It has been a quiet but calculated first round for the San Francisco 49ers. After making their initial selection at No. 11 overall on Thursday night, the team enters Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft in a position of strength. Not only do the 49ers own the very first pick of the second round -- No. 33 overall -- but they also hold a handful of additional selections that provide flexibility to maneuver, stockpile depth, or even move up for a falling star.
For a team that has consistently been in the championship conversation, the middle rounds of the draft are often where championships are fortified. The 49ers have used Day 2 picks in recent years to land key contributors, and this year should be no different.
Let's break down exactly what picks the 49ers have left, and then take a close look at two names that have emerged as prime best-available targets as the draft board enters its most volatile phase.
The 49ers' Remaining 2026 Draft Arsenal
As of Friday morning, the 49ers' draft-pick situation is clear. Following a trade-heavy lead-up to the draft, San Francisco enters Day 2 with the following selections:
- Round 2, Pick 1 (No. 33 overall) - Compensatory selection acquired in the Deebo Samuel trade
- Round 3, Pick 17 (No. 81 overall) - Own pick
- Round 4, Pick 1 (No. 100 overall) - From the Miami Dolphins (via a 2025 trade)
- Round 4, Pick 19 (No. 118 overall) - Own pick
- Round 5, Pick 18 (No. 153 overall) - Own pick
- Round 6, Pick 15 (No. 191 overall) - Own pick
- Round 6, Pick 32 (No. 208 overall) - Compensatory selection
- Round 7, Pick 17 (No. 231 overall) - Own pick
That is eight remaining selections, including two on Day 2. The 49ers have the first pick of Round 2, which holds great strategic value. The 33rd overall pick historically carries the same fifth-year option value as a late first-rounder, but without the contractual guarantees. It is the perfect sweet spot for a team that values flexibility.
San Francisco can either take a player they had a first-round grade on who slid or trade back with a quarterback-needy team eager to jump ahead of the next wave. Either way, head coach Kyle Shanahan and offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak are likely already weighing their options.
Because of the depth of this draft class -- particularly at wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback -- the 49ers are in an enviable position. They can afford to let the board come to them, and the two names below represent the kind of value that could turn Day 2 into a franchise-altering haul.
Target No. 1: Denzel Boston, Wide Receiver
If there is one name gaining serious traction among draft analysts as a perfect fit for the Shanahan offense, it is Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds, Boston is a big-bodied target who combines surprising burst with outstanding ball skills.
What makes Boston particularly intriguing for the 49ers is his ability to work both outside and in the slot. Shanahan's offense prizes versatility, and Boston lined up at all three receiver positions during his time with the Huskies. He is a fluid route runner for his size and has the frame to win contested catches on third down -- an area where the 49ers could use an upgrade in the red zone.
Boston's production at Washington was steady, not explosive, but context matters. Playing in an offense that went through multiple quarterback changes, Boston still managed to post 11 touchdowns in his final collegiate season. He has reliable hands, willingness to block in the run game, and the football IQ to adjust routes on the fly against zone coverage.
From a best-available standpoint, if Boston is still on the board at No. 33, the 49ers would face a tough decision. They already have Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall under contract at wideout, but depth at receiver is never a bad thing--especially in an offense that uses three-receiver sets as its base.
Boston would not need to start immediately but could develop into a red-zone weapon and an eventual replacement for departing veteran depth players like Jauan Jennings, who signed with the Tennessee Titans in earlier seasons.
There is a reason Boston might still be available: he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the combine--solid but not elite--and some teams view him as more of a possession receiver than a true vertical threat. For the 49ers, that is acceptable. Their offense thrives on timing, yards after catch, and schemed separation. Boston's ability to high-point the ball and win in traffic fits what they do.
The question is whether the 49ers value Boston enough to use the 33rd overall pick or if they believe they can trade down, accumulate more capital, and still get him later in the second round. If the board falls in their favor, Boston could be the perfect building block for the future of the wide receiver room.
Target No. 2: Cashius Howell, EDGE
On the other side of the ball, the 49ers have a long-standing philosophy of investing heavily in the defensive line. That is where Cashius Howell enters the conversation.
Howell is an edge rusher from Bowling Green who transferred from Missouri and emerged as one of the most productive pass rushers in the MAC. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, he has the frame to play as a stand-up outside linebacker in the 49ers' 4-3 base but also shows the hand usage and bend to rush from a three-point stance in sub-packages.
The 49ers' defensive line rotation is deep but also aging in certain spots. Nick Bosa is the only true long-term star at edge, and while Yetur Gross-Matos has been solid, the team could use a high-motor rusher who can create pressure on third downs. Howell fits that mold perfectly.
His production is eye-opening: 14.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss in his final season at Bowling Green. That kind of production is rare, especially in the MAC, where opponents scheme to take away the best pass rusher. Howell has a quick first step and a devastating spin move that he uses to counter inside when tackles over-set to protect the edge. He is a willing run defender, though he can be inconsistent in setting the anchor against double teams.
The knock on Howell is the level of competition. While he flashed against Power Five opponents during his time at Missouri, his best production came against MAC competition. The jump to the NFL is steep, and there is a chance Howell takes a year or two to fully develop before becoming a consistent contributor.
That timeline is actually ideal for the 49ers. With Bosa and Gross-Matos already on the roster, the team does not need an immediate starter. They need a rotational pass rusher who can spell Bosa on third downs and grow into a larger role over time. Howell provides that. His motor is relentless, and he plays with the kind of chip-on-the-shoulder attitude that defensive line coaches love.
At No. 33 overall, Howell would be a slight reach based on consensus rankings, but the 49ers have never been a team that follows the consensus. If they believe in the tape, they will take him. And if they trade back into the late second round, Howell becomes a much more palatable value pick while adding another selection for Day 3.
What to Watch for on Day 2
The 49ers enter Friday with clear needs at offensive tackle, cornerback, and wide receiver but have shown time and again that they will not reach for need. General manager John Lynch has often talked about taking the best player available, especially in the second and third rounds where the margin between prospects is thin.
The two names above--Denzel Boston and Cashius Howell--represent the kind of high-floor, high-upside players that can help the 49ers immediately while also developing into starters down the road.
But the true beauty of holding the No. 33 pick is leverage. If a quarterback like Jaxson Dart or Cam Ward falls out of the first round, the 49ers could field trade calls from teams like the New York Giants or Las Vegas Raiders looking to move up for a signal-caller. A trade down could net the 49ers an extra third-round pick, turning one good day into a great one.
It is also possible that a player the 49ers had a first-round grade on--perhaps a cornerback like Will Johnson or a tackle like Josh Simmons--slips to 33. If that happens, the decision becomes easy.
Regardless of how the board falls, the 49ers are in control. They have ammunition, clarity of vision, and two specific prospects who fit their system like a glove.
Friday will tell us much about where this team is headed. But one thing is already clear: the 49ers are not just participating in Day 2 of the draft--they are set to define it.
