While many NFL mock drafts come from a place of thoughtful insight, ESPN senior NFL writer Bill Barnwell’s “All-Trades Mock Draft” comes from somewhere entirely diff– let’s just call it what it is… weird.
In Barnwell’s annual mock draft, he proposes trades for all 32 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft’s first round. His focus for the 49ers? Trading up to snag a wide receiver.
San Francisco currently is positioned in the No. 27 slot, but Barnwell’s trade, which also would send two fourth-round picks (No. 127 and 133) to the Philadelphia Eagles, would give the 49ers the No. 23 spot.
Barnwell explained his reasoning, stating it is due to the team needing to get ahead of multiple wide receiver-needy teams.
“In this scenario, they’re trying to jump teams that are thinking about edge talents and wide receivers.” Barnwell writes. “The Eagles aren’t in the market for a wideout (yet), but the Browns, Bears and Bills could all at least look toward options at wide receiver.”
The 49ers, who traded Deebo Samuel Sr. last offseason, are expected to move on from Brandon Aiyuk, who missed all of the 2025 NFL season, as well. San Francisco did, however, go out and sign veteran receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk this offseason.
“The 49ers could move up here for someone such as Washington receiver Denzel Boston, who could serve as a valuable YAC producer and eventual Mike Evans replacement on the outside in San Francisco,” writes Barnwell.
In NBC Sports Bay Area Matt Maiocco’s NFL Mock Draft 4.0, he has the Chicago Bears, one of the teams Barnwell mentioned above, taking Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. with the No. 25 pick and Boston going No. 32 overall to the division rival Seattle Seahawks.
There likely will be more scenarios that involve the 49ers moving around in the draft, largely due to their overflow of fourth-round picks, which they have four total – three compensatory.
With the calendar flipping to April just days ago, NFL draft season is officially upon us.
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