49ers Trade Down, NFC West Draft Surprises

0:00It's April 24th. This is California News Today, local news powered by AI. The San Francisco 49ers skipped the first round of the NFL draft entirely this year by trading down just like General Manager John Lynch, hinted beforehand. They beefed up their future picks, turning a so-so spot into more ammo for later rounds. In the NFC West, that move put them ahead of the pack on day 1. The Los Angeles Rams shocked everyone by grabbing quarterback Ty Simpson, 13th overall. They're chasing a Super Bowl right now, so banking on a long-term project feels off when they could have snagged a pass rusher or wide receiver instead. Simpson's solid but not elite, and they reached early for him. John Lynch called it a surprise in his post-draft chat, saying quarterback picks make teams do wild things. Ram spans a split, but it doesn't boost their line up this season, and might even help rivals stock up cheaper. Arizona Cardinals win flashy, with the top running back prospect, to fill a gap under

1:00their offensive coach. Seattle Seahawks predictably took running back Giderian price 30 second overall after losing their lead back. Both add speed, but don't overhaul their defenses or threats. Overall, the division dodged bullets on day 1, leaving the 49ers with the edge and extra flexibility moving forward.