What do the 49ers’ free agency moves tell us about their draft plans?

Sep 7, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, right, talks with head coach Kyle Shanahan during pregame warmups against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images In a month’s time, the 49ers will have rounded off another extremely important draft as they look to return to seriously contending for the Super Bowl. San Francisco has received praise for its efforts in boosting the roster so far this offseason, with the Niners attacking needs via free agency and what looks an astute trade for defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa.

Aside from some possible moves on the margins, the 49ers are done in terms of free agency, but what does their approach in the first phase of the offseason tell us about what they might do in the draft? There are several things we can glean from their signings to this point with the draft under four weeks away. Familiar positions in Round 1 focus It generally hasn’t been difficult to predict what the 49ers are going to do in the first round of drafts during the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era.

Five of their seven first-round selections since 2017 have been spent on either the defensive line or the wide receiver position. The two exceptions came in 2018 when the Niners selected tackle Mike McGlinchey and, more famously, in 2021 with the trade up for quarterback Trey Lance. In their nine drafts to this point.

The only other instance of the 49ers spending their highest selection on another position was in 2023 when they used a third-rounder on safety Ji’Ayir Brown. Their highest pick in 2022 was in the second round, with which they took edge rusher Drake Jackson. And, after an offseason in which the 49ers saw Bryce Huff retire and allowed the likes of Yetur Gross-Matos and Robert Beal Jr.