Jimmy Garoppolo led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in his first full season running the offense. The team started out with eight wins in a row and finished with a regular season record of 13-3. It is worth pointing out, after November 24, the team went 3-2, with no game finishing with a margin more than seven points and no win coming by more than five points. The 49ers needed a questionable call at the end of their Week 17 win in Seattle to clinch the NFC West and a bye throughout the postseason, and their two wins over an Arizona Cardinals team playing a rookie quarterback were both much closer than they should have been. So when the Kansas City Chiefs exposed some of the 49ers’ flaws, they made some draft needs apparent for the coming season. After the 2020 draft, San Francisco has 9/1 sports betting odds to win Super Bowl LV. Let’s break down their draft choices and see how they will contribute to the team’s success this year.
NFL Betting: San Francisco 49ers 2020 Super Bowl Odds & Analysis After the Draft
Javon Kinlaw is the latest investment in a solid defensive front
The 49ers have made their first pick in the draft a defensive lineman five times in the last six drafts. Kinlaw, a stalwart at South Carolina, is who the 49ers want to use to replace DeForest Buckner at the three-technique defensive tackle position. Kinlaw is viewed as a top-shelf player here and should be on the field in Week 1.
San Francisco had held the #13 pick but took the #14 pick, along with a fourth-rounder, from Tampa Bay so that the Buccaneers could take Tristan Wirfs. The 49ers waited the whole clock before handing in Kinlaw’s name, possibly looking to move down one more time, but they didn’t find any takers, and Kinlaw came to the team. It is interesting that the team opted not to take one of the top receivers in the draft class given the loss of Emmanuel Sanders to New Orleans, but they went with the defensive line.
Brandon Aiyuk is more than a serviceable wide receiver
After looking to trade down, the Niners found themselves having to trade up to get to #25 and get Aiyuk, the terrific wideout from Arizona State. They had to send picks 31, 117 and 176 to Minnesota to get their shot at Aiyuk. They needed a wide receiver to complement the pedestrian pair of Kendrick Bourne and Deebo Samuel. Aiyuk will have his work cut out for him given the lack of much in the way of offseason work on the practice field. Aiyuk also offers some splash in the return game. He averaged 16.1 yards per punt return in 2019, scoring a touchdown, and he averaged 31.9 yards returning kickoffs, making it onto the All-American third team as an all-purpose player, so he could find himself fielding kicks for the 49ers.
Colton McKivitz brings depth to the offensive line
After those two first-round picks, the 49ers had to wait until the fifth round for their next opportunity. He started all four years at tackle for West Virginia, with three years on the right and one year on the left. He comes to the team as an experienced depth piece. He should find a spot behind Mike McGlinchey and Trent Williams, and he could also transition to a guard position if needed. He will need versatility to make the final roster, but his experience makes that a possibility.
Charlie Woerner fills a need at tight end
Woerner comes from Georgia as more of a blocking tight end than one that will run routes. He could shift to fullback or play a hybrid role. Obviously, the starter at this position is George Kittle, but he will compete with Daniel Helm and Ross Dwelley for a spot in multi-TE sets and to help with run blocking and pass protection.
