2020 NFL Draft: 5 Teams most likely to trade down in the first round
5. San Francisco 49ers
Although the San Francisco 49ers traded DeForest Buckner earlier this offseason for the No. 13 overall pick, giving them two total picks on Day 1, they are a likely candidate to trade back in Round 1.
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Coming off of a Super Bowl loss and looking to reload for a trip back to the big game next February, the 49ers are going to need a greater contribution from their rookies like they had last season with Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw.
Unfortunately for San Francisco, they won’t be on the clock for a long while after pick No. 31. The 49ers do not have any picks in the second, third or fourth rounds. Their next draft choice following their original first-round pick isn’t until the end of the fifth round.
The 49ers are in desperate need of additional mid-round picks, and trading down in the first round could be the best solution.
San Francisco won’t be in dire cap restraints next year, as they are projected to have $33 million in 2021 cap space and few pending free agents of note. Yet, the best way to keep a Super Bowl window open is to have cheap, impactful talent on the payroll.
If the 49ers don’t restock their draft capital, they may not be one of the NFC’s elite for long.