The 2020 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, and it will be unlike any draft before. Massive crowds and bustling draft war rooms are being replaced by NFL coaches and staff making their decisions from home while strategizing and making deals via video conferences.
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the sports landscape, forcing the NFL and its teams to rethink their offseason strategies and procedures. It's a situation that could impact the 2020 regular season, too.
For now, the league is moving forward with its annual rookie selection process and will consider any other potential offseason changes once more information becomes available.
While NFL fans can't attend the draft, they can still experience the event. All seven rounds will be televised, as usual, with cameras being set up in the homes of team executives and coaches, like the setup below shared this week by San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch.
#49ers GM John Lynch provides the media with a tour of his in-home draft war room setup. pic.twitter.com/S9M8HFDJHb
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) April 20, 2020
Below is some crucial information about the upcoming draft, which you might find useful if you wish to partake in the virtual festivities.
49ers Draft Picks
As of this post, the 49ers own seven total draft picks with no selections during the second day (rounds two through four).
- Round 1, Pick 13 (from Colts)
- Round 1, Pick 31
- Round 5, Pick 11, No. 156 overall (from Broncos)
- Round 5, Pick 31, No. 176 overall
- Round 6, Pick 31, No. 210 overall
- Round 7, Pick 3, No. 217 overall (from Lions)
- Round 7, Pick 31, No. 245 overall
When is the 2020 NFL Draft?
- Thursday, April 23, 5:00 p.m. PT (Round 1)
- Friday, April 24, 4:00 p.m. PT (Rounds 2-3)
- Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. PT (Rounds 4-7)
How can I watch the 2020 NFL Draft?
The 2020 NFL Draft will be televised on NFL Network, ESPN, and ABC. The NFL Network and ESPN broadcasts will be combined with ABC airing its own telecast during the first three rounds. ABC's broadcast of the later rounds will mirror the one available on NFL Network and ESPN.
How can I celebrate and discuss the 2020 NFL Draft with other fans?
You can visit our active forums during the draft to discuss the selections, news, and rumors with other fans. Just sign up to participate or observe as a guest.
The 49ers will be hosting a virtual draft party on Thursday, April 23, for the first round. It will be hosted by team reporter Keiana Martin and provide interviews, look-ins, and messages from fans, players, draft prospects, general manager John Lynch, head coach Kyle Shanahan, and more. You can access this event from 49ers.com, the official team app, YouTube, and Facebook. There will even be an hour-long pre-draft tailgate starting at 4:00 p.m. PT.
Who are the 49ers expected to select in Round 1?
Most mock drafts have the 49ers selecting a wide receiver with the No. 13 overall pick. The most popular choice among mock drafts, as of this post, is wide receiver Henry Ruggs of Alabama. He is followed by Jerry Jeudy of Alabama, and then CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma.
Click here to see our most recent and final Mock Draft Roundup, which breaks down the predicted selections from 61 different mock drafts.
Which draft prospects are expected to participate in the 2020 NFL Draft?
Fifty-eight prospects are confirmed to participate virtually in the 2020 NFL Draft for the network broadcasts of the event. LSU leads all colleges with eight participating players while Alabama will have seven players take part.
The following players are confirmed to virtually participate in this year's draft:
- Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
- Mekhi Becton, T, Louisville
- Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
- Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
- Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
- K'Lavon Chaisson, LB, LSU
- Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
- Ezra Cleveland, T, Boise State
- Lloyd Cushenberry, G, LSU
- Grant Delpit, DB, LSU
- Trevon Diggs, DB, Alabama
- J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
- Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
- A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
- Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
- Kristian Fulton, DB, LSU
- Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma
- Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
- C.J. Henderson, DB, Florida
- Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
- Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
- Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
- Noah Igbinoghene, DB, Auburn
- Austin Jackson, T, USC
- Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
- Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
- Jaylon Johnson, DB, Utah
- Josh Jones, T, Houston
- Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
- Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
- CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
- Terrell Lewis, LB, Alabama
- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
- Xavier McKinney, DB, Alabama
- Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
- Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU
- Zack Moss, RB, Utah
- Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
- Jeff Okudah, DB, Ohio State
- Julian Okwara, DE, Notre Dame
- Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
- Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
- Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
- Cesar Ruiz, G, Michigan
- Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
- Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
- D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
- Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
- Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
- AJ Terrell, DB, Clemson
- Andrew Thomas, T, Georgia
- Josh Uche, LB, Michigan
- Prince Tega Wanogho, T, Auburn
- Jedrick Wills, T, Alabama
- Antoine Winfield Jr., DB, Minnesota
- Tristan Wirfs, T, Iowa
- Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
Which prospects have the 49ers spoken to or met with leading to the 2020 NFL Draft?
Click here to visit our 49ers 2020 Pre-Draft Visit/Meeting Tracker for a full list of known prospects with whom the team has met.
First-round order for the 2020 NFL Draft
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Washington Redskins
- Detroit Lions
- New York Giants
- Miami Dolphins
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Carolina Panthers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cleveland Browns
- New York Jets
- Las Vegas Raiders
- San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis Colts)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Denver Broncos
- Atlanta Falcons
- Dallas Cowboys
- Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago Bears)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo Bills)
- New England Patriots
- New Orleans Saints
- Minnesota Vikings
- Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans)
- Seattle Seahawks
- Baltimore Ravens
- Tennessee Titans
- Green Bay Packers
- San Francisco 49ers
- Kansas City Chiefs
