Draft day is finally here but, with the 49ers picking 27th overall in the first round, it’s going to be a long wait to learn the identity of the newest member of the San Francisco roster.
We may even have to wait until Friday if the noises about the Niners potentially trading down prove accurate.
If they stay put, then the 49ers’ first-round pick looks set to be a question of once again going with a wide receiver or defensive lineman versus building for the future on the offensive line in a departure
from San Francisco’s typical approach to its premium picks.
I weighed in on this debate recently, and now I’m planting my flag with my only 49ers mock draft of this year’s cycle, which was a little easier to put together with the Niners having only six picks at their disposal.
Happy Draft Day!
Round 1, Pick 27 – Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
I picked Cooper in the SB Nation community mock draft and I stand by that selection, though the 49ers would be fortunate to see him slide into their path.
He is a perfect fit for what Kyle Shanahan wants at wide receiver. He’s a smooth and explosive route-runner who boasts great change of direction and stop-start quickness. Cooper’s significant YAC upside and threat as a downfield weapon would quickly make him a favorite of Brock Purdy, with his potential as a ball-carrying threat out of the backfield making him an excellent candidate to fill the void left by Deebo Samuel.
Round 2, Pick 58 – Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
Dennis-Sutton isn’t a name to have been connected with the 49ers, but he checks the boxes for an outside pass rusher in San Francisco’s system.
He boasts an outstanding get-off and true knock back power, which he complements with a well-refined repertoire moves.
Dennis-Sutton compares well athletically to Danielle Hunter, and he is a pass rusher who moves in a similar way, with a spin move an effective part of his arsenal.
With 25 tackles for loss and 17 sacks over the last two seasons, Dennis-Sutton has a strong track record of production but with plenty of room to grow, especially in the run game. He would be a good value pick at this point in the second round.
Round 4, Pick 127 – Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri
A 49ers top-30 visit, McClellan shone at the Combine as a defensive tackle with the physical gifts to give the 49ers’ interior pass rush a much-needed boost.
McClellan led the defensive tackle class in Sports Info Solutions’ ‘total points’ metric as a pass rusher, having finished 2025 with six sacks.
A player who wins in large part because of how he makes the most of his arm length, McClellan boasts plenty of untapped upside as a pass rusher and is effective enough against the run to earn early base down snaps as a rookie.
Round 4, Pick 133 – Jack Endries, TE, Texas
A native of Danville, CA, who transferred to Texas from Cal, Endries returning to the Bay Area would make a lot of sense.
The 49ers’ need for a George Kittle heir apparent has been clear for a while, and there’s plenty in Endries’ game to suggest he can blossom into a consistent contributor.
Endries is a very experienced blocker who, much like Kittle at Iowa, had a limited role as a receiver in his lone season at Texas.
But he has the size and athleticism to separate from defenders and has proven himself a very dependable pass-catcher (See below for Endries’ performance in the gauntlet, which Shanahan is on record as valuing highly).
Endries projects well as a player the 49ers could rely on in the blocking game and provide a consistent threat as a receiver.
Round 4, Pick 138 – Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
Though the 49ers added Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones to their cornerback room, they would benefit from bolstering their depth further with a prospect they can develop.
Demmings fits the bill, he is still raw in zone coverage but blends impressive physical traits with strong play in man coverage and excellent ball skills.
With his competitive nature, Demmings could immediately be an asset for the 49ers on special teams while giving them another option at boundary corner.
Round 4, Pick 139 – J.C. Davis, T, Illinois
With over 2,000 snaps at left tackle in three seasons at Illinois, Davis has the kind of experience the 49ers have recently coveted among their draft picks.
His addition would give the Niners a potential Trent Williams successor to develop, and one who has played a significant amount of his time blocking for zone runs.
Per SIS, the Illini averaged 5.6 yards per carry last season when running behind Davis, who would have the ideal mentor to help him outperform his draft status.
