Breaking Down the 49ers’ Strategy to ‘Steal’ Value at the Top of Round 2

Breaking Down the 49ers’ Strategy to ‘Steal’ Value at the Top of Round 2

After a whirlwind opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft that saw the San Francisco 49ers trade back not once, but twice, the stage is set for a massive Friday. While many expected John Lynch to eventually pull the trigger on a first round talent, the Niners finished Thursday holding the first pick of the second round (No. 33) and a significantly bolstered war chest of salary cap space. The message from the 49ers front office is clear, they believe they’ve already won the draft without even making a selection.

Brian Baldinger: "They’re Not Trading the Pick"

NFL analyst Brian Baldinger isn't buying the rumors that the 49ers are looking to move further down. According to Baldinger, the overnight reset is exactly what the front office needed to solidify their board.

"They had the whole night to sit and look at the board. They’re not gonna trade the pick. I think they’ve identified a player that they can kick off the second round with." — Brian Baldinger, via @957thegame

By sliding from No. 27 to No. 30 (via Miami) and then down to No. 33 (via the Jets), Kyle Shanahan noted that the team essentially "stole" extra capital. "The guys that we would've taken at 30 are still there," Shanahan explained. "I look at that as a huge success to move back to 33."

Top Targets for Pick No. 33

The 49ers are staring at a "best case scenario" board for Day 2. With several first round graded prospects sliding, here are the names linked to San Francisco at the top of the second round:

• WR Denzel Boston (Washington): A big-bodied target who could provide a new dimension to the passing game.
• S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo): A versatile secondary piece with high end ball skills.
• DE T.J. Parker (Clemson) / DE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M): The Niners are always looking to reload the defensive front.
• G Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M): Immediate help for the interior offensive line.