We’re just over a week removed from the 2020 NFL Draft, but it’s never too early to look ahead.
General manager John Lynch and the 49ers put together a well-regarded class in his fourth draft at the helm, and NFL pundits already are speculating about who the Niners might target from next year’s potential crop of prospects.
Here’s who experts from around the NFL have the 49ers eyeing in the 2021 NFL Draft:
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Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus: OL Wyatt Davis, Ohio State (No. 31 overall)
Analysis: "Davis already caught our eye as a redshirt sophomore when he didn’t allow a single sack or hit all season in his first year as a starter. While he likely would have been a Day 2 pick had he declared, he has all the physical tools to sneak into the first round with a big 2020."
Sayre Bedinger, FanSided: RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State (No. 31 overall)
San Francisco 49ers
Analysis: "The San Francisco 49ers have no shortage of fun weapons in their offense, so what’s one more? There were rumors the team could be interested in trading away Tevin Coleman during the 2020 NFL Draft, and while that didn’t come to fruition, they did trade Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins and the Niners could be eyeing running backs early in the 2021 NFL Draft as a result."
Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State (No. 28 overall)
Analysis: "Linebacker is the weakness of the 49ers' terrific defense if Kwon Alexander can't stay healthy, so that could be addressed soon. Looking like the next great linebacker to come out of Penn State, Micah Parsons has been very productive. That's not a surprise, as Parsons was a highly athletic five-star recruit."
[RELATED: Deebo Samuel should have big season after 49ers drafted Brandon Aiyuk]
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: OL Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma (No. 31 overall)
Analysis: "The 49ers offensive line will look very different in 2020 with Trent Williams replacing Joe Staley at left tackle, but one thing will remain constant—a need to get better at offensive guard. For most of the 2019 season, Creed Humphrey was the top-rated center on my big board. The redshirt sophomore opted to return to Oklahoma for another season and has a chance to leave Norman with a locked-in Round 1 grade if he continues to show the mobility, poise and awareness that made him the best center in college football last year."
Neal Driscoll, Pro Football Network: S Caden Sterns, Texas (No. 29 overall)
Analysis: "Sterns is a dynamic playmaker in the secondary, which is one of the few things the talented 49ers’ defense needs."