The 2023 NFL Draft is less than a week away, and while the 49ers draft begins in the third round, there are still position needs for San Francisco. Unless there are any trades, the 49ers do not pick until Round 3, pick 99. While a full San Francisco 7-round mock draft can be read here, there are positions the team will need to focus on. Here is a look at the positions needed during the 49ers draft.
49ers Draft Position Needs
The position needs that are listed below for the 49ers draft are in no particular order, though some are more urgent than others.
Offensive Tackle
Drafting a strong offensive tackle would be a smart move by the San Francisco front office. Trent Williams will remain the starter for the left side of the offensive line, but there are questions on the right side. Mike McGlinchey, who has been the starter there, has signed with the Denver Broncos. As of now, the assumed starter is Colton McKivitz. The 49ers are known to draft offensive linemen and not start them until year two, such as Aaron Banks.
Although there is the chance that head coach Kyle Shanahan will do that to any rookie drafted in 2023, there will always be the chance that anyone drafted can compete and start for the 49ers. Whether it is Brock Purdy or Trey Lance, who starts in 2023, both will be returning from an injury.
The team went through four quarterbacks between week one and the NFC Championship and will in no way want that to happen again, and they will need to protect their quarterback. Drafting the best tackle available, or even trading up for one, would be a smart move in the 49ers draft.
49ers Kicker Robbie Gould (9) – Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Kicker
The San Francisco 49ers will no longer have their reliable kicker in 2023. Robbie Gould is still a free agent, but looking at the fact the team does not have the money for him, the veteran kicker will be playing somewhere else in 2023. The 49ers recently traded for Zane Gonzalez but are still expected to draft a rookie too.
Drafting a rookie kicker can be a risk. The 49ers are used to having a reliable kicker with Gould, so moving on can be difficult. While there is the chance that Gonzalez will be the team’s kicker, it is expected that during the 49ers draft, a kicker will be taken, and there will be a camp battle for the starting role.
Edge Rusher
While the 49ers drafting a defensive lineman would come as no surprise, the team could actually really use one this year. In 2022, the starter on the other side of Nick Bosa was Charles Omenihu, but in free agency, Omenihu headed to the Kansas City Chiefs. The team does have Drake Jackson, but Jackson turned into a healthy scratch in the second half of the 2022 season. Drake is still the projected starter, but he may need someone to compete against him.
The 49ers have signed free-agent edge rushers, but bringing in someone the team scouted can bring out the best in Jackson, or a rookie can become a starter on this dominant defensive line. Either way, there will be a solid depth at that position. The team may not need to trade up for this position unless they see someone they like starting to fall, but it is still a need during the 49ers draft.
49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir (38) – Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Defensive Back
As always, the 49ers need depth with their defensive backs. Safety Jimmie Ward and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley both left the team in free agency. The 49ers are lucky to have Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga as their starting safeties, but they really could use more depth there. There are solid safeties that can fall the team, and expect the 49ers to jump on them.
The 49ers expected starters for the cornerback position are Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir. Ward was a big free agent signing in 2022 for the team, and Lenoir really grew into the position throughout the 2022 season following Moseley’s injury. The team also has a bad history of injuries in that position and will need to add depth that they can trust. The 49ers’ new defensive coordinator is now Steve Wilks, who has a history of being a defensive backs coach. This can influence how the 49ers draft goes this year.
Tight End
The 49ers currently have three tight ends that are expected to make the final roster. Of course, George Kittle will start, and the team also has Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley. Woerner is a key blocker but not much of a receiver. Dwelley ended up being a healthy scratch in many games during 2022. Multiple 49ers reporters have stated that the team is looking for a tight end to pair up with Kittle as a receiving threat. The 2023 NFL Draft has a deep tight end group, and it can be expected that one will be picked by San Francisco in the 49ers draft.
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk (11) – Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
Wide Receiver
While the 49ers have three solid wide receivers, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings, it would be smart for them to use a draft pick on a wide receiver. Jennings has recently signed his tender to return to the 49ers, as he was an exclusive rights free agent this year. Deebo Samuel signed his big extension last year, and the team is expected to pick up Aiyuk’s fifth-year option within the next two weeks.
While the team is stacked this year, pretty soon the team may need to let some of these guys go because of not being able to afford it. Picking a receiver now in the 49ers draft, who can learn how to play in Shanahan’s system, will be smart, even if they do not play right away.
The 2023 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 27th. Be sure to watch, as the 49ers currently have 11 draft picks to work with.
