Niners Trade Up, Stockpile Picks

0:00It's April 24th. Welcome to NFL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. The San Francisco 49ers kicked off the NFL draft, holding the 27th overall pick, hunting for an edge rusher to pair with Nick Bosa. But Miami's Akeem Mesodore got snatched by the Chargers at 22, and UCS Malachi Lawrence went to the Cowboys at 23. Instead of forcing it, the 9ers traded back to number 30 with Adolfins, snagging a third round pick in exchange for 27 and there. Fourth round compensatory at 138. That set them up nicely with players they like still available, so they wheeled and dealed again, trading out of the first round entirely. Now they own the first pick of the second round at 33, courtesy of a swap, with the jets that also netted them a fifth rounder at 1, 79. General manager John Lynch explained they saw a lot of team sliding back too, so they jumped ahead on deals. They flipped a fourth for a third in one move, and grabbed extras just by dropping three

1:00spots, keeping their options open without panic picking. Fans and analysts are buzzing about the flexibility this gives the 9ers, especially after missing those early rushers. It shores up their depth without burning premium capital, and with needs across the defense, this stock up feels strategic. Heading into tomorrow, Lynch says they've got a solid plan for 33, but they're always open for business, listening to offers while eyeing. Their targets, 7 picks total now, 3 in the top 100, positioning them strong for the long haul.