San Francisco 49ers re-draft: Fixing their 2020 NFL Draft haul
Improving the San Francisco 49ers’ 2020 NFL Draft haul with a complete seven-round re-draft.
The San Francisco 49ers held two first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft and there is a lot to like about their selections of Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk. However, if we are being honest, they could have done better. In this post, we are going to try to improve their 2020 NFL Draft class with a complete seven-round re-draft.
Just a couple of things to note before we get started. In this re-draft scenario, the San Francisco 49ers are still making the trade for new left tackle Trent Williams. Sending a 2020 fifth-round pick and 2021 third-round pick in exchange for Williams was a no-brainer for this as soon as they knew Joe Staley retired. The other trades that the 49ers made will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Round 1, Pick 14
Actual 2020 NFL Draft selection: Javon Kinlaw, IDL, South Carolina
Re-Draft selection: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
There is a lot to like about the 49ers’ selection of Javon Kinlaw at No. 14. They traded down one spot and took arguably the best defensive lineman not named Chase Young in the 2020 NFL Draft class. In this re-draft, the 49ers still make that short trade down with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, picking up a fourth-round selection for their trouble. However, instead of taking Kinlaw at No. 14, the 49ers bring in wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Kinlaw is an extremely talented defender, but taking him with essentially the pick that they acquired in the DeForest Buckner trade was a little odd. Kinlaw has a chance to be great, but he is never going to adequately replace Buckner. Instead, they would have been better off using their early pick to tackle their need at wide receiver with an elite-level player like Jeudy.
Jeudy is an extremely crisp and precise route runner who consistently creates space against man coverage and is a tremendous playmaker with the ball in his hands. He is a consistent offensive playmaker who can make an impact in the short, intermediate and deep passing game. Make no mistake about it, Kyle Shanahan would have a lot of fun getting Jeudy involved in this offense.