As a lead-up to the 2023 NFL draft, we've broken down the current depth chart of every NFL team and identified the biggest draft and team needs for the San Francisco 49ers.
You can find additional team-by-team draft needs articles and other draft content on our 2023 NFL Draft hub.
Who did the 49ers pick in the NFL Draft?
The San Francisco 49ers selected Ji'Ayir Brown (S, Penn State) with the 87th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The 49ers added Jake Moody (K, Michigan) with the 99th pick and Cameron Latu (TE, Alabama) with the 101st pick.
49ers Draft Needs: Top Positions of Need in 2023
- Offensive Line
- Cornerback
- EDGE
What Picks do the San Francisco 49ers have in 2023?
The San Francisco 49ers have 11 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, including:
- Round 3 (99)
- Round 3 (101)
- Round 3 (102)
- Round 5 (155)
- Round 5 (164)
- Round 5 (173)
- Round 6 (216)
- Round 7 (222)
- Round 7 (247)
- Round 7 (253)
- Round 7 (255)
San Francisco 49ers Draft Capital Stats
Our Sharp Draft Value Rank is a valuation of draft capital based on a combination of average performance delivered and average dollars earned on second contracts.
This is based on two public models: performance delivered based on draft slot (the AV model created by Chase Stuart) and contractual earnings in non-rookie deals based upon draft slot (the OTC model created by Brad Spielberger and Jason Fitzgerald).
- 49ers Sharp Draft Value Rank: 28 of 32 teams
- 49ers AV Model Draft Value Rank: 31 of 32 teams
- 49ers OTC Model Draft Value Rank: 26 of 32 teams
San Francisco 49ers Draft Value vs Other Teams:
The 49ers' draft value is 35% lower than the league average of all 32 teams. 27 other teams have higher draft value entering the 2023 NFL Draft.
San Francisco 49ers Draft Prediction:
Mock draft expert Ryan McCrystal believes the 49ers could target an offensive lineman like Nick Saldiveri (OT, Old Dominion) with their top pick at No. 99 overall in the third round.
The 49ers do not have a first-round pick.
San Francisco 49ers Strength of Schedule, 2023
San Francisco 49ers have the 10th easiest NFL strength of schedule for the 2023 NFL season.
San Francisco 49ers Offense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Michael Hauff breaks down the offensive depth chart by position for the San Francisco 49ers, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
2022 San Francisco 49ers Offensive Rankings
Quarterback Depth Chart, 49ers:
- Brock Purdy
- Trey Lance
- Sam Darnold
Clarity remains an issue at the quarterback position.
While recovery from elbow surgery will dictate his availability, all signs point to Brock Purdy being the frontrunner for the starting job when he is healthy.
It comes with good reason. Over his five regular season starts, Purdy threw for 11 touchdowns while the 49ers averaged 33.6 points per game.
While it remains to be seen when Purdy will be cleared to return, he and Trey Lance are under their rookie contracts for a few more seasons.
Even though Sam Darnold was added to the team this offseason, it would not be a surprise if the 49ers invest one of their eight Day-3 picks in a quarterback, especially if rumors of Lance being on the trade block are true.
While that drafted quarterback could wind up on the practice squad, the rollercoaster of signal-caller injuries the team endured last season makes the investment worthwhile.
Running Back Depth Chart, 49ers:
- Christian McCaffrey
- Elijah Mitchell
- Jordan Mason
- Tyrion Davis-Price
- Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
There is no doubt that the addition of Christian McCaffrey paid immediate dividends.
While playing 11 regular-season games for the NFC West champions, McCaffrey averaged 4.7 yards per carry and had 10 total touchdowns.
As well as McCaffrey produced, running back will still be a position of need in the draft.
Elijah Mitchell is the backup but played in just five games last season. The depth doesn’t get all that stronger with young and unproven backs like Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price.
The 49ers have finished in the top 10 in rush attempts over the last two seasons, so the position is important enough to address with one of their seven compensatory picks.
Since John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017, they have drafted four running backs. Three of those picks have come in the last two years.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart, 49ers:
- Deebo Samuel
- Brandon Aiyuk
- Jauan Jennings
- Ray-Ray McCloud III
- Danny Gray
- Tay Martin
- Dazz Newson
- Tyron Johnson
With the receivers garnering 58% of the team’s target share, it is good to know the 49ers are set at the top of the depth chart.
Brandon Aiyuk played a prominent role in the offensive success last year.
He set career-highs with 1,015 receiving yards and eight touchdowns while playing 91% of the offensive snaps. The 49ers reportedly plan to pick up his fifth-year option for 2024.
While playing in 13 games, Deebo Samuel managed to finish third on the team in receiving yards and fifth in rushing yards.
Getting lower in the depth chart, their involvement is more situational than necessary.
Jauan Jennings does his best work in the middle of the field where he saw 48 of 56 targets last season.
Ray-Ray McCloud plays the role of return man on special teams and also filled admirably in specific situations during Samuel’s injury last season.
While the team has drafted at least one wide receiver with one of their first three picks in four out of the last five drafts, the necessity doesn’t loom as large as other positions.
If the team does draft a wide receiver early, it might not speak well to the playbook progression second-year player Danny Gray has made this offseason. As of November of last season, Gray was quoted as saying the playbook “can get challenging at times.”
Tight End Depth Chart, 49ers:
- George Kittle
- Charlie Woerner
- Ross Dwelley
In the last six draft classes, the 49ers have drafted just three tight ends. Two of those tight ends remain on the roster, George Kittle and Charlie Woerner.
The impact of Kittle speaks for itself. Last season, the charismatic tight end led the team with a career-high 11 touchdowns.
In the past, Woerner and Ross Dwelley have filled in admirably when Kittle is injured and in two tight end sets.
They are also used heavily on special teams. Last season, both backup tight ends combined for an average of 68.03% of special teams snaps.
Of all the positions, tight end seems the least of their needs.
Offensive Line Depth Chart, 49ers:
LT: Trent Williams/Alfredo Gutierrez/Leroy Watson
LG: Aaron Banks/Jason Poe
C: Jake Brendel/Jon Feliciano/Keith Ismael
RG: Spencer Burford/Nick Zakelj
RT: Colton McKivitz/Jaylon Moore/Matt Pryor
Despite finishing 2022 with the sixth-fewest sacks allowed, if there is a position of need on the offensive side of the ball for the 49ers, it is their line.
The good news is the left side of the line looks as good as any in the NFL.
While the play of future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams speaks for itself, it was Aaron Banks who was the unsung hero last season.
The starter at left guard, Banks played 969 offensive snaps and allowed just one sack. He also seldom committed penalties, accounting for just two from Week 14 until the NFC Championship.
The main issues on the line are the hole left at right tackle left by the departing Mike McGlinchey and a lack of depth, especially on the right side of the ball.
The other free agency loss which flew under the radar for some was Daniel Brunskill, who left for the Tennessee Titans. Last season, Brunskill accounted for 354 snaps at right guard.
The most snaps at right guard last season was Spencer Burford with 744, who allowed four sacks and committed five penalties.
Following the departure of McGlinchey, Colton McKivitz and Jaylon Moore should compete at right tackle. Moore had 184 snaps at left tackle last season.
The picture paints itself. The 49ers will need to address the right side of their offensive line in this upcoming draft and could use more depth.
San Francisco 49ers Defense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Michael Hauff breaks down the defensive depth chart by position for the San Francisco 49ers, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
2022 San Francisco 49ers Defensive Rankings
Interior Defensive Line Depth Chart, 49ers:
- Javon Hargrave
- Arik Armstead
- Javon Kinlaw
- Kalia Davis
- Kevin Givens
- T.Y. McGill
The interior defensive line of the 49ers was given a tremendous boost already this offseason.
As NFL free agency opened, the team brought in Javon Hargrave on a massive four-year, $84 million contract. The former Philadelphia Eagle spent last season recording 11 sacks and 16 quarterback hits.
His inclusion will serve as a significant upgrade for a defensive line that was already formidable. In 2022, the defensive line finished sixth in quarterback knockdowns.
Hargrave will be assisted by one of longest tenured 49ers, Arik Armstead.
While playing in only nine games this past season, Armstead was quiet with zero sacks and four quarterback hits, but the true impact of Armstead’s involvement on this defensive line is his ability to attract attention and open up lanes for the edge rushers and linebacker unit.
Last season, the defensive line pressured the quarterback on 22.9% of dropbacks, the 11th-highest mark in the league.
The big question mark at the position is the availability of Javon Kinlaw.
Drafted 14th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Kinlaw has played in just 10 games over the last two seasons. In that time, he has had just one quarterback hit to show for it.
While the 49ers always tend to create unexpected stars on the defensive line, this position could be addressed in the draft.
EDGE Depth Chart, 49ers:
- Nick Bosa
- Drake Jackson
- Clelin Ferrell
- Austin Bryant
- Alex Barrett
The 49ers are led on the edge by the dominant Nick Bosa. Playing in 16 games in 2022, Bosa led the league with 18.5 sacks and cruised to Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Beyond Bosa is where things become thin.
In last year’s NFL Draft, the 49ers selected Drake Jackson with the 61st overall pick. It was a quiet year for the former USC Trojan as he produced eight solo tackles and three sacks on 315 snaps, just 29% of the team’s defensive snaps.
With the departures of Samson Ebukam (52%) and Charles Omenihu (53%) in free agency, the expectation is that Jackson will receive a significant increase in his playing time.
One of the 49ers' secret weapons is defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. While he has been known to get the best of his players, this season he will be tasked with reviving the career of Clelin Ferrell.
Ferrell, the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has mustered only 10 career sacks and 32 quarterback hits in his career.
The free agency losses loom large for this group. on top of that, the 49ers are well-versed in investing in the defensive line during their drafts. They could use one or more picks to address the depth on the edge.
Off-ball Linebacker Depth Chart, 49ers:
- Fred Warner
- Dre Greenlaw
- Oren Burks
- Curtis Robinson
- Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
- Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Much like the wide receiver position, the 49ers are set when it comes to the top two at the linebacker position.
This past season, Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw combined for 161 solo tackles.
On top of Greenlaw leading the team in solo tackles, the fifth-year linebacker also accounted for six defended passes and two forced fumbles.
The loss of Azeez Al-Shaair to the Tennessee Titans will loom large in the linebacker room. He had 199 combined tackles in his first four seasons and started nine games in 2022.
Look for Oren Burks to help fill the void at linebacker. Last season, Burks accounted for 15% of the team's defensive snaps and recorded 38 combined tackles.
Unless a linebacker on their board falls, I do not expect the 49ers to address the linebacker position with one of their first few picks. The team has not drafted an off-ball linebacker since Dre Greenlaw in the 2019 draft.
Cornerback Depth Chart, 49ers:
- Charvarius Ward
- Deommodore Lenoir
- Samuel Womack III
- Isaiah Oliver
- AJ Parker
- Ambry Thomas
- Tre Swilling
- Qwuantrezz Knight
Even with Charvarius Ward being one of the best defenders in the NFL, the cornerback position always seems to be a need for the 49ers.
Some hoped Emmanuel Moseley would return after an injury ended his 2022 early. Those hopes were dashed as the cornerback wound up signing with the Detroit Lions on a one-year deal.
Look for Deommodore Lenoir to assume an even larger role on defense. In his second season last year, Lenoir played 589 coverage snaps and recorded 60 solo tackles with one interception.
While the expectation is the 49ers address cornerback in the upcoming draft, look for the team to rely on Samuel Womack and Ambry Thomas for a larger workload. The young tandem combined for 187 snaps last season.
While it was a small sample size, Womack recorded 14 solo tackles with one forced fumble and an interception.
With the position needing some more talent, the 49ers could address cornerback with one of their three third-round picks.
Safety Depth Chart, 49ers:
- Talanoa Hufanga
- Tashaun Gipson Sr.
- George Odum
- Myles Hartsfield
- Tayler Hawkins
One of the biggest losses for the 49ers this offseason was Jimmie Ward following DeMeco Ryans to the Houston Texans.
As big of a loss as Ward is, the now Texan played in just 12 games last season, allowing Tashaun Gipson to showcase some of his abilities.
2022 was one of Gipson’s better seasons as he recorded five interceptions, his most since the 2014 season, and 61 solo tackles. This made the front office comfortable enough to bring back the well-traveled safety on a one-year deal.
While Gipson was first in percentage team defensive snaps with 97%, strong safety Talanoa Hufanga finished second with 96%.
Hufanga had an impressive second season as he recorded four interceptions, five tackles for a loss, and three quarterback hits.
If there is cause for concern with Hufanga it is the angles he takes on ball carriers and his sixteen missed tackles.
The rest of the secondary did not have a ton of playing time in 2022, so the 49ers could spend a late draft pick to help fill some much needed depth at the position.
It is important to note that the 49ers have had success with late-round draft picks, especially at safety. Look no further than Hufanga, who was drafted in the fifth round (180th overall) of the 2021 draft.
