The debate rages on for the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick amongst fans and analysts, and which position the team will address. The three positions are offensive line (tackle, specifically), wide receiver, and defensive line (EDGE, specifically). With the top-30 visits, team needs, and athletic profiles as a guide for a prediction, from one mock draft to the next, you can find a mixture of opinions.
Maybe history is the real clue to what the 49ers’ plans are in the first round?
During John Lynch’s
and Kyle Shanahan’s tenure, the 49ers have selected primarily defensive linemen or wide receivers, with one offensive lineman, one quarterback, and one linebacker pick each in the first round.
Offensive Line
The answer to the question is Mike McGlinchey in 2018. The next highest chosen offensive linemen are Aaron Banks in the second round in 2021 and Dominick Puni in the third round in 2025. If we’re using history, then it is unlikely the 49ers will use their first-round pick on a lineman. Is this part of the process, or have the 49ers not been in love with tackle prospects at their spot in the first round? It is also important to point out the years the team didn’t have a first-round pick because of the Trey Lance trade.
Still, the 49ers would have to break tradition to select a tackle at 27.
Defensive Line
If we’re looking at the most likely position to be addressed, then history points to the defensive line. Solomon Thomas, Nick Bosa, Javon Kinlaw, and Mykel Williams. Even in 2022, the 49ers used their first pick in the second round on Drake Jackson. Thomas, Bosa, Williams, and Kinlaw were top-15 picks. Now, at 27, the 49ers could sneak an EDGE, not a defensive tackle, in as the pick in the first round.
Wide Receivers
Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk headline the first round wide receivers. The 49ers have selected two wide receivers per draft class in five drafts under Lynch and Shanahan. The top-30 visits have primarily been receivers or EDGE rushers. Given history, it feels like it is down to those two positions, with a chance they go 1-2 with the first and second-round picks. KC Concepcion, Omar Cooper, Jr., or Denzel Boston should be in contention if all three are available at that spot.
