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The San Francisco 49ers traded away their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, now focusing on Day 2 with three selections: two in the second round (No. 33 and 58) and one in the third round (No. 90). Head coach Kyle Shanahan believes this strategy allows them to still target key players.
The San Francisco 49ers punted the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, trading away their pick to add more selections in the later rounds.
Enter, Day 2.
The Niners have three selections on Friday, two in the second round (No. 33 and 58) and one in the third round (No. 90).
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that he views trading out of the first round a good move.
"The guys that we would've taken at 30 are still there," Shanahan said. "I look at that as a huge success to move back to 33, and you would've taken those guys at 30."
After their first round decisions, it's a matter of whether they will choose to make those later round picks or trade them for other assets or future picks. However, it goes, the Niners need to address their defensive edge position, offensive line, defensive secondary and receivers. Although some positions require more attention than others.
There are still available players at the positions the 49ers need. Here are some of the best remaining players in the draft.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park.
Carnell Tate of Ohio State.
The 49ers have three picks on Day 2: two in the second round (No. 33 and 58) and one in the third round (No. 90).
The 49ers traded away their first-round pick to acquire more selections in the later rounds, which they view as a strategic move.
Kyle Shanahan believes trading out of the first round was a good move, stating that the players they would have taken at pick 30 are still available.
The 49ers have a total of three selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, all occurring on Day 2.
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Kayden McDonald of Ohio State.
Francis Mauigoa of Miami.
Arvell Reese of Ohio State.
Mansoor Delane of LSU.
Dillon Thieneman of Oregon.
Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson poses on the red carpet.
Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey.
Colton Hood of Tennessee.
Kadyn Proctor of Alabama arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park.
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Carnell Tate of Ohio State.
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Kayden McDonald of Ohio State.
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Francis Mauigoa of Miami.
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Arvell Reese of Ohio State.
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Mansoor Delane of LSU.
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Dillon Thieneman of Oregon.
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Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson poses on the red carpet.
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Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey.
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Colton Hood of Tennessee.
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Kadyn Proctor of Alabama arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here are the best players still on the draft board, according to USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz. See his full list here.
A torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last January kept McCoy out of commission for all of last season and clouded his pre-draft process. But in a stellar pro day showing, the 6-1, 188-pound corner served up a reminder that he has all the trappings of a top-tier cover man. With superlative ball skills and ample tools to stick with receivers throughout their routes, McCoy can grow into a standout in any defensive scheme.
Some will see a 6-4, 210-pound body and assume Boston relies on pulling down jump balls in close quarters. But while tilting those throws in his favor is his best feature, it's far from his only one. Boston has impressive fluidity for a player with his physical make-up, and his tracking and midair adjustments make him an even more confounding coverage assignment.
Though he might not be an all-around coverage maven, McNeil-Warren is comfortable exerting his will from several different vantage points. He rallies to the ball in a hurry in run support, working his way through traffic to deliver big hits. And though his 6-4, 201-pound build limits his comfort zone in coverage, he can give both quarterbacks and receivers pause on attempting any throws over the middle.
With McCoy sidelined, Hood did a commendable job of filling in as the Volunteers' primary asset in coverage. The Colorado transfer kept the competitive juices flowing in shutting down tight-window throws as well as making his presence felt against the run. He can't match McCoy in overall fluidity, but he still sizes up as a meaningful counter in man coverage for bigger receivers.
The brother of Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell has a preternatural feel for when to take a calculated risk to make a play, either in coverage or as a tackler. His modest physical tools mean he has to stay glued to receivers, but Terrell is typically up to the task, though there's only so much he can do to hold up against bigger-bodied targets.
While some edge rushers avoid contact at all costs, Young is happy to seek it. The 6-6, 262-pound defensive end relishes engaging with blockers before dispatching them. The next step in his development hinges on discovering more counter moves, but Young shouldn't have trouble finding a home in a league that's skewing toward rushers who can convert speed to power and set a firm edge.
A steep jump in quality of competition didn't slow the Bowling Green transfer, who became the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by consistently turning the corner on some of college football's best offensive linemen. While he's most comfortable bending around edges, Howell isn't afraid to work back inside when an offensive tackle overcommits. His short arms and lack of anchor against the run could be disqualifying for some teams, but any defensive scheme that places a premium on creating havoc should be able to find a place for him.
Seldom fooled by misdirection, Allen can be counted on to make the right calls for himself and those who stand alongside him on defense. His role might top out at finishing plays rather than making them, though, as he's merely serviceable in block deconstruction and doesn't offer much in man coverage.
Size concerns might be enough to dissuade some decision-makers from drafting a 5-9, 182-pound cornerback early on Day 2. Ponds, however, has every other tool at his disposal to follow receivers all over the field and deny them easy catches. It's easy to force a nickel role on him, but Ponds deserves a shot to show how he can hold up on the outside.
Is it possible for a former five-star recruit to be overlooked? Hill fares well firing downhill and squeezing through narrow openings to find the ball. He can also make waves as a blitzer and in coverage, though he's not as advanced in either phase as he is in making his mark against the run.
A two-time transfer from Wyoming and USC, Pregnon has continually leveled up his play. He's at least functional almost across the board and should be able to hold his own as a starter right away.
Leaving any blocker to square off against McDonald one-on-one almost assuredly will result in that player being blown back. The 6-2, 326-pounder might not regularly hold his ground against double teams, but he has a distinct aptitude for corralling any ball carriers who make their way anywhere close to his vicinity along the line.
Like several other of his former teammates, Parker saw his draft stock get dinged a bit throughout a disappointing season. His resurgence at the Senior Bowl, however, served as a reminder that he still can create pressure by pushing the pocket while also adding a good deal of value in helping shut down opposing rushing attacks.
Reducing his impact to what likely will be limited sack numbers in the NFL would be a disservice to Jacas and whatever team brings him aboard. The 6-4, 260-pound edge rusher can wear blockers down and create consistent pressure as a brawler, which will help compensate for his vanilla pass-rush approach.
Based solely on his athleticism, it'd be hard to guess that the sixth-year senior was a former walk-on. The 6-1, 190-pound nickel dynamo thrives at getting a bead on a quarterback's intentions and arriving just in time to make an interception, pass breakup or big hit. If he properly modulates his big-play mindset, he could become an electric piece of a secondary.
He likely won't generate as much excitement as many of the Bulldogs' other recent standouts along the defensive front, but Miller has the make-up of a stout pro. Though prolific sack or pressure totals might not ever follow, Miller can help dictate terms up front against opposing rushing attacks.
At 6-4 and 318 pounds, Hunter is a big body and even bigger personality. Despite being fairly nimble for a player of his size, he likely maxes out as a space-eater who denies opposing ground game's anything up the middle. There's a distinct value in that, however, as he'll still be a force opposing fronts have to consistently account for.
Last year's John Mackey Award winner might soon be a tight end in name only. No matter the label, a target who's 6-4 and 239 pounds with serious wheels (4.51-second 40-yard dash) and hops (45 1/2-inch vertical) will be sure to pose problems for defenses. Stowers ultimately figures to be a supersized detached receiver in some form, though getting stronger and coming down with contested catches more often will be critical to his ongoing development.
With the bulk of his experience coming at linebacker, the Maryland transfer doesn't have the same natural feel for making his way to the quarterback that other edge rushers have. Yet the combination of his explosiveness and all-gas-no-breaks style could set him up to make a significant jump once he learns to beat blocks rather than merely blow them up.
With long arms and an explosive first step, Josephs is an imposing figure off the snap. While he can close in on quarterbacks in a hurry when he finds a runway, he's not bendy or strong enough to open up his own paths consistently. Bulking up and rounding out his pass-rush arsenal, however, could help him grow into a formidable threat.
A good athlete, Bisontis still falls below the desired arm length threshold for many teams even on the interior. But he brings the requisite mindset to get the job done, and a more patient approach to pass protection could make him a solid starter.
A classic tackle-to-guard convert, Dunker launches all comers out of the way whenever he gets a hand on them. Even with the position switch, however, he still has a good deal of work to do in order to become a reliable pass protector.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Francisco 49ers draft targets, best players available