49ers' 'ideal draft haul' revealed by PFF
· Yahoo Sports
The San Francisco 49ers could go in a few different directions in the first three rounds of the draft this season. A lot will depend on how free agency goes first, but the 49ers have clear needs at a few big positions like receiver, offensive line and edge rusher.
In a perfect world, those are exactly the areas general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan address in the first three rounds. And it's where Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker pulled from to build his "ideal draft haul" for the 49ers. He wrote that the 49ers would love to get out of the first two days of the draft with receiver KC Concepcion, edge rusher R Mason Thomas, offensive lineman Gennings Dunker.
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The 49ers could encounter a much thinner receiver room than they’d like in short order, with Brandon Aiyuk set to be released and Jauan Jennings a free agent. In turn, drafting Concepcion (79.9 PFF receiving grade) would give Brock Purdy extra depth next to Ricky Pearsall.
San Francisco deployed three of its first five 2025 picks on its defensive front, but the unit still needs revitalizing after finishing dead last in overall PFF grade. Thomas would fill big needs in both departments after recording a 79.4 PFF run-defense grade with a 20.3% pass-rush win rate. Finally, Dunker could be a long-term answer at left tackle with Trent Williams turning 38 in August, or he could push Spencer Burford at left guard.
These picks are a perfect combination of win-now and long-term future bets. Concepcion caught 61 receptions for 919 yards and an SEC-leading nine touchdowns in 2025. Thomas had 15.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 32 tackles for a loss the past two seasons for the Oklahoma Sooners. Gennings, meanwhile, would be a solid depth piece who could turn into a crucial starter for San Francisco.
Will all these players fall to the Niners? That remains to be seen. It wouldn't be a surprise, either, if San Francisco went with these positions but at different times in the first three rounds, depending on how the board falls.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 2026 draft: PFF reveals 49ers' 'ideal' picks in first 3 rounds