This is the first in a three-part series analyzing the San Francisco 49ers\u2019 2020 \u201cdraft masterclass<\/a>.\u201d The Niners\u2019 draft has been ranked by analysts as one of the NFL\u2019s best<\/a>, although it takes years before a draft class can be properly assessed. So instead of merely grading these college talents before their first NFL snaps, we\u2019ll take a look at the 49ers\u2019 picks \u2014 and more importantly \u2014 the 49ers\u2019 process.<\/p>\n San Francisco\u2019s general manager John Lynch<\/a> and head coach Kyle Shanahan were full of surprises during the 2020 NFL Draft, beginning in the first round. Every 2020 mock draft was immediately ripped to shreds as the vast majority of fans and analysts expected the Niners to trade away one of their prized first-round picks for additional draft capital. Instead, the 49ers traded both of their Day 1 picks but ended the evening with just two players, and no selections for the second day of the draft.<\/p>\n Lynch and Shanahan started their \u201cdraft tradefest\u201d in a dream scenario: on the clock with the consensus top-2 wide receivers in the draft \u2014 Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb \u2014 on the board, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the phone. The Bucs wanted to move up a single spot to the No. 13 selection \u2014 the pick the receiver-needy 49ers obtained via their trade of star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner<\/a> \u2014 which would leave at least one of the two top receiver prospects on the board for San Francisco.<\/p>\n The two teams executed the trade, which scored the Niners a fouth-rounder in exchange for one of the 49ers\u2019 seventh-round picks. Minutes later, San Francisco was back on the clock, and both receivers were still on the board. But instead of taking advantage of the situation they lucked themselves into, the Lynch and Shanahan did what they seem to do every year \u2014 follow their collective gut or the opinion of a trusted contact outside the organization<\/a> \u2014 and drafted Buckner\u2019s hopeful replacement, South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw<\/a>:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Tuesday, Lynch spoke about the decision on FOX Sports\u2019 The Herd with Collin Cowherd<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cWe were incredibly comfortable with Will Muschamp because he gave us such an accurate depiction of Deebo Samuel last year. I didn\u2019t know Will. I met him once. But we called on Deebo and he hit all his strengths, but he also hit his, not really weaknesses, but just realities of who the person is. And he depicted Deebo so well, a year later I said, \u2018Kyle, we\u2019ve got to pick up the phone and call Will about Kinlaw because he was so darn honest.\u201d -John Lynch<\/p>\n Despite Muschamp\u2019s biased opinion of his former player, there\u2019s a lot to like about the raw Kinlaw:<\/p>\n The #49ers<\/a> took @JavonKinlaw<\/a> to fill a big hole in the defensive line.@BaldyNFL<\/a> breaks down what Kinlaw is bringing to the Bay Area. pic.twitter.com\/DsrfzEXWTS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Fourth and Nine (@fourth_nine) April 24, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Standing at 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, he is shorter and stouter than his predecessor. And surprisingly, given his massive size, the DT has proven to be a better defender against the pass than the run. In 2019, Kinlaw received a 90.7 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus<\/a> (PFF), despite logging just six sacks during the season, and 10 only sacks over his three-year college career:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since there are no easy games in the NFL, the 49ers hope they drafted the overpowering and productive version of Kinlaw and not the version who disappeared when South Carolina faced weaker opponents.<\/p>\n Bonkers play by Kinlaw. Straight through the center\u2019s chest, then runs the loop to chase down Tua for the sack. Rare combo of power, length and athleticism. pic.twitter.com\/n2SjsehuPl<\/a><\/p>\n49ers Draft Pick No. 14: DT Javon Kinlaw<\/h3>\n
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\n <\/th>\n <\/th>\n Tackles<\/th>\n Def Int<\/th>\n Fumbles<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n \nYear<\/th>\n School<\/th>\n Conf<\/th>\n Class<\/th>\n Pos<\/th>\n G<\/th>\n Solo<\/th>\n Ast<\/th>\n Tot<\/th>\n Loss<\/th>\n Sk<\/th>\n Int<\/th>\n Yds<\/th>\n Avg<\/th>\n TD<\/th>\n PD<\/th>\n FR<\/th>\n Yds<\/th>\n TD<\/th>\n FF<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n *2017<\/a><\/th>\n South Carolina<\/a><\/td>\n SEC<\/a><\/td>\n SO<\/td>\n DL<\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n 12<\/td>\n 5<\/td>\n 17<\/td>\n 2.0<\/td>\n 0.0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n *2018<\/a><\/th>\n South Carolina<\/a><\/td>\n SEC<\/a><\/td>\n JR<\/td>\n DL<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 15<\/td>\n 15<\/td>\n 30<\/td>\n 9.0<\/td>\n 4.0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 5<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n2019<\/a><\/th>\n South Carolina<\/a><\/td>\n SEC<\/a><\/td>\n SR<\/td>\n DL<\/td>\n 12<\/td>\n 15<\/td>\n 20<\/td>\n 35<\/td>\n 6.0<\/td>\n 6.0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n \n Career<\/strong><\/th>\n South Carolina<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n 42<\/strong><\/td>\n 40<\/strong><\/td>\n 82<\/strong><\/td>\n 17.0<\/strong><\/td>\n 10.0<\/strong><\/td>\n 0<\/strong><\/td>\n 0<\/strong><\/td>\n <\/td>\n 0<\/strong><\/td>\n 8<\/strong><\/td>\n 4<\/strong><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n 3<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n \n