49ers could use 2023 draft to fill needs for future seasons originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The 2023 NFL Draft for the 49ers could end up being more about the 2024 season and beyond.
The 49ers enter next week’s draft with 11 picks. But their first selections don’t come until after the regular phase of the third round with compensatory selections slated for Nos. 99, 101 and 102 overall.
With starting spots tentatively filled at every position on both sides of the ball, the 49ers have the luxury of being able to look ahead to see where they might require more help in the future.
This same strategy served them well in the 2021 NFL Draft with the selections of guard Aaron Banks, cornerback Deommodore Lenior and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Those players saw little action as rookies but they all rose to prominent starting roles and big contributors in Year 2.
Again, the 49ers are in a position where they do not necessarily need rookies to step in and contribute right away. But with a roster that usually has a 40-percent turnover from one season to the next, some long-term planning is necessary.
Here are the positions where the 49ers could look to bring on a player (or two) to develop for the 2024 season:
Wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk enters the final year of his original contract, but general manager John Lynch has already stated the club will pick up his fifth-year option for the 2024 season at a cost of more than $14 million.
Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel’s base salary jumps next year to nearly $21 million.
Can the 49ers afford to have two highly paid No. 1-caliber wide receivers on the team?
Clubs around the league, sensing the 49ers might have to make a difficult decision, have reached out to see if Aiyuk is available in a trade, Lynch said.
This is a big season for Samuel. Next year, his cap figure jumps to $28.5 million. After this year, the club will have to determine if he continues to be worth that big price. With a post-June 1 release, the 49ers would save more…
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