49ers top 3 NFL draft targets after loss to Seahawks
The San Francisco 49ers will turn the page to 2026 for another crack at the Super Bowl. Seattle ended SF’s season in disruptive fashion on Saturday — forcing the Niners to start thinking about NFL draft.
Era of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch discovered more gems. Brock Purdy became one of their best late finds. George Kittle and Deomodore Lenoir arrived via the fifth round. Nick Bosa has dominated when healthy after becoming the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft.
But the Niners aren’t getting any younger. Especially in Kittle’s spot and more importantly, at left tackle with Trent Williams approaching 40. Christian McCaffrey is another hitting the twilight years of his career.
A mixture of age, injury and Seattle’s impressive game plan contributed to the 41-6 debacle. SF still believes the championship window is open. But they need to nail down their next set of picks again and find help, or the future, in key spots. These are the three players they will target with the 26th or 27th pick in April (the SF draft slot becomes finalized after Sunday’s games).
Elijah Sarratt, Wr, Indiana
Brandon Ayuk is likely going on the market or facing release. He never made this run in 2025 with the Niners, and Jauan Jennings emerged as the VR1 in his absence.
But just imagine the combination of Jennings and Elijah Sarratt together. SF presents a new red zone nightmare for future defenses.
Sarat gives Shanahan and Purdy a monster shoulder to grab. His presence can take huge pressure off Jennings as a possession target – while also creating new one-on-one match-ups for Ricky Pearsall.
Indiana VR Elijah Sarratt (6-2, 213) will play in the NFL for 7-10 years.
♦Chain Starter – 80%+ of catches are 1st dropped
♦65% Contested Catch Wins
♦Career: 228 catches, 3,535 yards (15.8 IPC), 41 TDsAll jobs.
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) January 1, 2026
The 49ers front office has a wide receiver to watch Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium. But Sarat isn’t the only national title player watching if you’re the Niners.
Keionte Scott, DB, Miami
Scott is one of the most versatile defenders on the field for the 2026 national championship game.
And he looks like the kind of DB the 49ers would want – especially Lynch.
A GM would probably like Scott’s ability to attack at the line of scrimmage, which is almost reminiscent of Lynch’s career. But Scott brings versatility to wide receivers with one cover as well.
In April, he will be ripe and ready to go as a 24-year-old. Consider a more aggressive version by Jimmie Ward here.
Kadin Proctor, OT, Alabama
Let’s say Proctor falls all the way to where SF is. Shanahan, Lynch and the scouting department must resist passing him.
Proctor brings an intriguing mix of tremendous size (6-foot-7, 366 pounds) and versatility as he can move to guard. Of course, he’s also known as a closet wide receiver…presenting a new red zone option for Purdy.
Proctor was still able to launch himself higher on draft boards with an impressive combine performance. He’ll still talk about the top 15 – but he needs to correct his footwork and posture in pass protection.
Perhaps a follow-up year for Williams could work in the 49ers’ favor if they land Proctor. Or slide inside first before moving to the left when Williams pulls back.
2026-01-18 22:43:00
