It’s draft day, folks. The San Francisco 49ers are locked and loaded with six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, starting off with the No. 27 pick in the first round.
The 49ers don’t have many picks in the draft, holding a first-round pick, second-round pick, and four fourth-round picks, but where they’re positioned gives them ammunition to move both up and down the board.
At No. 27, there’ve been quite a few positions mocked to the 49ers, but the most common have been offensive line, defensive line, and
wide receiver, which are three of San Francisco’s needs heading into the draft.
With the draft upon us, let’s rank San Francisco’s priorities throughout the draft and see what they should come out of the weekend with.
Honorable Mention: Defensive Tackle
It would not be a surprise at all for the 49ers to target a defensive tackle in this draft. They could use a fourth rotational piece in the room behind Osa Odighizuwa, Alfred Collins, and C.J. West to play in 2025, and they might target the position with one of those fourth-round picks.
But, I think there are also some positions where the 49ers do need more depth in this draft, which we’ll list below.
Honorable Mention: Safety
To be honest, I should probably have safety higher on this list. The 49ers did not have great play there in 2025. The only difference is that the room has quite a bit of depth heading into the draft with Malik Mustapha, Ji’Ayir Brown, and Marques Sigle in the room, which might deter them from the targeting the position this offseason.
All three of those guys are younger and San Francisco might bank on development there before re-evaluating next offseason.
No. 5: Running Back
Running back over defensive tackle might be a surprise. One, because the 49ers are likelier to target a defensive tackle in the earlier rounds.
But the 49ers need some running back depth, as they haven’t replaced Brian Robinson Jr. this offseason. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has said he wants to take the load off Christian McCaffrey this season, but the 49ers’ top options behind him right now are Jordan James and Isaac Guerendo.
I’d expect San Francisco to target a running back in this draft, and that’s why the position is at No. 5.
No. 4: Defensive End
I view defensive end and defensive tackle fairly similarly for the 49ers heading into the draft, but there is more of a need (and a likelihood) that San Francisco targets a defensive end early. There are some available defensive ends projected near the end of the first round, which would match need and BPA.
But, San Francisco also has more uncertainty at the position. Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are coming off torn ACLs, and the 49ers didn’t replace Bryce Huff yet this offseason. They could get more pass-rush juice there.
No. 3: Wide Receiver
Like the positions listed above, the 49ers have starters entrenched at wide receiver. San Francisco signed Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in the offseason, while Ricky Pearsall should start again in Year 3.
But, there isn’t reliable depth behind them. Demarcus Robinson underwhelmed last year, while Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins haven’t been healthy.
Moreover, Evans and Kirk are older receivers who aren’t the future for the 49ers. So, adding a player that that can produce in a reserve role this year while taking over in the future would be ideal.
No. 2: Offensive Tackle
The 49ers don’t need a starter at tackle with Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz back. But with Williams heading into his age-38 season, finding an offensive tackle of the future seems like more of a priority than ever.
That, paired with the idea that there is a tackle drop-off after the top group this year and the 49ers could have options at No. 27, make the position more of a priority heading into the draft.
Add in the fact that the tackle selected could play guard in Year 1, and there’s even more of a priority there at the position.
No. 1: Offensive Guard
The 49ers aren’t probably targeting a guard in Round 1. But that is their biggest hole on the roster, as they don’t have a penciled-in starter there for 2025. And general manager John Lynch said that the team will look to add at the position in the draft.
The 49ers don’t have a solution at left guard following the departures of Aaron Banks, Ben Bartch, and Spencer Burford over the last few offseasons. This offseason, they’ve made a couple of minor signings, but there still needs to be more there at guard.
That’s where the draft comes in.
