The San Francisco 49ers won’t be sitting out the first round of the NFL draft this time.
For the past two years, they didn’t have a pick in the first round because they traded up to get quarterback Trey Lance in 2021. But this year, they have the 31st pick, along with nine more picks later in the draft.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said it was tough not having a first-round pick the last two years. They traded those picks to get Lance, who didn’t perform as expected.
Despite that, the 49ers did well, reaching the NFC title game in Lance’s first two seasons and making it to the Super Bowl last season.