Niners $66m spree not enough to solve injury-jinxed position as draft plans outlined

The San Francisco 49ers were derailed by injuries in 2025.

Big name including $265 million quarterback Brock Purdy, star tight end George Kittle and the game-wrecking Nick Bosa, all went down in the opening weeks and missed significant time.

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More striking losses were felt in the wide receiver room.

The want-away Brandon Aiyuk was sidelined for the entire season, and likely won’t suit up for the Niners again.

His absence was widely expected, but he was joined in the treatment room by Ricky Pearsall, while Jauan Jennings also missed time — and battled through broken ribs and ankle sprains on his return.

Purdy, when he was on the field, rarely had fully-healthy arsenal at his disposal.

But that should change in 2026.

Niners draft plan revealed after big offseason moves

San Francisco has been aggressive in free agency, adding plenty of depth to the roster with 11 signings.

The biggest move has seen wideout Mike Evans, a six-time Pro Bowler, arrive from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He was ranked as one of the best free agents available, and has agreed a three-year deal said to be worth up to $60.4 million.

Christian Kirk has also arrived to boost the wide receiver room, landing a contract worth up to $6m.

But despite doing big business, for a combined $66.4m, the Niners might not be finished there.

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Matt Barrows, who has covered the team for more than two decades, believes they could also dip into the NFL Draft for another wideout.

“I think that they feel very good about what they did in free agency,” Barrows said of the moves, in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.

“And of course there was the trade for Osa Odighizuwa as well, to sort of firm up the inside of that defensive line, which was a major issue going into the offseason.

“So I think they do feel very good about where they are, heading into the draft. I think that their needs align with the strengths of the (class).

“Despite adding Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, I think wide receiver is still a position that they’ll go after — probably early on.

“And that’s one of the deeper positions in the draft.”

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What other positions could the 49ers target in 2026 draft?

Barrows went on to suggest that a new edge rusher, and left guard, could also be a focus for San Francisco.

He continued: “If I’m looking at that roster right now, there seems to be two positions that still could use some help.

“One is edge rusher. Again, that’s another deep position in the draft. And the other, is that they don’t really have a starting left guard at this point.

“(General Manager) John Lynch even said, ‘we expect to add somebody else in the draft.’ That’s not a deep position. It seems it never is in this day and age of the NFL.

“But for that spot, it does seem like they’re throwing numbers at that position. They’re going to have at least two or three guys compete to be the starter.

“Connor Colby, a draft pick from 2025, will be one of them. Brett Toth could be one of them. Robert Jones, an ex-Miami Dolphin that they signed in free agency could be one of them.

“And it could be a rookie as well. So, I think that they feel like somebody from that group is going to sort of rise to the starter level.”

While the draft class is stacked with exciting talent at wide receiver, with the likes of Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Omar Cooper Jr. all generating buzz, a starting LG will be harder to come by.

Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane leads most rankings, while other top prospects include Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon), Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M), and Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech).

All of those names are expected to come off the board in the first and second rounds, meaning the Niners front office will have a big decision to make with the No. 27 and No. 58 overall picks.

Do they shore up the offensive line early, or hand quarterback Purdy an exciting new weapon for 2026?

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