Nine spots await the 49ers in next month’s NFL draft.
Where, precisely? They’ll be on the clock in the …
First round: No. 12 overall
Second round: No. 43
Third round: No. 102
Fourth round: No. 117
Fifth round: Nos. 155, 172, 180
Sixth Round: No. 194
Seventh Round: No. 230
Let’s explain some things about those nine lives, which the NFL officially unveiled Friday:
A third-round pick was sent to Washington last year in the 49ers’ trade for left tackle Trent Williams, who’s since cost them a historic contract (six years, $138 million) to keep in free agency this year.
And a seventh-round pick was lost as part of the compensation to Philadelphia for last year’s trade of Marquise Goodwin, who was a COVID-19 opt-out and reverted to the 49ers’ roster last week. The Eagles had sent a 2020 sixth-round pick that the 49ers used on tight end Charlie Woerner; Goodwin got released promptly upon his return to the 49ers last week.
Aside from their original picks, the 49ers did acquire a fifth-rounder from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for Kwon Alexander, plus a seventh-rounder from the New York Jets as part of a deal to acquire Jordan Willis, who is now a free agent. Alexander, by the way, got released from the Saints and is also a free agent.
Keep in mind that none of last year’s five selections came in the 49ers’ original slots, seeing how general manager John Lynch likes to make a deal.
So, who do they pick? A month of wild speculation awaits before the draft commences April 29 in Cleveland.
Positions of most pressing needs: quarterback, slot receiver, offensive line, defensive end and cornerback.
Let the mock drafts commence.