49ers GM John Lynch Explains Why They Traded Out of First Round in NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2024 NFL Draft with the 27th overall pick, a position they aimed to leverage for an edge rusher to complement Nick Bosa. However, the team’s plans shifted when University of Miami’s Akheem Mesidor was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers at pick 22, followed by UCF’s Malachi Lawrence by the Dallas Cowboys at pick 23.

To adjust their strategy, the 49ers executed a trade with the Miami Dolphins, moving back from pick 27 to 30. In exchange, San Francisco received the Dolphins’ third-round selection. This move involved surrendering their original 27th pick and a fourth-round compensatory pick (138th overall).

With several targeted players still available at pick 30, the 49ers chose to trade out of the first round entirely. Their draft capital was further bolstered through a separate trade with the New York Jets, which secured the 49ers the first pick of the second round (33rd overall) and a fifth-round selection (179th overall).

John Lynch Breaks Down the Decision

General Manager John Lynch provided insight into the team’s rationale, emphasizing the unpredictability of the draft board.

"I think it’s the way the board fell," Lynch said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. "There were a couple of — a few — players that we would've taken, had they been there. That didn't happen. We had done our due diligence. Probably about this time last week, we started making calls, 'Hey, if we were to get back. . . .'"

Lynch also highlighted the competitive nature of the draft, noting that many teams were attempting to move back in the first round to secure better value.

"I think the reason why, I think this was a draft where a lot of people were trying to move back. And so, you wanted to get ahead. We had a couple of deals secured. The second deal was from a team we didn't have secured, but we had made contact with. We were able to swap a fourth for a third in one deal. We were able to pick up some things to move back three spots."

49ers’ Draft Strategy Moving Forward

Looking ahead to the second round, Lynch indicated that the 49ers have a clear plan but remain open to further opportunities.

"We're always open for business," Lynch said. "I think that would be foolish not to listen, and so we will do that. But we have a good idea of where we're going, and looking forward to that."

The 49ers enter the draft with a total of seven selections, including three picks within the top 100. Their draft capital includes:

• First pick of the second round (33rd overall)
• Third-round pick (65th overall)
• Fifth-round pick (179th overall)
• Additional selections in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds