Updated 49ers NFL draft needs after free agency moves (2024)

The 49ers have some options at tackle, but it’s hard to be inspired by a position battle that features Colton McKivitz and Brandon Parker. Perhaps one of that pair shines in the preseason and renders the offseason concern moot. For now though it appears San Francisco should be making a significant investment to find their right tackle. Don’t be surprised if they make an overpay to jump up in the draft and take one of the top OT prospects instead of waiting for one to fall to them at No. 31. It remains their largest, most glaring need.

This has been on every offseason needs list we’ve done since Niners Wire launched. George Kittle is still one of the very best players at his position. The depth chart behind him is bleak. Charlie Woerner, a reliable blocker, signed with the Falcons this offseason. Ross Dwelley remains a free agent, and the only other TEs on the roster are 2023 draft picks Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis. Perhaps the team envisions big things for that duo, but Willis played sparingly on offense as a rookie and Latu sat out the year because he was placed on IR before final cuts. Banking on that tandem is risky at best and irresponsible at worst. The 49ers should probably be making a real effort to find a TE they believe can eventually take over as TE1 in the post-Kittle era.

There could be another free agency move coming at safety that pushes this down the board some. Adding a veteran would allow them to kick the can down the road a bit. However, Talanoa Hufanga is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is coming off a torn ACL. Ji’Ayir Brown looks like a starting-caliber safety. After that duo there’s not a ton of depth if the 49ers need to replace one of them at any point in the near future. Adding a quality safety will either give them a credible starter if Hufanga isn’t ready for Week 1, or it gives them a long-term option if they’re unable to retain Hufanga in free agency.

Mark this down as a position the 49ers should be looking to draft every year. Pass rush is just too important to what they want to do as a team to let the position lie dormant. They don’t have enough talent in the cupboard even after signing Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos in free agency. Drake Jackson is extremely talented, but he hasn’t been able to finish a season in his first two years. Robert Beal Jr. has all the tools, but he only played sparingly as a rookie last season. The long-term outlook isn’t great going into the draft, and it’s something the 49ers should probably be trying to fix until they have a handful of reliable rotation players to pair with their annual free-agent additions.

This one can fluctuate some based on Brandon Aiyuk’s future. Let’s assume for now Aiyuk stays with the 49ers. San Francisco’s depth at the position still isn’t great. Danny Gray is not a lock to make the team and Ronnie Bell was only a minor contributor as a rookie last year. The 49ers could use another WR who can compete for snaps with a group that isn’t great once it gets beyond Jauan Jennings. Ideally a late-round WR could also return kicks since San Francisco hasn’t replaced Ray-Ray McCloud who joined the Falcons. If the 49ers do trade Aiyuk, we can launch WR to No. 2 on this list.

The 49ers may already have their starting CB trio on the roster. Deommodore Lenoir is locked in at a starting spot, as is Charvarius Ward. One of Ambry Thomas, Darrell Luter Jr., Isaac Yiadom or Samuel Womack may win the third starting spot. There can always be added depth and competition at such an important position though. One could talk themselves into the 49ers being set at CB, but there just aren’t enough proven commodities to confidently walk out of the draft without another player or two in the mix.

Always draft a quarterback. Worst case he’s on the practice squad. Best case he’s Tom Brady Brock Purdy.