The players who are reportedly meeting with the San Francisco 49ers for a Top-30 visit have been revealed. But can those visits tell us anything about who the 49ers might draft? Can it give us any indication as to the quality of players they may draft from these visits?
Let's take a look at the previous five drafts and see how many of the players the 49ers brought in for Top-30 visits were actually drafted by the team. From 2021-2025, the 49ers drafted 16 players who were part of their Top-30 visits. Of those 16 drafted players, eight remain.
2025: The 49ers drafted two players (DL Mykel Williams and CB Upton Stout) from their Top-30.
2024: They drafted two players from their 30-visits (WR Jacob Cowing and LB Tatum Bethune).
2023: In 2023, they selected four of their 30-visits players (S Ji'Ayir Brown, CB Darrell Luter, Jr., TE Cameron Latu, and TE Brayden Willis).
2022: This was the big year for the 49ers and 30-visits draftees. They selected five of those players (OL Spencer Burford, DT Kalia Davis, RB Ty Davis-Price, WR Danny Gray, and DE Drake Jackson). Interestingly, their first four draft picks in 2022 were players the 49ers had met during their 30 visits. San Francisco also added an UDFA from the 30-visits that year (WR Tay Martin). RB Brian Robinson, Jr. was also part of the group the 49ers met with that year.
2021: In 2021, teams weren't allowed 30 visits due to the Coronavirus Pandemic that was still in effect. So, they mostly had virtual interviews, with no limit on how many they could do. The 49ers conducted 33 of these interviews and drafted three of those players (QB Trey Lance, CB Deommodore Lenoir, and RB Trey Sermon).
There are a few takeaways from this:
- Who the 49ers bring in for their 30-visits matter. Every year since 2021, they have drafted at least two of those players.
- The results of those drafted players are mixed, but mostly have not been good. Eight of those players are still with the team. Lenoir is a player you would consider a good starter. Stout looks like he may be the real deal, as well. The other starters are average, at best. (It's still too early for Williams)
- 2021 and 2022 were especially bad. Lenoir is the only player remaining.
- That 2023 draft was awful.
Now, let's look at the Top-30 for 2026. They're broken down according to position. This could give us an indication of how the 49ers are thinking and what positions they may be more focused on.
Wide Receiver (6)
- WR Denzel Boston, Washington
- WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
- WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
- WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
- WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech
- WR Colbie Young, Georgia
The 49ers added some veteran players at wide receiver in free agency. But there are six wideouts on the list of players they met with for a 30-visit. Last year, only one wide receiver was part of the Top-30 visits. It seems apparent that John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan still believe this is an area of need. Will they draft one of these players in the first round, or can they grab one of them in the second round?
Offensive Tackle (4)
- OL Alex Harkey, Oregon
- OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
- OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
- OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Every year, fans clamor for the 49ers to draft an offensive tackle early, and they never do—other than Mike McGlinchey in 2018. San Francisco has been tied to multiple tackles in this draft. Is it because they may actually draft one early this year, or is it because of the contract stalemate with Trent Williams? If the 49ers don't reach a new deal with Williams and then pick a tackle at 27, that will lead many to believe Williams' days are numbered in San Francisco. But that may not be the case. It may simply be that the 49ers really like that player.
But do you want to draft a player in the first round who won't start as a rookie?
Outside Pass Rusher (3)
- Edge Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
- DE Romello Height, Texas Tech
- DE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
The 49ers have been searching for someone to complement Nick Bosa since Dee Ford. They have drafted numerous players that they had hoped might become that guy. None have, and they're still searching. Is this the season they find their edge rusher? The 49ers will almost certainly draft a pass rusher who lines up on the outside. But will it be one of the three players they met with?
Defensive Tackle (2)
- DT Chris McClellan, Missouri
- DT Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M
Last year, the 49ers focused more on defensive tackle, specifically run-stuffers. This year, they might have been more focused on interior pass rushers, but the trade for Osa Odighizuwa makes this less of a need. Especially when Williams can slide inside on obvious passing downs.
Other positions (3)
- LB Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma
- TE Michael Trigg, Baylor
- S Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
The linebacker group is stacked, although the 49ers could still trade away someone like Dee Winters. Tight end is a need, especially with George Kittle's injury. San Francisco could use another pass-catching tight end. I'd love to see a play-making safety drafted.
Whether the 30-visits tell us much or not, it's important to pay attention to whom the 49ers met with. They always draft at least one of them. The bigger question is if those drafted become the next Deommodore Lenoir or the next Drake Jackson.
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