DO NOT trade Julio Jones; top positional battles; saving Sam Darnold

Three San Francisco 49ers made it onto ESPN analyst Matt Miller's list of the 100 best picks, steals, and fits from the 2024 NFL Draft. He recently unveiled his ranking, considering various factors such as the pick's value, how well the player fits into the team's scheme, whether the selection addressed a team need, and what the prospect brings to the field. The 49ers made eight picks during the draft, and Miller's take is intriguing, especially since he remains a dedicated fan of the team. Let's break down which 49ers landed within Miller's recent ranking, starting with the highest-ranked player,

With the 2024 NFL Draft just around the corner, the anticipation is palpable as San Francisco prepares to make their first first-round selection in over two years. Here, I present the top prospects for each offensive position, both inside and outside the top 100, with their potential to shape the team's future and draft grades. Quarterback - Michael Penix Jr., Washington 2nd-round grade Strengths: Pocket passer High IQ and processing Blitz beater Concerns: Durability (Four season-ending injuries) Accuracy outside the pocket. Michael Penix Jr. is a great pocket-passing quarterback with a high IQ pre- and post-snap. He can read the defense well and

It will come down to what makes the most financial sense for the San Francisco 49ers. Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that, based on conversations with other teams, there's a growing sentiment that the 49ers are now more likely to trade wide receiver Deebo Samuel following the selection of former Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 overall pick. Based on my conversations with other teams, the 49ers are now more likely to deal Deebo Samuel than they are Brandon Aiyuk. Stay tuned.— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver)

The most likely scenario is that both Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel will be on the San Francisco 49ers roster come Week 1. Unless there are unforeseen financial constraints, trading either player doesn't seem sensible with the 2024 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror. The 49ers wouldn't easily replace either wide receiver's value at this point unless another team makes an enticing offer involving a player and a draft pick. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently addressed fan questions, including whether Samuel might be traded and, if so, to which team. As he recently stated during an appearance on "The Herd," Breer noted that he initially leaned towards Aiyuk being the likelier