6 dream selections for the 49ers in the 2026 NFL draft

The San Francisco 49ers may not have many high-end prospects to pick from when they're on the clock with the No. 27 overall pick in this year's NFL draft. There are certainly some intriguing names, but none that feel like a home-run type of selection. Alas, we can dream, right?

We went through Dane Brugler's top 100 players at the Athletic and combed through a slew of mock drafts to find the players who aren't liable to make their way down to No. 27 overall.

In looking for dream 49ers prospects we tried to grasp a string of reality. There is very little chance any of these players will be falling to San Francisco at the No. 27 pick. Some won't even get close to the range where the 49ers could move up for them. Players like running back Jeremiyah Love and defensive end David Bailey are projected top-five choices. We left those types of players out.

However, strange things happen in the NFL draft and one unexpected pick could set off a domino effect that lands the 49ers with another premium prospect they were never expected to have access to.

Here are six prospects who jump out as dream choices for the 49ers in the 2026 draft:

1. WR Jordyn Tyson, ASU

There's a wide range of opinions on just how early Tyson will go in this year's draft, but his size, movement skills and toughness would quickly make him a top target in the 49ers' passing game.

2. DE Reuben Bain, Miami

Bain should probably go in the bucket with players like Love and Bailey. This is our list, though, and we're going to do what we want with it. If the 49ers were picking 15th instead of 27th, Bain is a player they might try and trade up for. He's a three-down defensive end who plays with a nasty, violent style the 49ers front office would quickly fall in love with. He'd make the 49ers' defensive front better on Day 1.

3. TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

It's unclear whether the 49ers would view Sadiq as a "dream" target given the position he plays. It's also hard to imagine how a stout blocker with legitimate field-stretching ability in the passing game wouldn't fit in nicely alongside, and eventually replacing as an All-Pro caliber tight end.