49ers trade out of first round, stock up on Day 2 draft picks after pair of deals

The San Francisco 49ers didn't make a pick in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night. And that shouldn't be a surprise to those who were listening to general manager John Lynch on Monday.

The 49ers began the evening with pick No. 27, but they traded back twice, in deals with the Dolphins and Jets, to increase their draft stash after entering with just six picks - their second fewest since 2008 - and just two selections among the top 125.

The 49ers began by trading pick No. 27 in a deal with Miami in which they received picks No. 30 and a third-rounder (No. 90) while giving up a fourth-rounder (No. 138). They followed by trading No. 30 to the Jets in exchange for No. 33, the first pick of the second round, and a fifth-rounder (No. 179).

Lynch had noted Monday that the 49ers would be open to moving back in the first round. Only two teams, the Seahawks (four) and Chargers (five), entered the draft with fewer picks than the 49ers.

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"We don't have a ton of picks in this draft, right?" Lynch said. "So it does make some sense to - how can we find some more picks? We'll certainly be open to that."

The 49ers now have seven selections: Nos. 33 (second round), 58 (second), 90 (third), 127 (fourth), 133 (fourth), 139 (fourth) and 179 (fifth).

Lynch had said this year's draft is deep at wide receiver, edge rusher and offensive line, which are among the 49ers' top needs.

At No. 33, the 49ers have attractive options with prospects such as Washington wideout Denzel Boston and Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell available.

The big-bodied Boston (6-foot-5, 212 pounds) had 125 catches for 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns in his final two seasons. Howell was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after he had 11 sacks in 2025. Howell likely fell out of first round due to his arm length (30¼ inches), a key measurement for pass rushers. Howell's arms were the shortest among defensive linemen at the combine.

On Thursday, Lynch said the 49ers were open to trading pick No. 33, but indicated it was unlikely because they had a player in mind.

"You'd be foolish to not listen (to trade offers), and so we will do that," Lynch said. "But we have a good idea where we're going and looking forward to that."

The 49ers entered the draft with an agreement in place with the Dolphins to swap first-round picks if players the 49ers were targeting at No. 27 were off the board. Lynch said there were a "couple players" the 49ers would have taken had they been available.

In the five picks before the 49ers were on the clock, two edge rushers and a wide receiver were drafted. The Chargers grabbed Miami pass rusher Ahkeem Mesidor (No. 22) and the Cowboys took Central Florida pass rusher Malachi Lawrence (No. 23) before the Browns selected Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion (No. 24).

Both Lawrence and Concepcion reportedly visited the 49ers before the draft. Lynch was asked if Concepcion was a player the 49ers had been hoping fell to them at No. 27.

"We liked KC a lot," Lynch said. "A tremendous young man, really. Has great ability with the ball in his hands. Fun player to scout. Fun player to watch. … I think he's going to have a nice, nice future."

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the players they were considering drafting at No. 30, before their trade with the Jets, will be available when they are on the clock to start the second round Friday.

"I look at it as a huge success to come back to 33 - we would have still taken those guys at 30," Shanahan said. "Now, at 27 we were hoping for a couple of things and we missed those."

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 2:07 AM.