49ers Draft Party: Fans Want the Trenches

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49ers Draft Party: Fans Want the Trenches

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By Justin Wong | Last updated Apr 24, 2026 2:24 AM ET

This past Thursday, I was back at Levi's Stadium taking in the energy at the 49ers' annual Draft Party. From longtime Faithful to first-time attendees, the building was buzzing with opinions on who the San Francisco 49ers should target in this year's draft.

As the anticipation built, I hit the crowd with one simple question: Who do you want the Niners to draft?

Check out the IG reel below to hear some of the best (and most entertaining) responses from the fans.

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This year's answers featured a mix of names across the board—from USC wide receiver Makai Lemon to Texas A&M defensive end Cassius Howell, Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu, and Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor. While there were a few creative takes, a clear theme emerged throughout the night.

The consensus? It starts in the trenches.

Whether it was protecting quarterback Brock Purdy or reinforcing the defensive front, most fans emphasized the importance of building up front.
But instead of making a selection in the first round, the 49ers took a different approach.

San Francisco traded down not once, but twice—first with the Miami Dolphins and then with the New York Jets—ultimately moving out of the first round entirely and adding draft capital in the process.

Asked #49ers GM John Lynch when the guys with first-round grades ran out before the team was on the clock at No. 27:
"They didn't run out till a couple picks before we picked. We say a couple, a couple that we realistically thought would get to where we were. Now there were…
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) April 24, 2026

The 49ers now enter Day 2 with the following picks:

Round 2, Pick 58
Round 3, Pick 90
Round 4, Pick 127
Round 4, Pick 133
Round 4, Pick 139

With multiple selections and added flexibility, all eyes now turn to whether the 49ers will follow through on the crowd's sentiment and reinforce the trenches as Day 2 unfolds.

This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.

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