The San Francisco 49ers are officially in offseason mode after a tough 41-6 playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks-a game that ended their 2025 campaign with a thud. But while the result stings, it doesn’t erase what this team managed to accomplish under some seriously adverse conditions.
Injuries hit the Niners hard this past season. We’re talking about cornerstone players like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and George Kittle missing significant time.
And that’s not even factoring in the games they played without starting quarterback Brock Purdy. Add in some drama surrounding Brandon Aiyuk, and it’s remarkable this team still found a way into the postseason.
Credit where it’s due-head coach Kyle Shanahan held this thing together. He kept the locker room focused, adjusted on the fly, and got production out of a roster that was often patched together.
That’s no small feat in a league where depth can get exposed quickly. Now, with a healthier roster and a few key additions, San Francisco could be right back in the NFC mix in 2026.
So where do those additions come from? The 2026 NFL Draft is a good place to start, and several mock drafts are already pointing to potential fits that could address some of the 49ers’ biggest needs.
Tight End in the Crosshairs?
Let’s start with tight end. George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles late in the season, and while the timeline for recovery is typically 8-9 months, that puts his Week 1 availability in serious doubt.
If Kittle isn’t ready to go until October or later, the 49ers could enter the season with Jake Tonges as their TE1. That’s a big drop-off in both talent and versatility.
Enter Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. In Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft of the season, he has the 49ers selecting Sadiq with the No. 27 overall pick. And it’s easy to see why.
Sadiq may be considered undersized by traditional standards, but he brings elite speed and a competitive edge as a blocker. Think of him as a hybrid weapon-someone who could line up in multiple spots and give Shanahan a new toy to scheme around. Jeremiah even likened him to a blend of Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk, which tells you how versatile this kid could be.
If Sadiq is still on the board at 27, this could be a home-run pick for San Francisco. He’s the kind of athletic, pass-catching tight end who can stretch the field and create mismatches all over the formation.
And for fans who remember Vernon Davis’ impact back in the day, Sadiq has some of that same big-play DNA. It’s been 20 years since the Niners drafted Davis sixth overall-could they land their next dynamic tight end two decades later?
Defensive Line Reload
On the other side of the ball, the 49ers are set to welcome back both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, last year’s first-round pick. But even with those two returning, there’s still room-and need-for more juice along the defensive front.
CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer sees a potential answer in Clemson’s Peter Woods, a powerful lineman who’s projected to slide into San Francisco’s lap at No. 27.
Woods didn’t quite have the breakout season many expected, but his traits still jump off the tape. He’s stout against double-teams, shows strong leverage, and flashes enough quickness to be disruptive on stunts and twists.
Woods is a scheme-versatile defender who can line up inside or kick out to the edge. Pair him with Bosa and Williams, and suddenly the 49ers have a trio that could make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. That kind of depth and flexibility up front is exactly what this defense needs to get back to its dominant ways.
Wide Receiver Rising?
Of course, there’s another position that could quickly climb to the top of the priority list: wide receiver. With Brandon Aiyuk’s future in question and Jauan Jennings headed to free agency, San Francisco might be looking for a new playmaker on the outside.
NFL Mocks sees Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion as a strong fit at No. 27.
At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Concepcion isn’t the biggest target, but he’s electric with the ball in his hands. He’s a sharp route runner, elusive in space, and a legitimate home-run threat as both a receiver and punt returner.
His 12 touchdowns in 2025 speak to his ability to find the end zone from anywhere on the field.
Concepcion would give the 49ers a different kind of weapon-someone who can create yards after the catch and stretch defenses horizontally. In Shanahan’s offense, where timing and space are everything, that kind of skill set could be lethal. He wouldn’t just replace production; he’d add a new layer to the playbook.
The Bottom Line
Whether it’s Sadiq, Woods, or Concepcion, the 49ers are in a great position to add an impact player at No. 27. Each of these prospects addresses a real need and brings a unique skill set to the table.
If Kittle’s recovery lingers, Sadiq could step in as a dynamic tight end who keeps the offense humming. If the defensive line needs another disruptor, Woods offers the power and versatility to thrive alongside Bosa and Williams. And if the receiver room gets thin, Concepcion gives them a sparkplug who can change a game in a single play.
The Niners are close. They proved that by making the playoffs despite a brutal run of injuries. With a solid draft and a little better luck on the health front, they’ll be right back in the thick of the NFC race in 2026.