It's time for the final Mock Draft Monday of the year. Since the close of the 2019 season, media analysts have made a myriad of projections to where hundreds of NFL hopefuls will fall in this year's draft. Predictions for the San Francisco 49ers two first round picks have been across the board, as San Francisco's flexibility with returning starters allows them to take a number of possible routes with picks 13 and 31.
In this fifth and final installment of Mock Draft Monday, here's a look at who draft experts forecast the 49ers to select with the 13th and 31st overall picks, including a few new names that have recently emerged as candidates.
*The 2020 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday, April 23 on NFL Network, ESPN and ABC. Be sure to tune in to the 49ers draft party beginning at 4p.m., live on YouTube, Facebook, 49ers.com and the 49ers app. For everything draft, including previous mock drafts and detailed analysis, visit 49ers.com/draft.
No. 13 Overall
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
"San Francisco lost Emmanuel Sanders in free agency and Jeudy, who is the best route runner in this class, would join a WR corps that includes Deebo Samuel, the 2019 second-round pick coming off a fantastic rookie campaign."
Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report: DT Derrick Brown, Auburn
"The 49ers acquired this pick from the Colts in exchange for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Brown would be a one-for-one substitution for Buckner on the 49ers' Super Bowl-caliber defensive line while also saving the team millions of dollars in cash and cap space over the next few years. It's not a flashy upgrade, but it's a way of avoiding a downgrade, and the 49ers can seek help at other positions with the 31st pick.
"Also, the 49ers might simply fall in love with Brown because he's the type of defender who can grab a blocker and throw him at Joe Burrow."
Rhett Lewis, NFL.com: WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
"I thought hard about an OT or Javon Kinlaw here, but Kyle Shanahan's offense made Marquise Goodwin a WR1 in 2018, and Ruggs is a better overall player with similar elite speed."
Corey Parson, SI.com: WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
"The Niners could go either offense or defense here, but I think Lamb would be too good of a pick to pass up on. Jeudy was considered to be the top WR off the board, but as we get closer to draft day, Lamb is closing the gap."
Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus: CB C.J. Henderson, Florida
"This is a difficult debate between Henderson and Henry Ruggs III, especially given Ruggs' speed in Kyle Shanahan's offense. However, Henderson could be a dominant player in San Francisco's scheme. He has good eyes in off coverage and the size and movement skills to stick with receivers in man coverage. Henderson is one of the most athletic corners in the draft, and it shows up at the catch point where he's broken up 21.8% of his targets over the past two years — 11th-best in the class. He provides starting competition at right corner and an eventual successor to Richard Sherman on the other side."
Peter Schrager, NFL Network: Ruggs III
"Ruggs over Jerry Jeudy? In Kyle Shanahan's offense, I can see it. That 4.27 speed could be the perfect complement to what Deebo Samuel brings to the table. Ruggs isn't just a burner, either: He runs routes, has excellent hands and can do the little things."
Bucky Brooks: NFL.com: DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
"The 49ers could replace DeForest Buckner with another long, athletic defender with disruptive potential."
Mel Kiper, ESPN: Lamb
"I love this pick for the 49ers, who lost Emmanuel Sanders in free agency. Lamb is a big-play threat and a technician as a route runner, and he'd be a great complement to the versatility of Deebo Samuel. San Francisco has two first-round picks -- it got this one after trading DeForest Buckner to the Colts -- but doesn't have picks in the second, third or fourth rounds, so watch out for a potential trade down to accumulate more assets."
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today: Jeudy
"It doesn't seem coincidental that San Francisco situated itself in this slot after giving up DeForest Buckner to the Colts. Perfectly aligned to find the go-to receiver they've long lacked, the 49ers might have a nice fit waiting in Jeudy, whose route-running acumen will come in handy early in his transition to the pros."
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Ruggs III
"Emmanuel Sanders' arrival midway through last season proved how much the Niners were missing another receiving threat beyond All-Pro George Kittle and rookie Deebo Samuel. While Samuel showed real playmaking ability in the short and intermediate range last year, Ruggs' ability to take the top off defenses should open up big plays downfield and more room for others to work underneath."
Take a look at some of the names being associated with the San Francisco 49ers in various mock drafts.
No. 31 Overall
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
"Stefon Diggs' brother is a big cornerback with -- not surprisingly -- great ball skills. He'll be insurance for Richard Sherman, who has one more year left on his deal."
Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report: T Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
"The 49ers went through a lot of bodies at tackle because of injuries during their Super Bowl season: Starters Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey and backups Daniel Brunskill and Justin Skule all started multiple games. The reserves handled themselves well, but Staley will be 36 years old this season, and the 49ers need reinforcements.
"Isaiah Wilson played right tackle for the Bulldogs, and he looks like a right tackle. He's a mauler who is at his best when firing straight off the ball at the nearest defender. But Wilson is also polished and quick-footed in pass protection. It might be a stretch to put him on the left side, but he could anchor right tackle for years if McGlinchey eventually moves over to replace Staley. In the meantime, he'll make sure the 49ers running game doesn't suffer during an offensive line injury rash."
Rhett Lewis, NFL.com: T Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
"Whether Joe Staley is back for the 2020 season or not, the 49ers need to be ready for the soon-to-be 36-year-old's impending retirement. Cleveland provides that safety net. If Staley is back, Cleveland adds quality depth should Staley or RT Mike McGlinchey miss time like both did in 2019."
Corey Parson, SI.com: Diggs
"The Niners could use some depth on defense, and Diggs is the best player remaining on the board. Diggs was 2019 All-American and All-SEC selection. He is a physical corner with excellent matchup skills."
Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
"Head coach Kyle Shanahan knows how to put playmakers in space and will have a great plan for Aiyuk, who is explosive and averaged a ridiculous 9.9 YAC/reception in his college career. Aiyuk is not a fit for every team in the first round, but his route-running and after-the-catch ability complement the already-fast 49ers playmakers and Deebo Samuel's versatility on the other side."
Peter Schrager, NFL Network: DT Ross Blacklock, TCU
"The 49ers will have the phone lines (or whatever form of communication teams are using in this virtual draft) open here, as they don't hold a second-, third- or fourth-round pick at the moment. This is an ideal spot for a team that wants to trade up and secure that fifth-year option on a first-round pick. If the 49ers stay put, I see Blacklock as a good fit. He's now two years removed from a 2018 Achilles injury and is one of the few dominant interior defensive linemen in the draft. Is he DeForest Buckner? No. Not yet, at least."
Bucky Brooks: NFL.com: Diggs
"It's the perfect time for San Francisco to add Richard Sherman's successor. Diggs is a natural fit for the 49ers' Cover 3 scheme as a converted wide receiver with length and outstanding ball skills."
Mel Kiper, ESPN: CB Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
"Since I gave the 49ers a wide receiver with their first pick, consider this two needs filled. The defense had issues on the other side of Richard Sherman all last season, and Sherman is 32 and only signed through 2020. San Francisco has to get younger here. Igbinoghene is raw, but he has tremendous upside. He's also a dynamite kick returner -- check out this 96-yard TD return. As I mentioned earlier, the 49ers could trade down from this pick with teams wanting to get back into the first round to draft someone and attain his fifth-year option."
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today: CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
"San Francisco seems like a good bet to trade back from this slot given it doesn't have picks in the second, third or fourth rounds, but Gladney would be a smart solution for one of the defense's few remaining problem areas."
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Trade with the Houston Texans