The 49ers on Thursday dealt the No. 2 overall pick in the draft to acquire more selections to assist in the organization’s massive rebuilding project.
After advertising for weeks that the 49ers were “open for business,” first-year general manager John Lynch executed a trade on Thursday night with the Chicago Bears.
The Bears moved up to No. 2, while the 49ers took Chicago’s No. 3 overall pick. The 49ers received the Bears’ picks this year in the third round (No. 67) and fourth round (No. 111), as well as the Bears’ third-round pick next year.
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Cleveland kicked off the NFL draft with the selection of Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett. The Bears selected quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick.
The 49ers had engaged in preliminary trade discussions with six teams, a league source told NBC Sports Bay Area. Three teams were inside the top 10 and three teams were outside the top 10.
This draft appeared to set up for the 49ers to trade back because of their needs at so many positions. The 49ers finished 2-14 last season, leading to the firings of general manager Trent Baalke and coach Chip Kelly.
The 49ers entered the opening day of the draft on Thursday with a scheduled 10 draft picks, including the No. 2 pick in each of the first four rounds.
San Francisco 49ers
49ERS 2017 DRAFT PICKS
1. First round, No. 2: DL Solomon Thomas, Stanford
2. Second round: No. 34 overall
3. Third round: No. 66 overall
4. Third round: No. 67 overall (from Chicago for No. 2 pick)
5. Fourth round: No. 109 overall
6. Fourth round: No. 111 overall (from Chicago for No. 2 pick)
7. Fourth round: No. 143 overall (compensatory)
8. Fifth round: No. 146 overall
9. Fifth round: No. 161 (from Washington in 2015 trade for TE Derek Carrier)
10. Sixth round: No. 198 overall (from Baltimore in trade with C Jeremy Zuttah for No. 186)
11. Sixth round: No. 202 overall (pick acquired from Denver in 2015 trade for TE Vernon Davis)
12. Seventh round: No. 219 overall (pick acquired from Cleveland in 2015 trade for Andy Lee)