With Lance now a member of the Dallas Cowboys and Brock Purdy inked in as the 49ers' starter for the foreseeable future, the team is in a different position heading into this year's draft. They expect to own 11 selections, including the No. 31 overall pick.
General manager John Lynch and his staff are currently in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine. They are evaluating prospects and strategizing for the upcoming draft, including what to do with their first-round selection.
Team reporter Lindsey Pallares spoke with Lynch, asking how finally owning a first-round pick again impacts the team's draft strategy.
"Really, it doesn't," Lynch responded. "It gives you a little more to do on day one. Day one, we've been doing a lot of prep and obviously stay by the phones and things like that, but we've had great success late in the draft. We've had success early in the draft. So I think every draft pick is an opportunity to improve your team, and we look at it as such, and it is nice to have the first-round pick again."
Lynch and the 49ers are also focused on signing Brandon Aiyuk to a contract extension this offseason. The team drafted the wide receiver with the No. 25 overall pick in 2020 and has prioritized securing contract extensions for its most talented core players in recent years.
"So to offset a lot of the players who we've taken, most of them homegrown, who we've drafted and then given big deals, you have to constantly be getting that next group of young players," Lynch explained. "I thought we had a nice draft class last year that contributed more as the season went on, and I think a lot of those guys will contribute in years to come.
"So you constantly have to be adding to that, and that's why this process is so important."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers use first-round pick on 'developmental prospect' in 2026 NFL mock draft
The San Francisco 49ers are expected to address multiple roster needs this offseason. Help in the trenches remains a priority, the offense could benefit from another pass-catching weapon for quarterback Brock Purdy, and adding depth to the secondary is firmly in play. There's... -
49ers add receiver, running back in 3-round NFL mock draft
Alec Elijah of Pro Football and Sports Network (PFSN) released a three-round 2026 NFL mock draft projecting the San Francisco 49ers to address multiple roster needs—though notably not the offensive or defensive lines, two areas widely viewed as priorities. Still, Elijah has... -
49ers address several needs in new 3-round NFL mock draft
With the Senior Bowl practices and game being covered all week, and the NFL Scouting Combine coming soon, draft discussions are starting to heat up. And that includes mock drafts. The upcoming draft in April is an important one for the San Francisco 49ers, who need an influx of... -
49ers add potential George Kittle successor in Daniel Jeremiah's mock draft
George Kittle's timeline for returning in the 2026 NFL season remains uncertain, and it's unclear whether he'll be able to perform at his usual All-Pro level once he does. The San Francisco 49ers tight end suffered a torn Achilles during the team's Wild Card playoff loss to the...