Ranking the 49ers' last 10 first-round draft picks from worst to best

No. 6: DL Solomon Thomas (2017)

The first pick the 49ers made under Lynch and Shanahan was the Stanford product Solomon Thomas. Thomas had a great career for the Stanford Cardinal, and it seemed like he was a surefire pick for the Niners as they were looking to rebuild amid that 2017 offseason.

Unfortunately, Thomas just did not pan out as they thought as his starting role dwindled each year. By 2019, he only started in three games for the team. In 2020, an ACL tear effectively ended his Niner career. By the end of his San Francisco tenure, he had six sacks and 95 tackles, a far cry from what was expected when he was selected third overall.

He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 and had a solid year before reuniting with former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on the Jets. He had a very solid 2023 in which he had a career-high five sacks. He re-signed with the Jets this offseason.

While things didn't quite work out with the 49ers, Thomas has always seemed like a stand-up guy, so it is great to see him still doing well.

The next pick was meant to solidify the offensive line for the team.