Latest Mock Draft Has 49ers Trading Out of Round 1

Trading down makes a town of sense for the 49ers for a few reasons.

Feb 5, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during Super Bowl / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Finally, a mock draft that makes sense for the 49ers.

We've seen some ridiculous ones lately. Mel Kiper Jr. has the 49ers reaching for Washington right tackle Rosengarten at pick No. 31 when he most likely will be available deep into Round 2. Get real.

The latest mock draft from CBS.com's Tom Fornelli is much smarter. He has the 49ers trading out of Round 1 altogether and sending pick No. 31 to the Denver Broncos, who take Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

"And the Broncos are back in the first round!" writes Fornelli. "After trading down from 12, Denver moves back into the end of the first round to get Nix and get the fifth-year option on him."

Trading down makes a ton of sense for the 49ers for a few reasons. One, they're terrible at drafting in Round 1 because they always reach for needs. So instead of reaching for Rosengarten or someone else at pick no. 31, trade down and take him later.

Also if Nix is available, multiple teams could try to trade up to get him because quarterbacks are so valuable. So the 49ers can profit from that bidding war. I just don't see how Denver could win it, considering they don't have a second-round pick this year. They could trade a pick from next year's draft, but the 49ers are in a Super Bowl window now. They need help now.

Like this author, I fully expect the 49ers to trade out of Round 1. I just don't expect the Broncos to trade with them.