🏈 49ers NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
The San Francisco 49ers generated just 20 sacks last season - three fewer than Myles Garrett recorded by himself - and hold the No. 27 pick with an urgent need to add pass-rush depth behind Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams while the Trent Williams contract standoff continues to loom over the offensive line.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the 49ers' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player San Francisco will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 49ers draft picks 2026
See where the 49ers rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 27 |
| 2 | No. 58 |
| 3 | No pick |
| 4 | No. 127, 133, 138, 139 |
| 5 | No pick |
| 6 | No pick |
| 7 | No pick |
🆘 49ers team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: EDGE, OL, DL, WR, S
- Key additions: Mike Evans (WR), Christian Kirk (WR), Osa Odighizuwa (DT, via trade), Vederian Lowe (OT), Dre Greenlaw (LB)
- Key departures: Jauan Jennings (WR), Kendrick Bourne (WR, Cardinals), Spencer Burford (OG, Raiders), Bryce Huff (EDGE, retiring), Kalia Davis (DL, Browns), Eric Kendricks (LB), Jason Pinnock (S, Giants)
Evans and Kirk address the immediate receiver need, but the pass rush remains a serious concern with Bosa and Mykel Williams both coming off injuries last season. The 49ers currently have no viable succession plan at left tackle if the Trent Williams standoff drags on, making offensive tackle a draft consideration depending on how the board falls.
🏈 49ers draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the 49ers' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 27 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah | 7.05 | With the Trent Williams situation unresolved, the best case would be Williams returning and Lomu spending a year learning from arguably the best offensive tackle in NFL history before taking over |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson | 7.10 | Parker's power and motor make him a ready-made contributor in the defensive line rotation, and his edge-setting ability against the run would help a 49ers defense that needs more from its front seven |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri | 7.0 | If San Francisco wants to swing on upside off the edge, Young's high motor and powerful pop fit what Kyle Shanahan's defense asks of its edge rushers |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 49ers mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the 49ers' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect San Francisco to draft at No. 27:
| Source | Pick |
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri |
| Charles McDonald (Yahoo) | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah |
Five of the six mocks we surveyed have the 49ers selecting Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, making it one of the strongest consensus picks in the entire draft and matching Paul's dream scenario. Only Brugler breaks from the pack with Missouri edge rusher Zion Young, which is Paul's best upside swing for San Francisco at No. 27.
🔮 49ers draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 27: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
- Pro comparison: Abe Lucas
- Measurables: 6'6" | 313 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: 9.77
With the Trent Williams situation unresolved, the San Francisco 49ers may want to add some insurance. With Williams still elite, the best case would be him returning and Caleb Lomu spending a year sitting and learning from arguably the best offensive tackle in NFL history. Lomu is a top-notch athlete with light feet and the lateral quickness to become a star in Kyle Shanahan's system. He needs to get stronger, though, so spending a year developing his body would be best.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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