Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
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(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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n just a few short weeks, the 2026 NFL Draft will be underway. This year’s draft features highly touted prospects at several positions, with teams hoping that they can find that missing piece to their puzzle of success. For the San Francisco 49ers, this offseason has been an eventful one but with work still to do in order to return to being Super Bowl contenders, the 49ers are going into this draft ready to make noise. After all, the 49ers were a playoff team last season and if it weren’t for injuries derailing their hopes and dreams, their potential could have been sky high.
Slated to pick No. 27 in the first round, the 49ers could use that pick to select their next superstar, with several top players expected to be available to take with that pick. But one 49ers’ insider suggests that the 49ers trade that pick to a team in the NFC West, which could give them more pieces to win-now.
Matt Maiocco Says the 49ers Should Trade the No. 26 pick
It is not common for teams to make trades within their division. But 49ers’ beat reporter, Matt Maiocco, suggested that the 49ers trade the No. 27 pick to the Arizona Cardinals, in a move that could benefit both sides now and in the long run. For the 49ers, a trade could let them continue their win-now mentality while for the Cardinals, a trade for the pick allows them to acquire assets for their long term rebuild.
“The 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals are NFC West opponents who face each other twice a season, and both have their sights set on overtaking the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams within the division,” Maiocco said. “But the 49ers and Cardinals are on different timelines to achieve that goal. For the 49ers, there is a sense of urgency. The Cardinals’ aim might be more of a long-term goal. The organizations could come together on the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft for the best interests of both teams.”
The Cardinals are entering 2026 with a new head coach and are fresh off of releasing longtime starting quarterback, Kyler Murray. Expected to endure a long rebuild, the Cardinals would benefit from more draft picks while the 49ers, still seeking their sixth Super Bowl title, are going all-in on competing now so that they can get their core group of players their first ring.
The 49ers’ Needs the Rest of the Way
Entering the 0ffseason with a lot of needs, the 49ers wasted no time in addressing some of those, signing guys such as wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Dre Greenlaw while acquiring defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa in a trade. But even with all the moves, the 49ers still have to take the draft seriously and hope that they can draft one or two players capable of being day one starters. If the 49ers are able to do that, their Super Bowl window will be open for a longer period of time.