It's the final stretch leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, which kicks off Thursday with Round 1 and runs through Saturday. The San Francisco 49ers hold the No. 27 overall pick, making their selection difficult to project given the late draft position and multiple roster needs.
Analysts continue to release their final mock drafts, offering a clearer picture of how the 49ers could approach the draft. Here's a roundup of the latest projections and trends, which, interestingly, doesn't include any wide receivers with San Francisco's first-round pick.
One key note: San Francisco recently agreed to a two-year, $50 million extension with veteran left tackle Trent Williams. However, with the 12-time Pro Bowler set to turn 38 in July, the move does not eliminate the possibility of the 49ers targeting his eventual successor.
ESPN 7-round mock: 49ers address pass rush early
ESPN's Jordan Reid released a seven-round mock draft projecting the 49ers to prioritize their pass rush—an obvious need after finishing last in the NFL with just 20 sacks in 2025.
Reid has San Francisco selecting former UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 27 overall, though he cautions the prospect could come off the board earlier.
"Don't be surprised if Lawrence gets his name called much earlier than expected (yes, even higher than this)," Reid wrote. "He's a bendy rusher who has a quick acceleration out of the starting blocks, and that speed carries through his rush plans.
"The 49ers were last in the NFL with 20 sacks last season and need impactful rushers off the edge, even with Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams returning from torn ACLs. Lawrence would give the 49ers a high-quality rusher who has the closing speed to generate constant pressure."
In the second round, Reid projects former Iowa guard Gennings Dunker to San Francisco with the No. 58 overall pick.
"I project Dunker to be a guard in the NFL, and he makes a lot of sense here as an immediate competitor to be the 49ers' starting left guard," Reid wrote. "He plays with excellent hand timing and can get into the frame of defenders in a hurry."
The 49ers own four more selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, all coming in the fourth round. Here is how Reid envisions those picks playing out:
- Round 4, pick 127: CB Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
- Round 4, pick 133: WR Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati
- Round 4, pick 138: S Bud Clark, TCU
- Round 4, pick 139: OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M
NFL.com mock: Planning for life after Trent Williams
NFL.com's Eric Edholm released his latest first-round mock draft and has the 49ers addressing offensive tackle early with the selection of former Utah standout Caleb Lomu at No. 27.
"Pass rush is an area the Niners need to address at some point, but having insurance on the offensive line matters, too," Edholm wrote. "Lomu can be penciled in as the starter-in-waiting behind Trent Williams. The star left tackle just ended his contract standoff with the team, but he still turns 38 in July."
CBS Sports insider: Max Iheanachor to San Francisco
CBS Sports' NFL insider, Jonathan Jones, released a first-round mock draft and also projects the 49ers adding an eventual Williams successor. However, he has San Francisco passing on Lomu to select former Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor at No. 27.
It's worth noting that Jones released his mock draft just hours before news broke that the 49ers agreed to a contract extension with Williams.
"I think San Francisco has more holes than people see once you factor in age and contract situations," Jones wrote. "Ultimately, I feel that Trent Williams returns, but it's time the Niners focus on finding his replacement. Iheanachor didn't start playing football until five years ago, so he's a ball of clay for offensive line coach Chris Foerster."
Additional CBS Sports mocks offer varied approaches
Four additional mock drafts from CBS Sports have been released since Sunday, each offering a different approach for the San Francisco 49ers in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mike Renner mock draft
In his three-round mock, analyst Mike Renner also projects the 49ers selecting Lomu at No. 27 overall.
"Lomu is the type of athletic tackle who can thrive in a Kyle Shanahan scheme," Renner wrote. "He needs to improve his nastiness and play strength, but when Trent Williams decides to hang it up, Lomu should be ready."
Renner has San Francisco using its second-round pick (No. 58 overall) on former Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard, adding depth and playmaking ability to the offense.
Garrett Podell mock draft
Garrett Podell's seven-round mock draft takes a different route, with the 49ers prioritizing pass rush and wide receiver early before waiting until late to address the offensive line.
- Round 1, pick 27: DE T.J. Parker, Clemson
- Round 2, pick 58: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
- Round 4, pick 127: CB Tacario Davis, Washington
- Round 4, pick 133: OG Beau Stephens, Iowa
- Round 4, pick 138: RB Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
- Round 4, pick 139: OT Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
"The Niners took an edge in the first round last year (Mykel Williams), and here Wilson and Carthon decided to do it again by taking Parker, who was a relative disappointment this past season but still has incredibly high upside," Podell explained. "They chose Parker over options at tackle like Kadyn Proctor and Max Iheanachor, noting that the Niners need juice off the edge with both Williams and Nick Bosa coming off torn ACLs, and Trent Williams is likely to come back for another year or two. Carthon described the Brazzell pick as a 'layup' that he was "not even thinking twice about."
"After considering guard and safety, the guys elected to take a big, long corner in Davis with the first of San Francisco's four fourth-round picks. The Niners then had three picks in a seven-pick span and attacked several different areas of either need or potential need on offense, securing a guard, a running back, and another lineman. Stephens is a zone-blocking guard who didn't allow a sack the last two seasons. Zuhn can play multiple positions along the line, and Wilson said he could potentially slide to center and eventually take over for Jake Brendel at center."
Bryant McFadden mock draft
Bryant McFadden's first-round mock draft also focuses on the defensive front, projecting the 49ers to select former Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk at No. 27.
"Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are both coming off season-ending injuries, and Bryce Huff unexpectedly retired, so you can see why Faulk is needed," McFadden noted.
R.J. White mock draft
CBS Sports' R.J. White doesn't have San Francisco selecting a defensive lineman or offensive lineman with their first-round pick. Instead, he has the team selecting former Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
"The 49ers could be in the tackle or edge rusher discussions, but this feels like a good value for McNeil-Warren to address a need at safety for incoming defensive coordinator Raheem Morris," White wrote. "Even though John Lynch hasn't prioritized his former position in past years, this could be an opportunity to grab one of the best three safeties in the class."
49ers bolster defensive interior in latest 7-round mock draft
Jacob Infante of Pro Football & Sports Network released a seven-round mock draft projecting the San Francisco 49ers to open their 2026 NFL Draft by strengthening the interior of their defensive line with former Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods.
"In each of the last two seasons, the San Francisco 49ers have been ravaged by injuries on both sides of the ball," Infante wrote. "When healthy, their edge-rushing tandem of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams could be a lot of fun. To help maximize that group, they take a defensive tackle to create some disruption along the interior.
"Peter Woods is an explosive DT with refined hands, a high motor, excellent agility for his position, and a high football IQ. He's an effective two-gapping defensive tackle against the run, and he also brings plenty of value on passing downs. That combination alone should make him highly sought after."
In Round 2, Infante has the 49ers adding playmaking ability to the offense with former Georgia wideout Zachariah Branch.
"Over two seasons at USC before transferring to Georgia, Zachariah Branch has been one of the most dynamic receivers in football," Infante wrote. "He's undersized but thrives in space with elite athleticism and ball-carrier vision that shines when he returns kicks and punts."
Infante's remaining Day 3 selections for San Francisco:
- Round 4, pick 127: OT JC Davis, Illinois
- Round 4, pick 133: S VJ Payne, Kansas State
- Round 4, pick 138: LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
- Round 4, pick 139: Edge Mason Reiger, Wisconsin
The Big Lead mock: 49ers pivot to defensive tackle
In his first-round mock draft, Cam Giangrande of The Big Lead also projects the 49ers to address the defensive interior in Round 1, selecting former Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks at No. 27 overall after a run on wide receivers reshapes the board.
"With the run on WRs, the 49ers were forced to pivot," Giangrande wrote. "The cost to move up became too pricy, so the Niners settled on DT Banks, who'll make a fine consolation prize."
Yahoo Sports mock: Offensive tackle remains in play
Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports analysts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald project the 49ers to target the offensive line, selecting former Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller in the first round.
"Miller would be a steadying force whose athleticism, intelligence, and sheer reliability as a player would be a welcome long-term boost for the 49ers' offensive line," the duo wrote. "The run on linemen could force the 49ers to move in a different direction, but Miller would be a good fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense and be a keystone player for him up front."
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