The 49ers hold the 27th pick in the first round Thursday night. Kirby Lee / Imagn Images
April 23, 2026 6:00 am EDT
The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night with six picks over the three-day event.
The 49ers are looking for the perfect mix of veterans and younger players, and they’ve definitely doubled down on the older part, adding Mike Evans and Christian Kirk among other free agents this offseason. Now, they can inject some youth from the draft, preferably on the defensive and offensive lines and at receiver.
General manager John Lynch said it’s a deep draft at those positions, which might be one reason he seems reluctant to sign veteran pass rusher and friend of the family Joey Bosa. It’s the clearest need, and it would be a shock if the 49ers didn’t add a pass rusher in the first two rounds (remember, they don’t have a third-round pick, for now).
Fans would love the 49ers to address the offensive line, but Lynch extended Trent Williams for two years, talked up new swing tackle Vederian Lowe and has already brought in former Dolphins guard Robert Jones. It seems as if they will probably wait to add a guard or tackle prospect until Day 3, when they have three fourth-round picks.
The 49ers have added a receiver in eight of nine drafts under this regime. Evans and Kirk signed short-term deals, and Jacob Cowing is still a mystery, so Lynch and Kyle Shanahan could grab one earlier than you might think if they fall in love.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for grades and analysis of each 49ers pick.
Round 1
No. 27
Round 2
No. 58
Round 3
No picks
Round 4
No. 127
No. 133 (compensatory)
No. 138 (compensatory)
No. 139 (compensatory)
Round 5
No picks
Round 6
No picks
Round 7
No picks
Apr 23, 2026
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