The San Francisco 49ers spent the first two weeks of free agency plugging holes in their lineup. But hold that roster to the light and you’ll still find a few gaps, which they aim to fill in next month’s draft.
Which positions still need help? Which players seem like good fits? Here’s a 49ers Big Board to help make sense of the names available.
Considering the team has picks in just three rounds — one in the first, one in the second and four in the fourth — we organized the board to highlight the ideal player who could be available in each of those rounds.
It’s possible the 49ers can get another late-round pick by dealing Brandon Aiyuk before or during the draft. That’s why the disgruntled wideout remains on their roster. Still, that pick may be in 2027 or it may not happen at all. So for now we’ll concentrate on prospects they can get with their six existing picks.
Edge rusher
After drafting a sturdy, pocket-collapsing defensive end last season in Mykel Williams, the 49ers — last in sacks in 2025 — need to find a pass-rush specialist. Perhaps the archetype is the Los Angeles Rams’ Byron Young, a third-rounder in 2023 when new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris held the same role with the Rams.
Round 1: Cashius Howell, Texas A&M. If his arms were an inch and half longer, there’d be no way he drops this far (27th pick). He’s quick, elastic and productive, and he looks comfortable when asked to drop into coverage.
Others: Akheem Mesidor, Miami; Zion Young, Missouri; T.J. Parker, Clemson; R. Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
Round 2: Jaishawn Barham, Michigan. Barham mostly played inside linebacker at Michigan but has the traits — length, speed, aggression — to be a versatile chess piece, including as an edge rusher. The second round might be early for Barham. But he seems ideal for a Morris-coached defense, and the 49ers no longer have a third-round pick.
Others: Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida; Derrick Moore, Michigan; Romello Height, Texas Tech; Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Round 4: Keyron Crawford, Auburn. Considering he was a basketball player until his senior year of high school, Crawford is a bit of a developmental prospect. Still, he took a leap last season at Auburn and still has room to grow.
Others: Trey Moore, Texas; Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
Wide receiver
The team isn’t finished adding at this position. Newcomers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk are essentially on one-year deals. And given the injury issues at this spot, the team could stand to add another receiver.
Round 1: Denzel Boston, Washington. Most mock drafts have Boston being snapped up a few slots before the 49ers’ pick. But if the big-bodied wideout is there, he could take over Jauan Jennings’ “big slot” role right away and then slide into Evans’ “X” receiver spot in the future.
Others: Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana; K.C. Concepcion, Texas A&M
Round 2: Germie Bernard, Alabama. Kyle Shanahan might be drawn to Cooper in Round 1 because of his versatility and physical, Deebo Samuel-esque running style. Bernard could be the second-round version of that, someone Shanahan could line up all over the formation, including in the backfield.
Others: Elijah Surratt, Indiana; Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee; Malachi Fields, Notre Dame; Chris Bell, Louisville; Skyler Bell, UConn
Round 4: Ted Hurst, Georgia State. Hurst has the fluid hips and sudden movement skills Shanahan’s sought in past prospects such as Dante Pettis and Ricky Pearsall. Questions about physicality and caliber of competition likely make him a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.
Others: Ja’Kobi Lane USC; De’Zhaun Stribbling, Ole Miss
Former Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor could be an apprentice to veteran 49ers tackle Trent Williams. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Offensive tackle
Will this be the draft in which the team finally finds the heir to Trent Williams’ left tackle throne? After last year’s draft, general manager John Lynch said the 49ers were eyeing tackles but other teams grabbed their targets first.
“There were a number of times Kyle and I were talking about (how) it just didn’t align — one of those deals and you don’t want to force things,” Lynch said.
An ideal — and perhaps unrealistic — scenario: Draft an offensive lineman who can compete at left guard in 2026 and take over at left tackle in the future.
Round 1: Max Iheanachor, Arizona State. Iheanachor is a massive man (6-feet-6, 321 pounds) who moves like someone 100 pounds lighter. He’d be a good apprentice to Williams, although all but two of his college snaps have come at right tackle. (The remaining two were at left guard.)
Others: Blake Miller, Clemson
Round 2: Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M. A recent convert from tight end, Crownover is a ball of clay in terms of development. Still, at 6-7, 310 and with 35 3/8-inch arms, there’s a lot of clay to work with. He’d be a quintessential boom-bust gamble in Round 2.
Others: Drew Shelton, Penn State; Kage Casey, Boise State
Round 4: Jude Bowry, Boston College. Bowry is athletic enough to handle zone blocking and has the power to knock defenders off the ball in gap scenarios. He figures to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.
Others: Austin Barber, Florida; J.C. Davis, Illinois
Guard
The 49ers have exactly one starting spot open at the moment: left guard. Connor Colby and Brett Toth are possibilities there. But neither is a slam dunk, and the 49ers could use another interior lineman for competition and depth.
Round 1: None. The 49ers haven’t used a first-round pick on a guard since Joshua Garnett in 2016.
Round 2: Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M. Bisontis might be gone by the time the 49ers are on the clock in Round 2 (pick No. 58). If not, he’d be someone to compete in — and be the favorite to win — a left-guard competition.
Others: Brian Parker II, Duke; Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech; Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Round 4: Beau Stephens, Iowa. Stephens has played a lot of snaps at left guard and is a strong blocker on zone runs. That combination likely will jump out to the 49ers if he’s around in Round 4.
Others: Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame; DJ Campbell, Texas
Defensive tackle
The 49ers like to have four defensive tackles in uniform on game days. As it stands, there are three obvious ones: Osa Odighizuwa, Alfred Collins and CJ West. Sebastian Valdez and Evan Anderson are possibilities for the fourth spot, but both were practice-squadders last year who never played a snap.
Round 1: None. It’s hard to see the 49ers drafting a defensive tackle in this spot considering the trade for Odighizuwa, the dearth of quality players in the first round and the team’s needs at other positions.
Round 2: Christen Miller, Georgia. He’d beef up the 49ers’ run defense and complement Odighizuwa’s pass-rush skills. With Miller, San Francisco would have a strong rotation among him, Odighizuwa, Collins and West.
Others: Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State; Chris McClellan, Missouri
Round 4: Gracen Halton, Oklahoma. He’s the sort of quick-footed interior defender the 49ers — and Morris-coached teams — have looked for. His lack of length (31 1/8-inch arms) might drop him to Day 3, but his 4.82-second 40 time is hard to ignore.
Others: Zane Durant, Penn State; Kaleb Proctor, Southeast Louisiana