John Lynch
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John Lynch has had a great offseason so far.
The San Francisco 49ers made some big moves in the offseason, and it could affect their strategy at next month’s NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s draft analysts.
ESPN assessed the Niners’ potential draft needs, with analysts Nick Wagoner, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller explaining why they could make some bold choices throughout the three-day event in Pittsburgh.
The Niners brought back linebacker Dre Greenlaw while also signing wide receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk to a group that went 12-5 and reached the NFC Divisional Round playoffs before falling to the eventual-champion Seattle Seahawks.
Between those moves, and the talent already on the roster, the Niners don’t need much.
Draft analysts: 49ers Can Take the ‘Best Player Available’ Instead of Drafting for Need
The 49ers have six selections at the upcoming NFL Draft, and they are all in the first four rounds. Their first selection will be No. 27 overall in the first round.
So instead of their ultra-important draft John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the Niners organization faced in 2025, Wagoner called their most pressing needs safety, EDGE rusher and on their offensive line.
“The 49ers filled enough needs in free agency … so they should be able to lean toward a ‘best player available’ approach,” Wagoner wrote. “But they could still use an upgrade at safety and more help off the edge to complete their defensive makeover.”
Wagoner cited their move to acquire interior-defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa from the Dallas Cowboys as an upgrade after the Niners were 11th in the NFL in run defense (107.8) but got gashed for 175 yards on the ground by the Seahawks.
But he also noted the necessary upgrade at O-line, even though San Francisco signed Robert Jones this week, perhaps to find Trent Williams’ replacement.
“On the offensive line, they need more competition for the left guard job vacated by Spencer Burford,” Wagoner wrote. “It wouldn’t hurt to be forward-thinking at tackle or center.”
The Niners are Linked to Treydan Stukes
With their 2025 success will come substandard draft selections, especially since they dealt their third-rounder away for Odighizuwa. But according to Reid, they could target University of Arizona cornerback and safety Treydan Stukes with one of their three fourth-round picks.
“Stukes primarily played at nickel corner last season, but there’s belief among multiple scouts I’ve talked to that he could be a free safety in the NFL,” Reid wrote. “His range and tackling ability would both be pluses in San Francisco’s secondary.”
Stukes did not surrender a touchdown in 2025 and made 52 tackles, 24 solo tackles and had four interceptions for the Wildcats, who went 9-4 and reached the Holiday Bowl. In his six years at Arizona, the 6-1, 190-pound Stukes finished with 206 tackles, seven interceptions and 29 passes defended in 52 games.
Stukes had an impressive NFL Combine, running a time of 4.33 in the 40-yard dash and got a 6.27 grade from NFL Media, which rates him as “a starter” in the future. NFL Next-Gen Stats gave him a total score of 77 and rated him the ninth-best safety in the draft this year.