Disappointing loss to the Seahawks aside, it cannot be understated what a great effort there was with both the 49ers coaches and the players to make it this far. The attention turns now to what can the team do to get back to the playoffs.
The San Francisco 49ers may have been bundled out of the playoffs by the score of 41-6 to the Seattle Seahawks, but don't let that fool you about what a herculean effort it was to get to the Divisional Round of the playoffs to begin with.
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Injury after injury befell the Niners, and they were expected to go quietly into the good night and not even make the playoffs in such a tough division. The 49ers didn't read the script, though, and fought hard every week through tougher and tougher injury reports.
They even made sure not to be just among the numbers, taking out the Philadelphia Eagles in a big upset.
Was the loss disappointing? Sure. But don't let it make you think it was a failure either. San Francisco had to reload after a lot of offseason departures.
And for the most part, it held up well.
But now attention turns to the offseason coming up and if San Francisco can get more weapons onto the roster for a big push for next season.
With that in mind, here are five prospects the 49ers could consider with their first-round pick, which is slated to go at No. 27 overall.
Kayden McDonald, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State
First thing to address on the defensive side of the ball will be to bolster the run defense and pass-rush some more. Having EDGE Mykel Williams back will help in both regards, but San Francisco needs to find more help on the interior next to Alfred Collins.
Kayden McDonald could be a strong fit in the 49ers defense, and he showed that with some truly incredible tape for Ohio State. He fills up space as a tremendous run-defender who can push along interior linemen. He can absorb double teams and stand his ground. Like Williams, his immediate impact will be felt in the ground game, making it tougher for the Niners to run against.
As a pass-rusher, McDonald needs a bit more refinement. He possesses the strength and power, complemented by his 6-foot-3, 326-pound frame, but he lacks the agility.
Time in an NFL program will help refine that deficiency, while his ground defense will ensure he's a Week 1 starter.
KC Concepcion, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M
Brandon Aiyuk quit the team and is gone, Ricky Pearsall can't stay healthy and Jauan Jennings is a great player to have on the roster but isn't exactly a No. 1 receiver.
The 49ers need to find someone who can be a reliable weapon.
KC Concepcion is an amazing route runner with shifty speed and the ability to generate yards after the catch, which is a must for the 49ers system, where the skill to operate and get free into open space is a must.
Concepcion had 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns for Texas A&M this season as they finished with a spot in the College Football Playoffs. His tape shows some incredible ability to make defenders miss and look embarrassing with the ball in his hands, and the ability to do so in some big moments.
Concepcion is one of the more underrated players in this draft class. His ability to run amazing routes and find holes in zone coverages, his ability after the catch and his versatility to play in the slot and outside as well make him a dream fit as the offense looks to find a way to reload.
Concepcion is a little limited physically at 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds, but don't let that scare you off; he's not there to stretch the field or be a physical receiver. He's there to make those plays in the open field that 49ers fans rememebr fondly in recent years.
Emmanuel Pregnon, Guard, Oregon
Offensive line is never the sexiest option when it comes to the NFL Draft, but I think it goes without saying that the 49ers need both reinforcements in the interior line as well as someone to be the heir to Trent Williams (more on that later with the final two prospects).
Emmanuel Pregnon is a hard worker who's gone from a two-star prospect out of high school to a much vaunted member of the Oregon offensive line. Pregnon came to the attention of scouts in 2024 when he went all year without a sack playing at left guard for USC.
Pregnon transferred to Oregon for his final season and didn't disappoint, finishing as an All-American for an Oregon team among the most dynamic on offense for the season and cementing himself as a possible first-round pick.
Pregnon is a good physical specimen at 6-foot-5 and 318 pounds. What he brings to the table is experience, some eye-catching technique and strength, as well as exposure against NFL-caliber defensive linemen in college.
Pregnon is an enforcer in the run game and a brick wall on passing downs as well. His ability to be strong in all points of the game makes him a plug-and-play starter from Week 1.
While Pregnon isn't versatile and seems rooted to guard for the pro game, sometimes the safe pick is the best one. He's someone who should be available for the 49ers late on Thursday night.
Caleb Lomu, Offensive Tackle, Utah
It's not a shock to see a tackle here, because San Francisco desperately needs to find someone at the position for the long term. While Caleb Lomu isn't seen as a home-run swing for the position for reasons we'll get into below, he has true franchise left tackle potential that might be available either at the 49ers' pick or maybe for a small trade higher into the 20s.
The main knock on Lomu is that he needs to fill out his frame. He's 6-foot-6, which is good for a left tackle, but he's listed at a relatively lean 304 pounds. Lomu needs to get bigger for the NFL, as that size won't cut it for a pro career.
He also has a bit to work on. His run blocking is behind his pass blocking right now, and unlike Pregnon, he doesn't have the experience as just a single-year starter for Utah.
But where Lomu is exciting is the potential. His athletic ability is off the charts, with his movement looking more like a tight end than an offensive tackle. Despite his size, he's been a strong blindside blocker thanks to a good football IQ that lets him diagnose defensive schemes, and while he needs to get bigger in the NFL, he still does have the strength.
If Lomu were 30 pounds heavier and a bit stouter in the run game, he would be a top prospect. The key thing, though, is these are issues that can be addressed. He has the frame, the intelligence and the freak athleticism to be a franchise left tackle.
If all it takes is a call to go up a handful of picks, the 49ers should be picking up the phone.
Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Kadyn Proctor is a boom-or-bust prospect who is divisive among fans, which has seen his draft range differ quite a bit.
His fans will point to his big 6-foot-7, 366-pound frame, his ability to be an excellent run blocker with his violence at the point of attack, and his surprising niftiness, combining to make him an ideal prospect for a team crying out for help in the trenches.
Detractors look at his reliance on raw power over ideal technique, his lack of elite conditioning and the question of whether he loves football or just money after a very public transfer saga that made him the embodiment of concerns over the modern college football landscape being dominated by NIL money.
Maybe Proctor is a little overrated (some people think he's a top-10 prospect, which feels incredibly over the odds for him), but the elite tools are there for a team that has the patience to mold him. He doesn't need to start at tackle right away, but can either learn as a backup or at guard behind Trent Williams for a year or two.
If Proctor can show his willingness to learn in the more subtle nuances of the art of blocking, his incredible size and surprising athleticism can make him a big steal if he slides into the back of the round.
If he is available when the 49ers due to pick, he makes a lot of sense.