San Francisco 49ers NFL draft grades: How did Niners do in first round?

Yahoo Sports1h ago10 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The San Francisco 49ers traded their No. 27 pick for the No. 30 pick and additional selections, opting not to draft in the first round. Their primary needs included edge rushers, offensive linemen, safeties, and receivers.

Key points

San Francisco 49ers traded No. 27 pick for No. 30 and a third-round pick
Traded No. 30 pick for a second-round and a fifth-round selection
Miami Dolphins selected Chris Johnson at No. 27
New York Jets took Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30
49ers' primary needs included edge rushers and offensive linemen

Chris JohnsonOmar Cooper Jr.San Francisco 49ersMiami Dolphins

The San Francisco 49ers seemingly decided there wasn't a player they thought was worth taking in the first round.

The Niners traded away the No. 27 pick for the No. 30 pick and a third-round pick, then traded the No. 30 pick for a second-round and a fifth-round selection.

They added an extra three picks in exchange for a late first-round pick. The Miami Dolphins selected cornerback Chris Johnson from San Diego State at No. 27, and at the No. 30 selection, the New York Jets took wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.

Going into the draft, the 49ers' primary needs were edge rushers, offensive linemen, safeties and receivers.

Here's the San Francisco 49ers' grade following the first round:

The 2026 NFL Draft Theater stage at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.

A general overall view of the downtown skyline and Fort Duquesne bridge of the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 22, 2026.

Large helmets of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.

Q&A

What trades did the San Francisco 49ers make during the first round of the NFL draft?

The 49ers traded their No. 27 pick for the No. 30 pick and a third-round pick, then traded the No. 30 pick for a second-round and a fifth-round selection.

Who did the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets select with the 27th and 30th picks?

The Miami Dolphins selected cornerback Chris Johnson at No. 27, while the New York Jets took wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30.

What were the San Francisco 49ers' primary needs heading into the draft?

The 49ers' primary needs were edge rushers, offensive linemen, safeties, and receivers.

How did the San Francisco 49ers grade after the first round of the NFL draft?

The article provides a grade for the 49ers following the first round, reflecting their draft strategy and trades.