The Niners didn't make a selection, but that was the smart move.
The San Francisco 49ers came into Thursday’s 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 27 pick in the first round. But with plenty of interest in that selection, they were able to acquire assets while moving back to No. 30 as the night unfolded.
But from there, the New York Jets made an offer that the Niners couldn't refuse, moving out of the first-round altogether. As such, San Francisco ended up not having a selection on Thursday night, but loaded up on assets in doing so.
So now all eyes are on the Niners on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, with multiple selections to round out the roster. Sometimes a high volume of selections can be much more impactful than a lesser amount of higher draft picks.
Day 2 of the NFL Draft is now a much more significant moment for San Francisco, as the team will spend tonight and tomorrow ensuring their draft board is updated and ready for the second and third rounds.
The Niners' next pick will be at No. 33, which will be the first selection of the second round.
Since the 49ers will have the first selection of the second round, that decision will likely be made ahead of time. They’ll effectively be in the No. 1 slot of Round 2, so as soon as they go on the clock, that pick should be ready to go, and the first rookie selected in this year’s class for San Francisco will be announced.
With that being said, given the Niners have already been comfortable acquiring more assets and moving back, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the phones are ringing between now and then. If a can’t-miss deal comes together, San Francisco could move even further back into the second round.
The Niners played it smart and safe in the first round.