The San Francisco 49ers' season isn't over yet, as their victory in Philadelphia on Sunday over the Eagles means they'll move onto the Divisional Round to take on the Seattle Seahawks for the third time this season.
But that doesn't mean we won't take some time to look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, which is set to take place on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Niners' injury-plagued campaign has given the coaching staff and front office plenty of insight into the state of the roster, although the offseason will solidify even further the positions of need.
One group that will clearly need attention this offseason will be the wide receivers. Brandon Aiyuk is very unlikely to be back, and Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore are all scheduled for free agency. That leaves just Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson as players under contract with any real experience, with the likes of Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins waiting in the wings.
It feels unlikely the Niners will go fishing in the big free agency pond, even if someone like George Pickens or Alec Pierce could make a major difference. A trade to bolster the unit is certainly possible, but the fit there is probably on the edges, not a starting-caliber receiver.
So, once again, the draft appears to be the best avenue for improvement.
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt has to be on 49ers' draft radar
The College Football Playoff has provided fans plenty of opportunity to see players who could contribute to their teams in the NFL, but one who has stood out is a guy on the country's best team who looks like a great fit in Kyle Shanahan's offense: Indiana wideout Elijah Sarratt.
Sarratt, at 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, feels like a very similar player to Jennings, although there may be more polish in the Indiana product than Jennings. But like the 49ers' standout, Sarratt is strong and seems to relish big-game moments.
The Indiana star may not be fast, but he'll fight for everything. And, perhaps most importantly, he's a true red-zone threat, with 15 of his 62 receptions resulting in touchdowns this season, something the 49ers lack, especially with George Kittle likely to miss much (if not all) of the 2026 season.
Early scouting has Sarratt as a day-two pick, probably somewhere in the second round, with the Arizona Cardinals often mentioned as a landing spot early in that round.
That means, if Shanahan wants him, they may have to use some of their draft capital to trade up and go get him.