Will John Lynch Use His Fourth-Round Assets to Move Up?
With a stacked fourth round, Lynch eyes draft day shifts. Will undervalued assets fuel a strategic climb for the 49ers?
The San Francisco 49ers are less than two weeks away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and the front office is looking to put the finishing touches on a roster that has already seen a massive overhaul this spring. Following a flurry of activity that brought in wide receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, and defensive depth like Cam Sample, the 49ers continued to bolster their secondary by signing cornerback Jack Jones on Friday. The one year deal for Jones adds yet another experienced piece to a defense that has been one of the league's most improved units this offseason.
With additions already made at wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, cornerback, and linebacker, general manager John Lynch is now turning his full attention to the draft, where the 49ers currently hold the No. 27 overall pick. A Trade Heavy Forecast Last year, the 49ers entered the draft with 11 picks and famously elected to use every single one of them.
This year, the math is different. San Francisco holds only six picks, but four of those are concentrated in the fourth round. Given this cluster of mid-round assets, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if the 49ers look to make a move.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported this week that league executives are bracing for one of the most volatile drafts in recent memory. “The expectation among many NFL teams is that the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory,” Schultz noted. “Specifically, on the defensive side of the ball—EDGE, CB, and LB are all strong/deep—while WR is considered the most talented offensive position.