Sometimes, quantity is better than quality. Well, the 49ers are hoping that's the case in 2023.
The 49ers are in both an advantageous and disadvantageous position in the 2023 NFL Draft. The draft is always better when you have more darts to throw at the board: Niners GM John Lynch has 11 picks to work with, but none of the 11 are first- or second-rounders.
San Francisco is in the last year of paying for its Trey Lance trade up, which left the 49ers without a first-rounder. They also traded their second-, third- and fourth-round picks for Christian McCaffrey prior to the 2023 trade deadline, leaving them with no picks in the first two rounds.
TSN'S NFL DRAFT HQ
Live picks tracker | 7-round mock draft | Top 200 big board
Still, the 49ers have three third-round picks to work with this year, thanks to their propensity of developing minority coaches and GMs. Here's how San Francisco's picks break down:
49ers draft picks 2023: Who did San Francisco take?
- Round 3, Pick 87: Ji'Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
- Round 3, Pick 99: Jake Moody, K, Michigan
- Round 3, Pick 101: Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama
- Round 5, Pick 155: Darrell Luter Jr., CB, South Alabama
- Round 5, Pick 173: Robert Beal, EDGE, Alabama
- Round 6, Pick 216: Dee Winters, LB, TCU
- Round 7, Pick 247: Brayden Willis, TE, Oklahoma
- Round 7, Pick 253: Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan
- Round 7, Pick 255: Jalen Graham, LB, Purdue
LIVE: Grades & analysis for every pick in 2023 NFL Draft
49ers NFL Draft order 2023
| Round | Pick, overall |
|---|---|
| 3 | 99* |
| 3 | 101* |
| 3 | 102* |
| 5 | 155 (from MIA) |
| 5 | 164 |
| 5 | 173 |
| 6 | 216 |
| 7 | 222 (from DEN) |
| 7 | 247 |
| 7 | 253 |
| 7 | 255 |
* - Compensatory selection
49ers NFL Draft needs
- Tight end: The 49ers really need to build out the room behind the oft-injured George Kittle. When he's healthy, he's one of the best, but he's dealt with injuries, both nagging and serious, in the last three years.
- Defensive end: The 49ers need to build pressure opposite of Nick Bosa, another oft-injured player. The 49ers will benefit from drafting a DE, too, considering they need cheap options to offset Bosa's massive extension he signed earlier in the offseason.
- Safety: Talanoa Hufanga had an excellent season for San Francisco, but they're going to need a ball-hawking free safety to pair with him. Tashaun Gipson is back on a one-year deal, but he's 32, and the Niners will need aa long-term solution.
49ers mock draft 2023
Here is how the 49ers' draft will unfold in 2023, according to TSN's Vinnie Iyer's seven-round mock draft:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 99 | Julius Brents | CB | Kansas State |
| 3 | 101 | Tank Dell | WR | Houston |
| 3 | 102 | Zacch Pickens | DT | South Carolina |
| 5 | 155 | Viliami Fehoko | EDGE | San Jose State |
| 5 | 164 | Ronnie Hickman | S | Ohio State |
| 5 | 173 | Spencer Anderson | OT | Maryland |
| 6 | 216 | Keaton Mitchell | RB | East Carolina |
| 7 | 222 | Antonio Mafi | G | UCLA |
| 7 | 247 | Terrell Smith | CB | Minnesota |
| 7 | 253 | DeMarcco Hellams | S | Alabama |
| 7 | 255 | Connor Galvin | OT | Baylor |