San Francisco 49ers NFL Draft Picks 2020: Round-by-Round Results, Grades

The San Francisco 49ers advanced to their first Super Bowl since 2012 last season and took a 20-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter of the against the Chiefs. The Niners ended up losing Super Bowl LIV, but the 2019 season was otherwise an unqualified success: They beat the Packers and Vikings to reach the sport's title game and finished the regular season 13-3, good enough to be the NFC's No. 1 seed. 

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In the 2019 NFL draft, San Francisco added a number of key contributors. It selected defensive end Nick Bosa No. 2 overall and wide receiver Deebo Samuel No. 36 overall, with both players making a major impact on last year's NFC champions. In the third round, the 49ers selected wide receiver Jalen Hurd and in the fourth round, they added punter Mitch Wishnowsky. In the draft's later rounds the 49ers selected linebacker Dre Greenlaw, tight end Kaden Smith, offensive tackle Justin Skule and cornerback Tim Harris.

According to the MMQB's NFC West team needs, the 49ers' holes are not as glaring as some others team's. The Niners need a guard because their 2019 starter, Mike Person, was released. They also could use some additional wide receiver depth, while the offseason trade of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner leaves a potential hole on their defensive line. 

A full list of San Francisco's picks will be updated below as the draft progresses. You can also follow along with the All49ers live blog. 

Round 1, Pick 14 (No. 14 overall, via Buccaneers): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

Analysis from Andy Benoit: Many expected the Niners to find a replacement for departed wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders here, but that’s not how this organization thinks. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch understand that as long as they have quality route runners on the field, Shanahan’s play designs can win. Quality route runners can be found in Rounds 2-4, especially with a wide receiver class as deep as this one’s. (Plus, the Niners believe they found one last year in 2019 third-rounder Jalen Hurd, whom they love.) What Shanahan and Lynch also understand is that, while their offensive system is not player-dependent, their defensive system is. Coordinator Robert Saleh’s scheme is predicated on having a potent four-man pass rush. The Niners rode that to a Super Bowl appearance last year. After financial constraints forced them to trade DeForest Buckner to the Colts, they needed to restock for this year. NFL draft expert Greg Cosell has said that Kinlaw is not a flawless prospect, but his best-case scenario is to develop into a Chris Jones type force. That’s a helluva best-case scenario, and the Niners believe they have one of the NFL’s best defensive line coaches in Kris Kocurek. Grade: A-

Round 1, Pick 25 (No. 25 overall): Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

Andy Benoit's analysis: The Niners must absolutely love Aiyuk. The evidence: 1) They are light on mid-round draft capital and presumably wanted to rectify that by trading one of their two first-round picks. 2) Quality receivers can be found later in this draft. 3) Shanahan’s scheme has proven it can work with “good, not great” wide receivers. 

And yet, here the Niners are, trading up to pick No. 25 to get the Arizona State star. Scouts liked Aiyuk’s effectiveness operating on the move, which is a key characteristic in Shanahan’s timing-based offense. He also has shown he can align in a variety of positions. Grade: B+

Round 5, No. 153 overall: Colton McKivitz, OT, West Virginia

Round 6, No. 190 overall: Charlie Woerner, TE, Georgia

Round 7, No. 217 overall: Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee