The 49ers do not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but their off-season made their draft nonetheless interesting.
Deebo Samuel’s trade request could push them into the first round and confuse their draft needs on the fly. Center Alex Mack could also retire, which could change how the club operates once they pick.
On top of that, they have a handful of needs that everyone has an issue as the biggest thing they need to address over the three-day selection process.
We created a 10-point scale based on, well, nothing, honestly. Then we used that highly scientific scale to place each position in order from lowest to highest priority for the 49ers in the 2022 draft. Here’s what we came up with:
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49ers QB depth chart
San Francisco can get a QB picked because they usually go with three signal callers in the building, but an unstoppable free agent will do the thing.
Needs Scale: 0/10
( Associated Press Photo / Jed Jacobsohn)
49ers LB depth chart
San Francisco has one of the top LB units in the NFL. It will fly on the list next year if either Dre Greenlaw or Azeez Al-Shaair retires in free agency.
Needs Scale: 0/10
( Associated Press Photo / Jed Jacobsohn)
49ers RB depth chart
It would have been higher on the list if Kyle Shanahan had not been the 49ers’ head coach. A UDFA or two will offer a lot of competition to push the RBs behind Elijah Mitchell.
Needs Scale: 2/10
(Photo by Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
49ers TOP depth chart
An argument can be made for this one to go higher, but if the 49ers are content not to have another passer behind George Kittle at TE, they could give up the position and be okay.
Needs Scale: 3.4 / 10
Cary Edmondson USA TODAY Sports
49ers DT depth chart
Losing DJ Jones opens a hole in the depth map, but San Francisco has bodies on the list that could replace him. Depth, however, is a concern in the concept.
Needs Scale: 4.2 / 10
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
49ers S depth chart
This is the point where cases can be made that the 49ers are either put in the position or they have to take one with their first choice this year. A long-term replacement for Jimmie Ward who could also move in alongside him for the time being would make a lot of sense.
Needs Scale: 6/10
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sport
49ers WR depth chart
Eliminate the Deebo Samuel trade request and this one is still in the mix. If they move Samuel, push it up to a 10. For now, it’s a need, but it’s not going to make or break them if they do not get one in the top 100.
Needs Scale: 6.5 / 10
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
49ers CB depth chart
The 49ers have a potential depth problem here that pushes it up the list, but the addition of Charvarius Ward gives them a good starting lineup that eliminates some of the urgency at CB.
Needs Scale: 6.8 / 10
Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
49ers DE depth chart
This is the most important position on the 49ers’ roster and they do not have a ton of high quality depth. They should try to improve that group when they can.
Needs Scale: 7/10
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sport
49ers OL depth chart
With a vacancy at left guard, an upgrade needed at right guard and a possible vacancy at center with no definite options for any of them on the roster, it’s as needy as a team at a position in the get concept.
Needs Scale: 10/10