The end of the first round can end up in unexpected selections due to the lack of 32 first-round grades handed out by teams to draft hopefuls. Could the 49ers spring their own surprise on Thursday night?
One of the exciting wild cards for every NFL Draft is the latter stages of Thursday night feature some truly left-field picks as the list of blue-chip players are all but gone.
While there are 32 picks for the first round, teams rarely if every hand out first-round grades to 32 players. The true number can sometimes be half that.
Read More: 49ers 2026 NFL Draft tracker: Full list of picks, roster needs, targets and more
So often in the latter stages, first-round picks can be players who have second-round grades, which are handed out more plentifully than first-round ones. This creates some unexpected selections, and the San Francisco 49ers are definitely in that range with the No. 27 overall pick.
There's some intriguing and unexpected picks the Niners may go for, so let's take a look at three of them.
3 dark-horse picks 49ers may pursue in Round 1
Chase Bisontis, Guard/Tackle, Texas A&M
Now, this pick in all fairness wouldn't be completely unexpected, given Matt Maiocco trumpeted this as a real possibility for the 49ers, but it'd still be a bit unexpected if it does happen.
But the logic is sound.
Left guard is the most immediate need of all in the Niners offensive line, and Chase Bisontis has the tools to be a strong guard for the next decade. Some teams might also like him at right tackle, but the Niners would probably see guard as his natural home, given their needs.
Treydan Stukes, Defensive Back, Arizona
Some 49ers fans would like to see the cornerback position addressed early, and some would like to see a safety.
Now note how Treydan Stukes is listed as a defensive back here. Can I interest those people in this prospect who can play outside corner, nickel back and either safety position?
Stukes has been getting a lot of attention coming into this week, and part of this is the versatility. Stukes stands at 6-foot-1, 184 pounds. He has amazing speed and athleticism, backing it up with 52 tackles, six pass deflections and four interceptions for Arizona. He can also help out with special teams as both a kick returner and as a gunner, which would give him immediate impact.
Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
It isn't a controversial statement to say the 49ers really need to address the pass rush at some point. The Niners do love spending early picks on the defensive trenches, so it isn't out of the realm of possibility.
Malachi Lawrence has come right into discussions for the end of the round. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound edge possesses a strong pass-rush repertoire of moves and is undoubtably explosive. He isn't the most stout run defender, but the 49ers drafted for that last year with Mykel Williams, and Lawrence could find his role as someone who solely tees off on the quarterback.
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