The 49ers didn’t have a ton of assets to work with heading into the 2020 NFL draft. They turned their five picks into a group of first-year players that fill immediate needs, and a Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams to take over for the retired Joe Staley.
After a slew of trades on Days 1 and 3 of the draft, San Francisco wound up picking twice in the first round, and once in each of the final three. Their five-pick haul received a ‘B’ grade from Touchdown Wire.
The strong grade came because the club acquired Williams and addressed their top-two needs with “an estimable 1-2 punch at the top of their draft.”
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, the No. 16 overall pick, should slot in right away and consume most of DeForest Buckner’s snaps for a fraction of the price. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk went 25th, and he should offer a nice complement to Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne.
The Aiyuk acquisition involved a trade up that included three picks. Both he and Kinlaw should have an impact early on in their 49ers tenures.
Where things get interesting, and perhaps the reason San Francisco could wind up pulling a higher grade in a re-grade a few years down the line, is the players they scooped up in the late rounds. There weren’t any huge splashes, but they all fit.
Colton McKivitz, a fifth-round pick out of West Virginia, played tackle in college, but will likely move inside where he can compete for the starting right guard job. San Francisco has loaded up on versatile offensive linemen the last couple offseasons, which allows them maximum flexibility with their roster and the ability to better withstand injuries. McKivitz fits that mold.
Their sixth-round pick is another practical choice that lacks a ton of flair. Georgia tight end Charlie Woerner caught only 34 passes and one touchdown in four years of college. He excelled as a run blocker though, which is the role he’ll take on in the 49ers’ offense. Adding a top-tier blocking tight end to an already dominant running game is smart roster construction.
Jauan Jennings is the exact opposite of Woerner from flair standpoint. The seventh-round wide receiver from Tennessee doesn’t have a ton of speed or explosiveness, but he turns every catch into a fist fight. He has a good frame that he uses to screen defenders away from the catch, he makes tough receptions through contact, and he runs after the catch looking to inflict pain. His physical limitations may catch up with him in the NFL, but the logic for adding him on a late-round flier tracks. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is looking to add as many dominant after-the-catch receivers as he can, and Jennings was that in college.
The 49ers took some gambles in the 2020 draft, but they’re on track to extend their championship window if this class transitions well to the NFL. A ‘B’ is a fair grade for now, but that could wind up rising in the future.
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