49ers Select Kinlaw, Aiyuk in 1st Round of 2020 NFL Draft

Last night's 2020 NFL Draft was unlike any we've ever seen before. With everyone from commissioner Roger Goodell to the team's coaches, general managers and even the draft prospects themselves isolated at home and tapping in thru live television feeds due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL still managed to pull off a successful opening night to the draft during this unprecedented time. And while there were a few slight bumps in the road such as a lack of details when teams would trade in and out of draft picks to move up and down on the draft board, it was nice to finally have some sort of sports entertainment to feed our hunger, even if only for a few days.

One of only four teams to possess more than one pick in the first round entering the draft, the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers came into Day 1 of the draft with two picks under their belt -- pick No. 13 via the Indianapolis Colts and their original pick at No. 31. Leading up to the big day, general manager John Lynch was very open about both picks being available to teams that were interested in trading up. But it wasn't until San Francisco was on the clock at pick 13 that Lynch pulled the trigger to give us our first trade of the night. Moving up one spot to nab Iowa offensive-tackle Tristan Wirfs were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who decided to protect their new investment in quarterback Tom Brady. In the move, the 49ers also dealt a 7th round pick (No. 245) to Tampa, while acquiring the 14th overall pick as well as a 4th rounder (No. 117). After trading one spot out of the 13th pick which was received from Indy in the DeForest Buckner trade, the 49ers used their first pick of the night to find Buckner's cheaper and younger replacement in South Carolina defensive-tackle Javon Kinlaw. A senior and 3-year starter with the Gamecocks, Kinlaw has been repeatedly praised in the days leading up to the draft for the explosive first step he's able to gain on the opposition at the line and his impressive abilities in spite of his large 6-foot, 5-inch, 324 lb. frame. With a nonstop motor that continues until the sound of the whistle, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will have yet another young prospect to work with and develop in bolstering an already stout defensive front.

Though it wasn't the sexy wide receiver pick many fans thought they'd see and most mock drafts had projected the 49ers selecting, especially with both Jerry Jeudy and Ceedee Lamb still available, it was a pick that made plenty of sense. After jettisoning Buckner who was on the last year of his contract and was going to demand a hefty payday that would've put San Francisco in a bind with teammates Arik Armstead entering free agency and tight-end George Kittle next in line for a contract-extension, the front-office did what they had to in order to withhold as many assets as they could at the cheapest cost possible. Rated by many NFL scouts and sources as being a top 10 prospect, Lynch and Shanahan found their man in Kinlaw with the 14th overall pick. One guy who wasn't too please the 49ers took Kinlaw at 14, was a guy who knows a thing or two about disrupting the quarterback on defense in Pro Bowler Von Miller. The Broncos outside linebacker had recorded his own live feed from home while reacting to picks, and was jumping around and yelling in frustration as he had hoped Kinlaw, a first-team AP All-American in 2019, fell to Denver at pick 15, "They're greedy! That was my pick! That's who I wanted," he went on to say.

However, the team's busy night of trading would not end there. While many expected San Francisco to trade out of the 31st pick to acquire more draft capital considering they entered day 1 without a single draft pick in rounds 2 thru 4, they would instead trade up from the 31st pick to the 25th spot where coach Shanahan would find his newest toy on offense. In need of a receiver to fill the void left by Emmanuel Sanders who agreed to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers sent picks 31, 117 and 176 to the Minnesota Vikings in return for the 25th pick which they would use to select Arizona State wide-out Brandon Aiyuk. Possessing an 81-inch wingspan, the longest of any player under 6-foot in combine history, Aiyuk averaged 9.9 YAC (yards after catch) which ranked first among all receivers in his draft class. But as good as he was on offense for the Sun Devils, he also poses a threat on special-teams in punt returns where he'll likely takeover duties this season. Interestingly enough, Shanahan admitted after the first round that he and Lynch considered taking Aiyuk at pick 13 or 14 before he eventually fell into their lap at 25, feeling the need to trade up from 31 as the former Arizona State alum likely would've been off the board by then they feared. 

In what was a rather bland opening round to the Draft in the family reaction department, the Kinlaw's, specifically Javon's father, provided arguably the best reaction of the night when he hit the floor and rolled around in excitement upon hearing his son's name called. It was little moments like that that we all needed in a time like this and just one more reason that we all can't wait to get back to a sense of normalcy and the game of football.

The 2020 NFL Draft continues with Rounds 2 & 3 on Friday with San Francisco projected to pick up the action again on Saturday in Rounds 4 thru 7.


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