2020 NFL Draft: Breaking Down San Francisco 49ers’ Day 2 Options

The San Francisco 49ers headed into Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft with two specific goals in mind. Pick up at least one foundational player in the initial round and add extra mid-round picks.

At least according to head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, one of these goals was met.

San Francisco added stud defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw in the first round (14th) overall after trading down one spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s an immediate replacement for recently-traded All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Picking up a much-needed fourth-round selection was big here.

Though, the 49ers went against the MO many believed they had in place for the draft later Thursday evening. They dealt the 31st overall pick, the fourth-round pick acquired in the earlier trade and a fifth-rounder to Minnesota for the rights to select Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at No. 25.

Shanahan had him as the top receiver in the draft and was open to selecting the former Sun Devil star 13th overall. Even then, this move leaves the 49ers without much more to work with as the 2020 NFL Draft continues on Friday.

As of right now, San Francisco will not be making a pick in Round 2-4. It has just one selection in each of the final three rounds after trading away the second of its two seventh-round picks in the deal with Tampa Bay.

Without a selection on Friday, one has to wonder how the 49ers are going to be able to fill holes and add depth to their roster.

There’s some decent news on this front. No one can say with a straight face that San Francisco is going to go three-plus rounds without making a pick. It will have at least one selection when all is said and done on Friday. Given how much veteran 49ers players have been linked in trade scenarios, look for a few to come to fruition here in the next several hours. Here’s a look at the possibilities.

Matt Breida

Set to earn $3.3 million this season after signing his restricted free-agent tender, Breida has been bandied about as a potential trade piece. At issue here is the fact that only one running back went in the first round on Thursday. Jonathan Taylor, J.K. Dobbins and D’Andre Swift are all available. This leads me to believe the most San Francisco can get for Breida would be a fifth-round pick.

Marquise Goodwin

Lynch noted on Thursday prior to the draft that San Francisco was close to trading Goodwin. As of early Friday afternoon, nothing had come to fruition on this end. Though, there’s very little hope that the 49ers can add anything more than a sixth-round pick for Goodwin. Expect a trade to go through on Saturday, if it happens.

Tevin Coleman

As with Breida, Coleman’s value might have taken a hit due to only one running back going in the first round. Things are complicated further by the fact that he’s set to count nearly $5 million against the cap in 2020. At this point, the expectation has to be that San Francisco retains Coleman and looks to trade Breida. More value in going that route.

Dante Pettis

It now seems to be a foregone conclusion that Pettis will be moved at some point in the next two days. He fell out of favor last season, but still boasts a tremendous amount of upside. Unlike the three players listed above, San Francisco could potentially get a Day 2 pick for the former Washington star. With Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne slotted in as the 49ers’ top-three receivers, there doesn’t seem to be much room for this former second-round pick on the roster.

Jaquiski Tartt

A player bandied about as trade bait in the days leading up to the draft, Tartt is the 49ers’ most valuable asset on the block. He should be able to net them a third-round pick, at worst, in a trade. The impending free agent yielded less than 100 receiving yards last season.

There’s every reason to believe at least two of these players will be moved for draft pick assets over the next two days. San Francisco targeted two players in the first round and nabbed each one.

The onus is now on general manager John Lynch to work the phones and add the mid-round picks this team desperately needs. If that means potentially giving up a selection next year, so be it.

San Francisco’s two picks on Thursday proved this team is in win-now mode. It replaced two high-priced veterans with cheaper alternatives who can start out of the gate.

Don’t expect the next three rounds to play out without the 49ers picking at least once. That’s not happening.