The 49ers are forever in win-now mode, and the Super Bowl remains a realistic goal. All the more if the football powers that be grant them good fortune on the health front.
That was not the case last year, when a devastating slew of injuries nearly sabotaged their season. The fact that they scrambled to win 12 games and secure a playoff berth is a testament to their leadership under general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan.
Ultimately, that attrition battle cost them in the postseason, where they met their demise in a blowout loss to their NFC West rival Seahawks, who eventually won the Super Bowl.
Credit to Lynch and Shanahan for an aggressive offseason that reeled in wide receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, re-added linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and brought in defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa in a trade.
There is still some work to do, though. With the draft looming, here are three remaining needs:
Wide receiver
It wasn’t too long ago that the 49ers’ wide receiver room was as good as any in the NFL. But attrition and the harsh realities of the salary cap have changed all that.
Deebo Samuel is long gone, and Brandon Aiyuk and the club remain in divorce court. What was once a strength is a question mark.
They head into next season with a pair of short-term veteran hired guns in Evans and Kirk, both of whom can stabilize the room and deliver production for at least one season.
But neither represents a long-term solution.
Whether it’s in the first or second round, the 49ers would be wise to add a young prospect they can count on as a future pillar.
What this year’s draft class lacks in superstar potential at wide receiver is made up for with unusual depth. It’s not hard to envision eventual impact starters being available throughout the first three rounds.
With the 49ers holding just six draft picks, albeit all within the first four rounds, they are in a good position to add a premium player.
Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and USC’s Makai Lemon will almost assuredly be off the board when the 49ers execute their first-round pick at No. 27.
Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and Washington’s Denzel Boston could be options at that point in the draft. All three would fit well in Shanahan’s offense.
In the second and third rounds, Alabama’s Germie Bernard, Georgia’s Zachariah Branch, Clemson’s Antonio Williams, Louisville’s Chris Bell, Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields, Oklahoma’s Deion Burks and UConn’s Skyler Bell are all options.
Edge rusher
Veteran Nick Bosa and second-year prospect Mykel Williams, whom the 49ers selected in the first round last year, both missed significant time with knee injuries last year. The club is hopeful that both will be back healthy in 2026. If so, they should be in good shape off the edge.
At least with their starting group.
But with pass-rush pressure so critical to the success of a defense, and the 49ers producing a paltry 20 sacks last season, you have to imagine they will look to add more speed and playmaking off the edge.
Drafting at the back end of the first round puts them out of reach for one of the premier pass rushers, and it might be too early to pull the trigger on Auburn’s Keldric Faulk or Missouri’s Zion Young.
However, if the 49ers feel that strongly about defensive end and are worried about a second-round run at that position depriving them of a desired target, they might have to be aggressive in the first round.
If they wait until Day 2, Illinois’ Gabe Jacas is an intriguing prospect with upside. UFC’s Malachi Lawrence, whom the 49ers hosted this week on a top-30 visit, would be a great pickup in the second round as well.
Michigan’s Jaishawn Barham and Derrick Moore, Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton and Texas Tech’s Romello Height are options should the 49ers trade up into the third round, or in the fourth round.
Offensive line
No matter what happens on a new contract for Trent Williams, the 49ers have to start pondering life without their star left tackle, who turns 38 in July.
They could also use upgrades and depth inside.
Shanahan and Lynch have used the first round to select an offensive lineman just one time since taking over in 2017. Whether that’s philosophically driven or by happenstance, this could be the year that changes.
Utah’s Caleb Lomu, Clemson’s Blake Miller and Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor could be options in the first round. All the better if Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor fell to them.
Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan and Missouri’s Keagen Trost are options in the second and fourth rounds.
The 49ers could double up along the offensive line with their picks in rounds 1-2 to pick up a pair of long-range tackles and guards.
Among the interior linemen to keep an eye on within that range are Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis and Trey Zuhn III, Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon, Iowa’s Gennings Dunker, Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge, Kansas State’s Sam Hecht and Auburn’s Connor Lew.
