It wasn't long ago that former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa was the favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals, according to those who get paid to make such predictions. It was even more recent that everyone had practically inked in former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray at that spot.
The draft landscape can change quickly, and the Cardinals' decision on Thursday will have a ripple effect on the rest of the draft. Will it be Murray? Will it be Bosa? Will it be neither? Is all of this just a smokescreen to entice another team to offer a haul to move up?
Whatever the Cardinals do at No. 1, general manager John Lynch insists the 49ers will be ready. The team might have to act quickly. Once Arizona sends up its draft card, San Francisco will have just 10 minutes to decide what to do.
Let's say the Cardinals pass on Murray and the quarterback is suddenly available at No. 2. Ten minutes doesn't seem like a lot of time to speak with multiple teams and get a deal done. What if Murray is the pick at No. 1 and teams decide they cannot miss out on a talent like Bosa?
Lynch assured reporters on Monday that the 49ers have done their due diligence. Team decision-makers have likely already reached out to other organizations and made at least a few plans for each scenario. Or maybe the 49ers are content with whoever might be at No. 2, and will only move out of the spot should an offer knock their socks off.
"My experience is, I think there's due diligence that goes on prior to the draft where you start to have conversations, 'Hey in the event that this happens,'" Lynch said. "Some of that has started. I think one thing that I've learned in my short time here, we're well equipped. We've got a number of people in here who are equipped to handle that. I think it's something that we're prepared for. We can move quickly.
"Like I said, we'll listen (to offers), but we'll also be prepared if we like someone there enough that if we don't get something incredibly special, we'll just sit right there and take a player we think can really impact us in a positive way."
If an enticing offer comes the 49ers' way, Lynch is prepared to move down if it means adding to the team's six draft selections. It's the fewest total Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have had to work with during their three offseasons together.
"We're used to having more," Lynch said. "It's uncomfortable just by virtue of that, what we're accustomed to … A lot happens as the draft's moving. It's fluid. If we don't have more than that, we've just got to make them all count. In any event, we have to make them all count, but there certainly would be a scenario where we try to add to it."
The 49ers have high grades on several players who will likely be available at No. 2. But the team is also comfortable with moving to the No. 10 pick, for example, and feels it can select a difference-maker there, too.
"We've done our due diligence there, as well," said the GM.
Lynch didn't want to disclose how many players the 49ers have assigned first-round grades to but did say that they have 184 players on their draft board. That's fewer than previous years because Lynch believes the team is further along than in past offseasons. Instead, he was asked how many prospects have separated themselves from the pack.
"That's a good question, one that we'll keep in-house," Lynch responded. "I think there are a group of them that we feel very good about in terms of being impact players in this league."
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