What will the San Francisco 49ers do with their first three picks?
The following exercise asks a slightly different question: What can they do with those picks?
The following six scenarios take into account the team’s biggest needs and the prospects who are likely to be available when the 49ers pick. It’s a version of something we did last year when, after the franchise parted ways with veterans Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins and Leonard Floyd, it became clear the team was going to restock its defensive line in the draft.
And they did. In fact, one of our scenarios predicted two of the 49ers’ first four 2025 draft picks.
It might be a little tougher to predict their initial picks this year because the roster holes aren’t quite as prominent, and their draft position isn’t quite as good. But if you look closely, the roster deficiencies are there, especially at the following spots:
• Edge. There are several reasons why this should be a priority. The team’s current starters, Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, are both coming back from ACL tears. For Bosa, it’s the third of his career and the second to his right knee. The 49ers also currently lack the type of roughly 245-pound edge rusher that incoming defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has used effectively in the past. Fortunately, this year’s draft happens to be deep in edge talent.
• Wide receiver. Yes, the 49ers added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency. Both, however, are essentially on one-year deals, while the other wideouts on the roster are unproven. That group combined for one touchdown in 2025, Demarcus Robinson’s score in Week 16. The draft is also deep at wide receiver.
• Offensive line. This is the “Great Pumpkin” position for 49ers fans. Every April, they hope this will be the year the team uses a top pick on a tackle, and most of the time, they end up disappointed. At the recent NFL owners meeting, San Francisco general manager John Lynch said the left guard spot is “wide open” and suggested the team could draft a player to compete there. The team also has no heir apparent for 37-year-old left tackle Trent Williams.
The 49ers’ six picks in the upcoming draft:
Round 1 – No. 27 overall
Round 2 – No. 58 overall
Round 4 – No. 127 overall
Round 4 – No. 133 overall (compensatory)
Round 4 – No. 138 overall (compensatory)
Round 4 – No. 139 overall (compensatory)
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) April 6, 2026
Scenario A
First round, No. 27: DE/OLB Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
If Howell’s arms were 33 inches long, there’s no way he’d drop this far. He’s too quick and was too productive last season, with 11 1/2 sacks in the SEC. As it happens, his levers are far stubbier than that; they were measured at 30 1/4 inches at the combine. That might cause him to slip into Morris’ arms (sorry), allowing the Niners to run more five-man fronts and to have a promising pass-rush package of Howell, Bosa, Mykel Williams and Osa Odighizuwa.
Second round, No. 58: WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
Bernard isn’t a blazer. Instead, he’s more of a multi-tool receiver who Kyle Shanahan could line up all over the formation, including in the backfield. Bernard has good size (6-1, 206) and good quickness, plus he gains yards after the catch, a missing element for San Francisco in 2025. Nearly 400 of Bernard’s 862 receiving yards came after the catch, and he scored two rushing touchdowns.
Fourth round, No. 127: T Drew Shelton, Penn State
A former basketball player, Shelton has the quick feet the 49ers want in their tackles. He might be a better pass protector than run blocker at this stage of his development, but playing behind Williams for a year or two would give him an opportunity to improve his strength and learn from a future Hall of Famer.
Scenario B
First round, No. 27: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Boston is a big, physical receiver who could immediately fill the “power slot” position at which Jauan Jennings excelled. He could also eventually replace Evans as the team’s X receiver. Shanahan and wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson will appreciate Boston’s run blocking from the receiver spot, something Shanahan said must improve if the offense is to generate the kind of explosive runs that were missing in 2025.
Second round: No. 58: T Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
Tiernan has logged a lot of snaps at both tackle positions and will enter the NFL with a high floor. Though he stands 6-8, his arms are short for the position — 32 1/4 inches — and some observers think he might be best at guard. With the 49ers, he could potentially play left guard early in his career before eventually moving to tackle.
Fourth round, No. 127: DE/OLB Romello Height, Texas Tech
At less than 240 pounds, Height is too slight to be an every-down edge player. But he’s exceptionally quick, had 10 sacks last season and is comfortable dropping into coverage. The 49ers must add more variety to their pass rush, and Height would help in that regard.
Scenario C
First round, No. 27: T Blake Miller, Clemson
Miller is no mauler. Instead, he’s tall, long-levered (34 1/4-inch arms) and light on his feet. The knock on him is that he mostly played right tackle at Clemson and is not a dominant run blocker, though that might not be as severe a drawback in the 49ers’ zone-blocking system.
Second round, No. 58: DE/OLB Malachi Lawrence, UCF
The 49ers will likely have some options at this spot in the second round, including Auburn’s Keyron Crawford, Michigan’s Jaishawn Barham and Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton. Lawrence, however, might be the best of the bunch in terms of his ability to rush the passer (7 sacks in 2025) and drop into coverage (3 pass breakups).
Fourth round, No. 127: WR Ja’Kobi Lane, USC
Lane’s height (6-4), leaping ability (40-inch vertical jump) and big hands (10 1/2 inches) make him an exceptional red-zone threat, and he has scored 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons. His long stride and lack of suddenness, however, could cause him to drop far enough for the 49ers to draft him late in the fourth round.
Scenario D
First round, No. 27: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Concepcion often gets mocked to the 49ers because of his strong separation skills and ability after the catch, both of which are reminiscent of soon-to-be former 49er Brandon Aiyuk. He’s also a dangerous punt returner, a role that became a need for San Francisco when Skyy Moore signed with the Green Bay Packers in free agency.
Second round, No. 58: OLB/DE Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Like Lawrence, Barham is a player you’d rarely have to take off the field. He’s accustomed to being an off-the-ball linebacker, though his physical profile — 6-3, 240 pounds, with violent hands — suggests he could also excel as a pass rusher.
Fourth round, No. 127: C/G Brian Parker II, Duke
Parker played tackle in college, but he’s probably better suited to stay on the interior in the NFL because of a lack of length (32 7/8-inch arms). The 49ers could throw him into the competition at left guard this season with an eye toward moving him to center when Jake Brendel, 33, moves on.
Scenario E
First round, No. 27: T Caleb Lomu, Utah
Lomu’s 4.99-second 40-yard dash at 6-6, 313 underscores his footspeed and speaks to his potential fit in the 49ers’ offense. Like some of the tackles mentioned above, he needs to work on his power and run blocking. Using a first-round pick on an ascending tackle might be a wise move, considering the team could have him on a rookie contract for five years.
Second round, No. 58: WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State
There should be some intriguing wide receiver options at this spot, including Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt, Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II, UConn’s Skyler Bell, Louisville’s Chris Bell and Ole Miss’ De’Zhaun Stribling. Hurst, however, may offer the most upside of the group. He’s tall (6-4) and has the swivel-style hips that Shanahan has coveted in previous 49ers receivers.
Fourth round, No. 127: DE/OLB Trey Moore, Texas
Moore’s lack of elite traits will likely make him a Day 3 pick. Still, his smarts, consistency and effort suggest he could be a worthy fourth-round choice. At minimum, he has the makings of a special teams stalwart who could replace Robert Beal Jr., who signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, on coverage and return units.
Scenario F
First round, No. 27: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
You might consider Cooper a cross between Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. He has Aiyuk’s body control and leaping ability, and he fights through tackles like Samuel. Though he’s not as hefty as Samuel, Cooper is rugged enough to log a few plays in the backfield each week.
Second round, No. 58: G Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Dunker played right tackle at Iowa, but his lack of quickness likely makes him a guard at the NFL level. He’s thickly built, is accustomed to zone blocking and has an A+ personality that ought to make him a strong — and funny — locker room fit with George Kittle.
Fourth round, No. 127: DE/OLB Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
Josephs is the opposite of Howell (from Scenario A). He’s got excellent length, including 34 1/4-inch arms and 10-inch hands. He doesn’t possess Howell’s bend or production, though, having recorded 5 1/2 sacks over the past two seasons. He is likely to be selected early on Day 3.
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