First 49er to strike end-zone gold: new and improved Vance McDonald

Despite initial reports, two draft prospects who were set to visit the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft ultimately did not meet with the team. Matt Barrows of The Athletic revealed that former USC wide receiver Brenden Rice and former Oregon safety Jamal Hill didn't end up visiting the Bay Area organization. Barrows wrote, "Meanwhile, a report in March indicated that USC receiver Brenden Rice, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, would visit the 49ers, but he didn't end up coming, according to two league sources." Justin Melo of The Draft Network first

As expected, the most significant storyline surrounding the San Francisco 49ers this offseason revolves around the contract negotiations with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. There hasn't been much official chatter on that front aside from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan assuring reporters that every effort is being made to retain Aiyuk. That hasn't stopped the rampant speculation from the media, with reports of interest from teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as former teammate

Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team revealed his latest mock draft, which goes seven rounds deep and projects every selection for every NFL team. While most predict that the San Francisco 49ers will add an offensive lineman with their first selection, No. 31 overall, Mosher has the Bay Area team going in a different direction. The writer and analyst has the Niners selecting former UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu in the first round. "It wouldn't be a shock to see Laiatu Latu fall in the draft due to his medical history, but he is too good of a value to pass up here at No. 31," Mosher wrote. "The San Francisco 49ers have been searching for the right pass

It is less than two weeks away from the 2024 NFL Draft, and the San Francisco 49ers finally have a first-round draft pick, after not having one the last two years. Who will they select? Will it be a defensive player? An offensive player? They could use help on the offensive line and in the secondary and defensive line. And they may also have multiple holes to fill a year from now. Either way, the 49ers need to hit on these draft picks, especially in the early rounds, where they haven't always been at their best. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have some first-round misses, like DT Solomon Thomas and LB Rueben Foster. But are those the worst first-round picks in team history? Neither made this list, though some will argue that Thomas should be on it, mainly because he was taken