The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2026 NFL Draft with several roster needs still to address. According to ESPN reporter Nick Wagoner, the team's top remaining priorities are edge rusher, offensive line, and safety.
There's also a case to be made for adding a young, dynamic wide receiver. However, Wagoner appears to believe the 49ers adequately addressed that position in free agency with the additions of Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, leaving it off his list of pressing needs.
Wagoner suggests San Francisco can take a "best player available" approach in the draft while still keeping those key needs in focus.
Meanwhile, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid identified a potential target outside of Round 1 who could help address one of Wagoner's listed needs: former Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes, whom the 49ers formally met with at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"Stukes primarily played at nickel corner last season, but there's belief among multiple scouts I've talked to that he could be a free safety in the NFL," Reid wrote. "His range and tackling ability would both be pluses in San Francisco's secondary."
Stukes is an intriguing prospect with clear upside. Projected as high as a Day 2 selection, he boosted his draft stock with an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, recording a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and a 38-inch vertical jump. Those numbers helped ease concerns about his athleticism following an ACL injury that limited him to just four games in 2024.
Now, the 49ers own just one Day 2 selection—in the second round. However, some projections place him in the early portion of Day 3, where San Francisco owns four fourth-round picks.
The 24-year-old spent six seasons at Arizona, totaling 206 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, and 29 passes defensed, per Sports Reference. Four of those interceptions came in 2025, helping him earn first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-American honors.
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