Draft week is around the corner, which means all those mocks, speculation, and anything else has a lingering expiration date. It feels like the San Francisco 49ers have been doing a lot in the 2026 offseason. Every other week it’s another player signing, researching a substation, or anything else.
What would you say their top three priorities are heading into the draft? Over at NFL.com, Kevin Patra put together each team’s priorities heading into Draft Week. Here’s what he has for the 49ers:
- Find more sacks
- Figure out left tackle for 2026 and beyond
- Bring in some young blood at receiver
As for
the reasoning:
The 49ers generated just 20 sacks last season, three fewer than Myles Garrett recorded by himself. Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams will be back, but with both coming off serious injury, this is a pressure unit that desperately needs depth. Trent Williams’ contract standoff continues to linger. The club keeps expressing its strong belief that something eventually will get done, but this situation merits watching. It doesn’t help the Niners’ position that they currently have no viable succession plan at LT, and Williams knows it. Drafting a potential long-term replacement should be a consideration, depending on how the board falls on Day 1. Adding Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency quelled some of the immediate need at receiver, but adding young talent to the room for the long term remains necessary.
The first two can be interchangeable as far as order of importance and I can’t disagree with either. I think I’ve been harping on this one since the season ended. If I have to pick order of importance, for immediate need I’d say getting the defensive line and sacks. For seasons past 2026, left tackle might edge out sack importance for the longer term.
The wide receiver young blood I agree with, but I also am holding out hope that Ricky Pearsall can play a full season and Jordan Watkins can get on the field to show us what he has. I think it’s somewhat of a priority, but I have something else:
Get the entire offensive line figured out.
Sure, left tackle is a priority, and maybe Colton McKivitz is the answer on the right side, but center, guard, that seems like something that really needs consistency. Unless they have plans with Brett Toth/Robert Jones.
That said, they got wide receiver figured out for a season, but after that, who knows what happens. So young blood at that position is a necessity. I just think I’d place it at No. 4—but that’s just me.
What are your three priorities heading into Draft Week?
