The San Francisco 49ers deserve credit for battling through adversity in 2025. San Francisco was dealt a mountain of injuries, but they still managed to make the playoffs with a 12-5 record. The 49ers even upset the Eagles on the road before meeting their demise against the eventual Super Bowl champions.
San Francisco has played around in NFL free agency. They’ve added key playmakers, including veteran receiver Mike Evans, who could get them back to the playoffs in 2026.
But if the 49ers want to maintain their success into the future, they’ll need to smash the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which positions should the 49ers prioritize in the first few rounds? And will San Francisco be able to add any Week 1 starters?
These are the prospects who analysts are mocking to the 49ers just weeks before the draft.
T Caleb Lomu, Utah
JP Acosta, CBS Sports; Rhett Lewis, NFL.com; Peter Schrager, ESPN
NFL insiders are split on whether or not the 49ers should take a tackle in the first round.
Veteran left tackle Trent Williams turns 38 years old this summer. Sooner or later, his time in San Francisco is going to come to an end. Several analysts think drafting a first-round tackle is a smart move, with Lomu as a popular option towards the end of the first round.
“The 49ers need to prepare for life after Williams, so they take Lomu, one of the better athletes at the position and a smooth pass protector,” Acosta wrote. “He could either replace McKivitz first or develop before eventually taking over on the left side.”
Lomu was a two-year starter at left tackle at Utah. While he does have experience, he’ll need more time to develop in the NFL.
As such, San Francisco might be one of the best landing spots in the league for Lomu.
T Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Daire Carragher, PFF; Tim Crean, ClutchPoints
Iheanachor could also be a good fit on San Francisco’s offensive line.
The presence of Williams could make the 49ers more comfortable taking a shot on Iheanachor. He is an incredibly raw prospect who only started playing organized football in 2021. Therefore, the opportunity to learn from a legendary tackle like Williams could do wonders for Iheanachor’s development.
“With retirement looming for 38-year-old legend Trent Williams, the 49ers can afford to use this pick as a future investment on their offensive line, and Iheanachor’s fluid movement fits perfectly in Kyle Shanahan’s zone rushing scheme,” Carragher argued.
San Francisco also has an immediate need at left guard in addition to their left tackle dilemma. Perhaps the 49ers could try Iheanachor at guard in 2026 while keeping an open mind about shifting him to left tackle in the future.
Either way, the 49ers must be confident in their abilities to coach up Iheanachor to draft him in the first round.
DT Peter Woods, Clemson
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports
Defensive tackle is a surprisingly big need for the 49ers this offseason.
San Francisco hired Raheem Morris at defensive coordinator to replace Robert Saleh. That hires means that the 49ers are switching to a 3-4 defensive front, which is a big change from a personnel perspective.
The 49ers already made one big acquisition this offseason, trading for DT Osa Odighizuwa from the Cowboys. He should play significant snaps alongside youngster Alfred Collins.
All things being equal, San Francisco would probably like to add another talented tackle to the interior of their defensive line. Unfortunately, the 2026 draft class is thin with first-round talent at defensive tackle.
If the 49ers want to take a shot on someone, Woods makes the most sense.
“Coming into the season, Woods was projected to be one of the first players drafted, but a quiet 2025 campaign could have him falling to the bottom of the first round — where he can play on a talented defensive line right away,” Tice and McDonald wrote.
Woods could benefit from playing alongside Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and the rest of San Francisco’s defenders. He could also be the final piece of an ascending defensive unit.
EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
San Francisco may choose to add depth at edge rusher instead.
The 49ers have an excellent pair of starters between Bosa and Mykel Williams. But the depth behind them is not good, with Keion White and Sasm Okuyinonu as the top options.
Faulk is just 21 years old and would both prepare the 49ers for the future and provide immediate value in 2026.
“If the 49ers are planning for the future, they’ll target an offensive tackle. After last year’s injury-riddled experience, however, they decide to seek depth on the defensive side, leading GM John Lynch to add another edge rusher to a group headlined by Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams,” Shook explained. “If this defense is going to climb out of the cellar in the sacks department, San Francisco will need an army of quarterback hunters.”
San Francisco only had 20 sacks in 2025, six fewer than the lowly New York Jets. That alone should put edge rusher in play for the 49ers in the first round.
Faulk could be an excellent value at 27th overall.
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