Ranking hot, lukewarm, and cold prospects for the 49ers at each pick

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 19: WR Omar Cooper Jr. #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs with the ball during the Indiana Hoosiers versus the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game Presented by AT&T on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images NFL teams are going through various exercises ahead of the NFL Draft.

The goal is to prepare yourself for any potential unexpected scenario while you’re on the clock. We’ll work through a scenario I did with Rob Lowder , where we labeled each prospect “hot,” “lukewarm,” and “cold” in each round. If it’s not self-explanatory, “hot” prospects are the players you’d run to the podium for if they’re still on the board.

We listed some players in this category as those rated higher who may slip down the board in a trade-up scenario. Lukewarm prospects fall under “good but not great. ” Players you’d rely on to start and contribute, but come with an obvious floor.

If you’re listed as cold, we identified enough red flags that it’s either a reach, not a good fit, or a combination of both, while we factored in the value. You’re going to find different opinions consistently when talking about players. Five people could watch a wide receiver run one route, and each person could have a different conclusion.