Could the San Francisco 49ers make some noise in the NFL Draft later this month?
The 49ers own the 31st overall pick, so they won’t have the same excitement as teams like the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, all of whom will be drafting in the top three.
However, there is still a ton of value in late first-round picks, and San Francisco still has some needs that it needs to address.
Take the Niners’ offensive line, for example.
Not that the 49ers’ offensive line was bad this past season, but they could certainly use some help in the trenches, and Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey feels the club could potentially be eyeing Duke left tackle Graham Barton in the late first round. Barton has also played center, so he would bring some versatility to San Francisco up front.
But will Barton be available at No. 31? Tansey thinks the Niners may try to trade up for him, suggesting that the 49ers send the 31st pick as part of a package that also includes a couple of fourth-rounders to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for the 26th overall pick.
This would allow the 49ers to jump in front of their NFC West division rival Arizona Cardinals, who may also be targeting an offensive lineman.
The Cardinals went just 4-13 this past season, but it’s important to note that they spent much of the year without quarterback Kyler Murray, who was recovering from a torn ACL.
Arizona also owns the fourth pick in the draft and is expected to take Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., which would give Murray a much-needed weapon in the aerial attack.
So, while the Cardinals may seem down and out at the moment, they could become pretty pesky with the right moves later this month, and San Francisco may want to get out ahead of that and spoil whatever Arizona has planned at No. 27. Considering the Cards also need offensive line help, it’s entirely possible they may be looking at Barton, as well.
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