With the 2020 regular season in the rearview, much of the San Francisco 49ers attention is on how the team can turn around from their uninspiring year going forward. In early March, the 49ers were awarded a pair of compensatory draft picks, giving San Francisco a grand total of 9 selections in the 2021 NFL Draft.
According to NFL.com, teams are awarded compensatory draft picks between Rounds 3 and 7 based upon a league formula that takes into account the following criteria for players who left the team to sign elsewhere as free agents: average salary per year (APY), snap count and postseason awards. To qualify for compensatory picks, teams must end up with more qualifying free agents lost than gained in a particular year.
This year, the league implemented a new rule to reward teams that help develop minority coaches and executives with compensatory picks.
The 49ers were awarded a third-round compensatory pick following the departure of former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh (Jets) and former vice president of player personnel Martin Mayhew (Football Team). The team will receive a third-round selection in each of the next three drafts for their minority personnel receiving head coach and general manager jobs in 2021.
The team also received a fifth-round compensatory pick with the loss of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to free agency last season.
Here's a look at the 49ers current picks:
- 1st round, No. 3 overall
- 2nd round, No. 43 overall
- 3rd round, No. 102 overall
- 4th round, No. 117 overall
- 5th round, No. 155 overall
- 5th round, No. 172 overall
- 5th round, No. 180 overall (from NO)
- 6th round, No. 194 overall
- 7th round, No. 230 overall (from NYJ)
San Francisco traded their original third-round pick last year to the Washington Football Team in exchange for left tackle Trent Williams. The 49ers received a fifth-round pick from the New Orleans Saints as part of the Kwon Alexander trade earlier this season. San Francisco also obtained a seventh-round selection from the New York Jets as part of the Jordan Willis trade in October.
After finishing the season 6-10, the 49ers were set to pick 12th-overall in April's draft. San Francisco made a blockbuster pre-draft trade with the Miami Dolphins to move up nine spots to No. 3 overall. The 49ers own a selection in each of the first three rounds.
Here's a full look at the first round draft order as it currently stands:
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- San Francisco 49ers (from Miami via Houston)
- Atlanta Falcons
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia)
- Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami via San Francisco)
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Chicago Bears
- Indianapolis Colts
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets (from Seattle)
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)
- Cleveland Browns
- Baltimore Ravens
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Buffalo Bills
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 2021 NFL Draft is set to take place in Cleveland, with the first round beginning on April 29. Rounds 2 and 3 will be on April 30, while Rounds 4-7 finish up on May 1.
