It’s time for the 49ers 2020 Draft recap. The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2020 NFL draft without any picks in rounds two through four. That said, through some trades and solid decision making, they wound up having a pretty interesting draft overall. We’re going to break down their trades and draft picks and grade them on what they did. In addition, let’s take a look at the newcomers and their potential roles in the upcoming season.
San Francisco 49ers 2020 Draft Recap
Round One
Pick 14 – Javon Kinlaw – DT – South Carolina
To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled when this pick was announced because wide receiver seemed like a bigger need and perhaps a more glamorous pick. That said, if we’ve learned nothing in San Francisco under their current rebuild, it’s that the defensive front seven is huge in winning games and Kinlaw is a beast. He’s a great fit considering the team sent DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in order to procure this pick in the draft. Basically the 49ers replaced a major asset at a fraction of the cost. If Kinlaw proves to be the player everyone thinks he is, it’s a tremendous move by the 49ers.
Grade: A-
Pick 25 – Brandon Aiyuk – WR – Arizona State
Don’t love trading a second-round pick away to move up six spots to take Aiyuk here, at all. There were other wide receivers on the board who were ranked higher, and to give up a second-round pick for this guy seems a big-time reach. Aiyuk likely could have been there at 31. Aiyuk played very well in 2019 for Arizona State and is a threat in the return game as well. He averaged 31 yards per kickoff return and 16.1 yards per punt return. Aiyuk did undergo core muscle surgery this month, but there don’t seem to be any lasting concerns on his health. He’s a good receiver, and he’ll fit in nicely, but the team just gave up too much to acquire him.
Grade: C
Round 5
Pick 7 – Colton McKivitz – OT – West Virginia
This is a good pick for the 49ers. McKivitz was a third-team All American selection and a second-team All-Big 12 selection after his senior season. He was drafted the same day that 49ers iconic left tackle Joe Staley announced his retirement from the NFL. He will likely have a year or two on the bench to gain strength and learn the game at the next level. He’s a player expected to make the roster this season and contribute to the 49ers for years to come.
Grade: B-
Round 6
Pick 11 – Charlie Woerner – TE – Georgia
This selection is a bit of a head-scratcher. Charlie Woerner did not catch a ton of passes at Georgia. Woerner is considered an excellent blocker. That said, he’s a tad undersized for a blocking tight end in the NFL, and I don’t see him being an impact player on this roster. The 49ers fancied a second tight end, although Ross Dwelley is a good second tight end to George Kittle. Woerner could catch on with special teams, but I don’t see him impacting the offense much in the coming years.
Grade: D
Round 7
Pick 3 – Jauan Jennings – WR – Tennessee
You don’t often find guys who help shape Super Bowl rosters in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. The 49ers hope they landed one in Jauan Jennings, despite the long odds against him. Saying Jennings isn’t fast is not quite telling the whole story. He’s slow. Flat out slow, by any professional football measure. Jennings ran a 4.72 40-yard dash at the combine which was among the slowest by all wide receivers. He could wind up on the practice squad, but likely won’t make the 53-man roster.
Grade: D
49ers 2020 Draft Recap – The Trades
Players Leaving San Francisco
Marquise Goodwin – WR – To the Philadelphia Eagles
Goodwin is a fast and talented wide receiver. Injuries cut his 2019 season short and he became expendable. He’s a bit undersized but is ridiculously fast and when healthy, can be a major factor. He should have a solid 2020 with the Eagles and this was simply a move by the 49ers to clear cap space and free themselves of a contract they no longer wanted on the books. Goodwin will be missed, but it was a good move financially for the 49ers and frees up $5 million in cap space.
Grade: B+
Matt Breida – RB – To the Miami Dolphins
Losing Matt Breida hurts. He can absolutely fly and constantly makes plays. Breida was part of a very crowded backfield by committee in San Francisco and he was the odd man out. He was dealt to the Miami Dolphins, where he should have a good opportunity to succeed. The 49ers will miss him at times but they were looking to clear some cap and Breida was scheduled to make $4 million in 2020.
Grade: C-
Players Coming to San Francisco
Trent Williams – OT – From the Washington Redskins
Trent Williams is thrilled to be moving on from the Redskins. He missed the 2019 season after surgery to remove a growth from his skull. It was first seen by the Redskin medical team and they told him it was nothing to worry about. Turns out they were wrong. It was a form of cancer and after the growth was removed, he was placed on the non-football injury list by the Redskins in 2019. He was given permission to seek a trade and was dealt to the 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round pick this season and a third-round pick in next year’s draft. He will likely start at tackle this year, replacing the retiring Joe Staley. It’s potentially a great move for the 49ers if Williams is able to return to his previous form.
Grade: B+
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