Niners' Draft Strategy: Proctor for Blindside

0:00It's April 8th. This is NFL News today, powered by AI tracking teams, players, and standings. The San Francisco 49ers front-office duo of John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan has been killing it for nine seasons straight, hitting the Super Bowl twice. They were on the hot seat heading into last year after finishing fourth in the NFC West, but they bounced back hard with 12 wins and now eyes are. And finally grabbing that Lombardi trophy. That turnaround killed any talk of changes, and now they're gearing up for the 2026 NFL draft with just six picks, starting at 27th overall. They've only got one other selection in the top 125th spots, so that early choice has to hit big. Fans and analysts are buzzing because the Niners have a track record of drafting smart, especially finding steals in later rounds. The real pressure is building a future beyond aging stars like Trent Williams. They're 37-year-old left tackle locked in the contract, standoff.

1:00He can block forever. A fresh, mop draft from the Athletics Nick Baumgarner has been grabbing Alabama offensive tackle, Caden Proctor at 27th. This 6-foot-7-352-pound beast has all pro upside at guard or tackle, though he might need a year to polish his protection. Nailing a guy like Proctor could lock down the blindside for years, giving Lynch and Shanahan the pieces to chase that elusive ring while keeping. Their dynasty rolling strong.