuse more talent into their wide receiver room in what's likely going to be the post-Aiyuk and post-Jennings era.