The 2020 NFL Draft will be a big part of the team's ability to improve. San Francisco, having lost the Super Bowl, will select at the second-to-last spot in the first round, pending any trades.
Why would the 49ers want to trade the selection? Because they don't own another one until the fifth round. Their second-round pick went to, of all teams, the Chiefs in exchange for pass rusher Dee Ford. Their third- and fourth-round picks went to the Denver Broncos in exchange for veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who is scheduled to become a free agent.
That makes the first-round selection a must-hit for the 49ers unless the team can turn it into multiple picks in later rounds. As it stands right now, general manager John Lynch and company don't have a Day 2 selection with which to work.
The 2020 NFL Draft will be held from April 23–25 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Below is the first-round draft order, which is entirely known now that the 2019 season is officially complete.
- Cincinnati Bengals (2-14)
- Washington Redskins (3-13)
- Detroit Lions (3-12-1)
- New York Giants (4-12)
- Miami Dolphins (5-11)
- Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
- Carolina Panthers (5-11)
- Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)
- Cleveland Browns (6-10)
- New York Jets (7-9)
- Las Vegas Raiders (7-9)
- Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
- Denver Broncos (7-9)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
- Miami Dolphins (via Steelers 8-8)
- Las Vegas Raiders (via Bears 8-8)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams 9-7)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
- Buffalo Bills (10-6)
- New England Patriots (12-4)
- New Orleans Saints (13-3)
- Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
- Miami Dolphins (via Texans 10-6)
- Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (14-2)
- Tennessee Titans (9-7)
- Green Bay Packers (13-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
- Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)