The San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to pick at the end of the first round at the moment.
The day has finally come. The 2024 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin later on Thursday evening, and the San Francisco 49ers are returning to the first round for the first time since 2021, when they moved up to select quarterback Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick.
Ahead of the draft, general manager John Lynch acknowledged that the team doesn’t really have many glaring needs, adding more uncertainty as to what the 49ers could do on Day 1, as they’re scheduled to pick at No. 31.
Will the 49ers remain at No. 31 or will San Francisco look to move up, or even down, as they look to bolster the roster this season?
Staying pat
While trade-up and trade-down scenarios will likely be floating throughout draft night, the 49ers could very well just stay pat.
It feels like this scenario is the least favorable of the three heading into the draft because the 49ers have 22 first-round grades, according to general manager John Lynch, meaning that they may not be taking a first-round caliber player on their board if they don’t move up from No. 31.
Additionally, being that they’re at the end of the first round, the 49ers could be a prime trade-back team, with many teams looking to move back into the top round with hopes of selecting a player and getting that coveted fifth-year option, which may require parting ways with extra capital than initially expected.
But, if the 49ers stay put, they should have a variety of options at their disposal, allowing them to take the best player available.
At this spot, defensive back, offensive tackle, wide receiver, and defensive tackle should all have options, which gives San Francisco the opportunity to take their preference on their board.
Trading up
As I mentioned above, the 49ers have 22 first-round grades in this class, and they could look to move up and get “their guy”, potentially moving up in the 20s to get the player of their choice.
A position that makes sense when it comes to a trade-up is offensive linemen, as this class is especially strong in that department in the first round, and San Francisco could get a bookend piece for the future, be it on the interior or at tackle.
With a weaker class in the later rounds, the 49ers could look to part ways with one of their three fourth-rounders and get a better player with one of their earlier picks as they hope to find an impact player in Year 1.
Elsewhere, San Francisco could also look to the secondary, hoping to get one of the top cornerbacks in the class to fill out their secondary, which has an opening for a starting role.
The question comes as to how far the 49ers are able to move up in order to get their guy and which players fall in the class. If quarterbacks go earlier than expected, this could come to fruition.
Trade back
Trading back might be my favorite move of the three, as it feels that San Francisco won’t have a first-round player available on their board when it comes to No. 31.
They should field significant interest for the pick, as several teams could be looking to move up to secure a receiver, offensive tackle, or even quarterback at the end of the first round.
In addition, San Francisco could get a surplus for the pick, providing them with even more ammunition heading into the second round, where they could execute a trade-up with their capital to maximize those first few rounds where the talent is high.
The 49ers should trade back if there are several similarly-graded players on their board at No. 31, as they look to operate with a best-player-available mentality.
That way, they can acquire extra capital, while also getting one of the top players on their board to start the draft.
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