The San Francisco 49ers have a rich history of landing cornerstone players via the NFL Draft. Some talents were acquired late in the draft, including wide receiver Dwight Clark, running back Frank Gore, tight end George Kittle and Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana.
Others, though, were the high-profile first-round selections that everyone talks about. Yes, the Niners have had success there, too.
It's worth taking a trip down memory lane to see who the five best first-round draft picks in franchise history are.
The 49ers have done a pretty excellent job of drafting throughout their history. So many of the stars we associate with San Francisco over the years were homegrown drafted players.
As we examined in a recent article, the past decade or so of the team's first-round draft picks have been a little hit or miss. This is to be expected from any franchise.
However, this article is meant to highlight the times that the franchise absolutely got things right in the first round.
Therefore, let's break down the five best first-round picks in Niners history, starting with No. 5.
No. 5: Edge Nick Bosa (2019)
Yes, Nick Bosa may only be five seasons into his NFL career, but he has already established himself as one of the best pass-rushers in the history of the franchise. Taken No. 2 overall in the 2019 draft, Bosa made his presence felt right away.
It is no coincidence that since 2019, the 49ers have made it at least to the NFC Championship game every season except for 2020 when Bosa tore his ACL early in the season. He is an absolute gamechanger on defense and deservedly became the highest paid defensive player in the league in 2023.
If he keeps at his current pace, he is certainly on track for a Hall of Fame career. The 49ers are lucky to have a player and leader like him on defense.
The next former first-rounder is not a Hall of Famer, but he is in the hearts of all Niner fans,
No. 4: Offensive tackle Joe Staley (2007)
Selected 28th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, Joe Staley was a presence on the 49ers' offensive line for over a decade.
A six-time Pro Bowler, Staley was remarkably consistent in his career with San Francisco. He played in all 16 games eight times out of 13 seasons, and he was a huge part of the playoff teams during the JimHarbaugh years. Staley was a great player as well as a leader in the locker room whom teammates could trust and rely upon.
Unfortunately, Staley never did win a Super Bowl ring. He was the only 49er to play in both the 2013 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and the 2020 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
While Niners fans understand how important he was to the team and how consistently good he was, offensive lineman often get overlooked. Nonetheless, maybe some time down the line Staley will get his due and earn a nod to Canton.
The next player on the list was also selected in the first round of the 2007 draft.
No. 3: Linebacker Patrick Willis (2007)
Patrick Willis was just recently inducted into the Hall of Fame, and it is incredibly deserved. He was dominant during his career with the 49ers and was one of the most feared linebackers in the league.
Willis was selected 11th overall in the 2007 draft. That is a pretty amazing first round for the Niners, which landed them Willis and Joe Staley Staley, who were the nucleus on each side of the ball for nearly the next decade.
Willis only played eight seasons, but boy, were they impressive. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a five-time first team All-Pro. He was the undisputed leader of the team's defense, and when he was playing alongside NaVorro Bowman, the two were arguably the best linebacker duo in the game.
Another fan-favorite, Willis may be one of the best defensive players in 49ers history, but the next player has got to be the best.
No. 2: Defensive back Ronnie Lott (1981)
The same way that the 49ers drafting Nick Bosa coincides with great team success, the same can be said about when the Niners drafted defensive back Ronnie Lott with the eighth overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft.
Right away, Lott helped the Niners as they went on to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history that season. Lott immediately improved a 49er secondary that had been laughable in Bill Walsh's first two years as head coach.
Lott became the key leader and playmaker on the 49ers' defense throughout the 1980s, turning in a career that made him a 10-time Pro Bowler, six-time all-Pro, and a four-time Super Bowl champ. Those accolades do not capture the ferocity with which Lott played the game. He would hit oppossing players so hard that he provided toughness to a 49ers team that was often derided as being "finesse" or "soft."
Lott is one of the best 49ers in the history of the franchise, but the final player on this list may well be the greatest football player of all time.
No. 1: Wide receiver Jerry Rice (1985)
The Niners selected Jerry Rice with the 16th pick of the 1985 NFL Draft. Bill Walsh traded up so that they could get Rice, and it was probably one of the best moves in the history of the franchise.
Rice went on to be a 13-time Pro Bowler and a 10-time All-Pro. His chemistry with Joe Montana made them probably the best QB-WR tandem in the history of the league.
He is unquestionably the best wide receiver of all time, and there is a case to be made that he is the best to ever play the game irrespective of position. His longevity is admirable as well. He played for nearly 20 seasons and, honestly, seeing him on the sidelines of 49ers games nowadays you would swear that he could suit up and get 100 yards without too much trouble.
The 49ers have selected some of the best players in the history of the franchise in the first round of the NFL Draft.
These five are simply the best of the best.