The San Francisco 49ers have traded down one pick in the first round for the second time in four years. This time the 49ers traded the No. 13 overall pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for pick No. 14 and a fourth round pick (No. 117).
It is the right move to make regardless of the selection made at No. 14. The 49ers are able to take whoever they would have at No. 13 by trading down one spot while making sure the Bucs selection is not the player.
This is similar to what they did in 2017 when they traded with the Chicago Bears. They moved from No. 2 to No. 3 that year and ended up taking defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. While Thomas hasn't developed into the type of player you would expect from No. 3, the trade was absolutely the correct move at the time.
The 49ers stayed at No. 14 and selected defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw out of the University of South Carolina. The selection provides a replacement for the traded DeForest Buckner. The 49ers are no doubt hoping Kinlaw can pan out better than Thomas has to this point.
The 49ers once again have a fearsome foursome on the defensive line adding Kinlaw to Dee Ford, Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead.
Some fans are no doubt disappointed the 49ers traded down with wide receiver prospects CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy still available. I'm not against the pick of Kinlaw but do admit I would have preferred the selection of Jeudy.
Luckily, the 49ers still have another first round pick to be made later as of publication of this article. I'm not convinced the 49ers are targeting a receiver with the pick, however.