In his previous mock draft for CBS Sports, Tom Fornelli had the San Francisco 49ers selecting a starting cornerback with the 11th overall pick. However, in his latest projection, Fornelli envisions general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan taking a much more aggressive approach. He has the 49ers trading up with the Jacksonville Jaguars to acquire the fifth overall pick, using it to select Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou.
It's a significant move up the draft board, though Fornelli does not specify what the 49ers would have to surrender in this scenario. With LSU's Will Campbell going to the New England Patriots at No. 4, San Francisco may not want to risk missing out on a top offensive tackle.
"The 49ers need a new OT and the way things have started, odds are the guy they want won't be on the board at 11. So they leap up to get him," Fornelli explained.
Mock drafts have frequently linked Membou to the 49ers, but Fornelli's projection stands out due to the aggressive trade-up. Meanwhile, with their newly acquired 11th pick, the Jaguars select Penn State tight end Tyler Warren.
The 49ers met with Membou at the NFL Scouting Combine, where the 332-pound lineman showcased his athleticism with a 4.91-second 40-yard dash, a 9-foot-7 broad jump, and a 34-inch vertical—impressive numbers for a player of his size.
Membou was dominant in pass protection last season, allowing just eight pressures over 411 pass-blocking snaps in 2024 without surrendering a single sack. His 90.6 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus ranked fourth among all FBS offensive linemen, complemented by an 87.6 run-blocking grade and an 86.6 pass-blocking grade.
This week, Lynch expressed confidence in the 49ers' current offensive line but acknowledged that the team could use the draft to reinforce the group.
"We like our right tackle. We like our center," Lynch said at the NFL's annual meeting in Florida. "Left guard, we have some candidates in-house right now. But will we look to add in the draft? Certainly."
Membou would likely compete for the starting right tackle job, potentially replacing Colton McKivitz and serving as a long-term successor to All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams.
"We'll try to improve our offensive line through the draft, but there are a lot of good pieces there already," Lynch added.