The 2021 NFL Draft has come to an end, and the 49ers added several key players to their roster.
Kyle Shanahan has found his franchise QB in Trey Lance, as San Francisco selected the North Dakota State product with the No. 3 overall pick.
The 49ers then addressed both the defensive and the offensive line with their remaining seven picks. They surprisingly selected two running backs for the first time since 2017 and didn't opt for any receiver, interrupting the club's streak of 18 consecutive years of drafting at least one.
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Here's a recap of the 49ers' draft:
Elijah Mitchell rounds out 49ers' 2021 draft class
The 49ers selected Elijah Mitchell with their last scheduled pick of the 2021 draft at No. 194 overall. Mitchell rushed for 3,267 yards and 41 touchdowns in his career at Louisiana-Lafayette and also demonstrated his versatility with 49 receptions and 597 receiving yards. For the first time in 18 years, the 49ers did not select any wide receivers.
49ers 2021 NFL Draft grades: Eight picks all earn passing marks
San Francisco 49ers
49ers go for defense in fifth round
With their pick at No. 172, the 49ers opted for Oregon cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. Lenoir is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound corner who finished his four-year career with six interceptions and 20 passes defensed for the Ducks. He's the second cornerback of the draft for San Francisco following Ambry Thomas.
USC safety Talanoa Hufanga quickly followed as the No. 180 pick. In 24 games (21 starts), he compiled 203 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles.
Secondary was the main area of need for the 49ers going into the 2021 NFL Draft along with quarterback, and the front office clearly is hard at work adding talent to that group.
49ers select tackle Jaylon Moore
The 49ers used their first selection of Day 3 on an offensive tackle, Jaylon Moore, at No. 155 to beef up their protection for Garoppolo and Lance. Moore participated in the 2021 Senior Bowl, and was part of an offensive line at Western Michigan that ranked 10th in the nation by allowing just 1.17 sacks per game (h/t Pro Football Network).
49ers take CB Thomas at No. 102
It took until their fourth pick, but the 49ers finally shifted their focus to the defensive side of the ball.
With their second third-round selection, San Francisco took Michigan cornerback Ambry Thomas 102nd overall. Thomas (6 feet, 191 pounds) opted out of the 2020 season, but was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2019 after posting 38 total tackles, three tackles for loss and three interceptions. The Detroit native also has special teams experience as a returner, running back kicks for the Wolverines in 2017 and 2018. He even got some game reps as a wide receiver during his time in Ann Arbor.
49ers finally fill CB need, earn solid grade with Thomas
Thomas provides the 49ers with a young depth piece at corner behind Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley and maybe even Richard Sherman, who recently said a return to San Francisco "isn't out of the cards."
49ers trade up to No. 88, take another Trey
The 49ers continued to wheel and deal on Day 2, turning a pair of fourth-rounders into an additional third-round pick.
San Francisco sent pick Nos. 117 and 121 (acquired from Las Vegas earlier in the night) to the rival Los Angeles Rams for the 88th pick, where the 49ers took Ohio State running back Trey Sermon.
49ers' surprising Sermon pick receives passing grade
The 6-foot, 215-pound back spent the first three years of his college career at Oklahoma before transferring to Ohio State. In his lone season as a Buckeye, Sermon ran for 870 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. He rushed for a combined 1,691 yards and 18 touchdowns over his first two seasons at Oklahoma before an injury-shortened 2019 campaign.
Sermon joins a crowded 49ers backfield that includes Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., JaMychal Hasty and Wayne Gallman Jr.
49ers move back, select Banks at No. 48
The 49ers opted to move out of their initial Round 2 draft slot, trading the No. 43 pick and a seventh-round pick (No. 230) to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for the 48th selection and a fourth-rounder (No. 121). When the 48th pick came around, the 49ers got some protection for Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance by drafting Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks.
49ers earn solid marks by adding Bay Area native Banks to OL
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound lineman was a two-and-a-half-year starter at left guard for the Fighting Irish, earning first-team All-American honors as a senior in 2020. Banks could be a starter at the right guard spot from Day 1 with the 49ers.
NFL draft winners, losers: 49ers triumph while Raiders flop
49ers select Trey Lance at No. 3
The 49ers have their quarterback of the future.
After weeks of speculation about which signal caller San Francisco was targeting (and one day of Aaron Rodgers trade rumors), the 49ers took North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Maiocco: Why 49ers selected Lance as their franchise QB
Lance played just one game in 2020, as North Dakota State postponed the rest of its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Lance threw for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns with zero interceptions. He also rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 scores while leading the Bison to a third consecutive FCS championship.
With Lance en route to San Francisco, the attention now shifts to Jimmy Garoppolo and his future.
49ers earn high grade for taking big swing on QB Lance
49ers reached out to Packers about Aaron Rodgers
The 49ers reportedly contacted the Packers on Wednesday about a potential trade for Aaron Rodgers but were quickly turned down. However, Adam Schefter reported Thursday that Rodgers "does not want to return" to the Packers, while Pro Football Talk reports that the 49ers are one of three teams on Rodgers' wishlist, according to an "unimpeachable source."
Rodgers has been at the center of trade rumors since the Packers selected Jordan Love with the No. 26 pick in the 2020 draft. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported in January that Rodgers wanted a new contract in the ballpark of Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson's deals. The similarities between Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur's offenses could make the 49ers an intriguing destination, but Packers GM Brian Gutekunst made it clear in his pre-draft presser that Rodgers will be Green Bay's quarterback "for the foreseeable future.”
Are the 49ers going to trade Jimmy Garoppolo?
Rumors have been circulating that the 49ers were looking to move Garoppolo either before or during the draft. There was even talk on Wednesday night that the New England Patriots were working on a restructured contract for Garoppolo to bring the QB back to the AFC East.
The tone changed a bit Thursday morning, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting the chances of a Garoppolo trade are "remote" right now. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport added that the 49ers "do not have plans" to move Garoppolo unless an offer is too good to pass up.