Possibilities for the 49ers and Their Challengers on Day 1

If five quarterbacks are selected in the first round, that sets up well for a potential Lance trade.

Day 1 of the draft should be a quiet day for the 49ers. The Trey Lance trade rumors continue, but talks are unlikely to heat up until Friday after teams see how the first round unfolds. While the Niners are apparently not satisfied with the offers to date, the best offers they’ll get will come tomorrow.

If five quarterbacks are selected in the first round, that sets up well for a potential Lance trade. However, it will still come down to whether offers meet what the 49ers are requiring for Lance.

A Brandon Aiyuk trade is possible but unlikely, with rumors of the New York Giants offering pick No. 25. That could put the 49ers in position to select Oklahoma tackle Anton Harrison, Iowa State edge Will McDonald IV, or Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. However, on a team planning to make a Super Bowl run, Aiyuk will be a needed weapon to get there.

The teams that stand in the Niners path to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas all have two first round picks. This is a pivotal night for all of them.

Philadelphia
Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman has the rumor mill cranking with talk of the Eagles looking to move up or down from both picks. The latest has Philly moving up from No. 10, hoping to land defensive linemen Jalen Carter, Will Anderson, or Tyree Wilson.

If they are gone, Roseman is also interested in the best tackle in the draft, Paris Johnson Jr. of Ohio State, and the best guard, Peter Skoronski of Northwestern. A move up to Atlanta at No. 8 could land Johnson, who would replace All-Pro Lane Johnson upon retirement.

If Roseman moves up at No. 10, he’d go down at No. 30 as the Eagles lack their full complement of picks. They need help on both lines, the secondary, and running back.

Detroit
The Lions are well-positioned to get the defensive help they need as Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter could fall to them at No. 6. He reportedly had a good meeting with the team. General Manager Brad Holmes is rumored to also be considering the top two defensive backs Christian Gonzalez of Oregon and Devon Witherspoon of Illinois.

At No. 18 the Lions could be the landing spot for Texas running back Bijan Robinson, but Atlanta is rumored to be very interested in him. The Lions are expected to take a defensive tackle and a defensive back with their two first round picks.

Seattle
For the past several weeks the Seahawks have been liked to Jalen Carter. However, the latest rumor has them taking a close look at Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. The talk here in Seattle is that Richardson will be the pick if he’s there and if not they turn to Carter.

While the Hawks have Geno Smith coming off a Pro Bowl season at quarterback, he’s 32. Drafting Richardson is a Super Bowl move by General Manager John Schneider and Head Coach Pete Carroll. They would be looking at the end goal, not the now. A smart, well-run franchise, the Seahawks are ascending quickly.

At pick No. 20, Seattle would have their choice of defensive playmakers on the line at edge or tackle.