It's no secret that the two positions the San Francisco 49ers need to address most in the 2026 NFL Draft are wide receiver and tackle. Thankfully, the tackle and wide receivers are the two strongest areas of this draft class, which means the 49ers will have plenty of Day 1 options at both positions.
However, there is a world in which both positions fly off the board on Thursday night. The demand for both positions--especially in the mid-20s, is higher than ever, to the point that NFL Draft guru Daniel Jeremiah thinks this draft is all over the map, which is bad news for a 49ers team picking at No. 27.
While appearing on the Pat McAfee Show earlier this week, Jeremiah revealed that while he believes this draft could be all over the map, that isn't true these two positions. He revealed that the two positions "getting heat" are tackle and receiver, which means John Lynch may need a new plan at 27.
"I would say that the positions getting heat are the tackle position and the wide receiver position. Those are the one you're just hearing the run could start early and those guys are gonna all fly off the board."Daniel Jeremiah
A run at OT and WR in the 2026 NFL Draft will hurt the 49ers' plans
Jeremiah pinpointed the Cleveland Browns as a team who could do damage, as they have two first-round picks and needs at both tackle and wide receiver. The only thing we don't know is if Francis Mauigoa or Carnell Tate is the pick at six, and what they do there will help shape the rest of the round.
Luckily, there is enough depth at both positions where San Francisco should be okay regardless, but this is still not what you want to hear. If there's a run on receivers, the likelihood of a Caleb Lomu or KC Concepcion making it to 27 gets slimmer. And don't even get me started on Omar Cooper Jr.'s stock.
In the event there is a run on both positions, hopefully a more highly-rated prospect at a less valuable position (like Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman) is the pivot, that way a Germie Bernard or Caleb Tiernan is the option at 58. And you can never rule out trading out of the first round for the right offer.
All we know about the 2026 NFL Draft is that trades could flurry and it will deliver on the promise of chaos. But whether that chaos turns out to help or hurt the 49ers remains to be seen.
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