49ers among teams most interested in moving back in 2025 NFL Draft

In 2021 the 49ers made a now infamous trade up in the NFL Draft. With the 2025 draft now just three days away, they are reportedly very keen on making a move in the other direction.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday that the 49ers are among a host of teams aiming to move back in the first round.

Schefter wrote:

“On the other side of things, the Steelers (No. 21) are among the teams interested in moving back from their first-round slot. That list also includes the Jaguars (5), Panthers (8), 49ers (11), Falcons (15), Seahawks (18), Buccaneers (19) and Vikings (24), who currently have four picks, the fewest any team.”

That the 49ers are looking to drop back from 11 is no surprise. San Francisco already has 11 picks in the draft but, with holes to fill on both sides of the trenches and issues in other areas such as at linebacker and in the secondary, it makes sense for the 49ers to want as many lottery tickets as possible in arguably the most important draft of the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era.

As Schefter adds, though, there is a problem.

“There has been, however, a lack of teams willing to trade up — at least so far. Denver is one of those: The Bronco have made inquiries about moving up in Round 1, according to sources. But there aren’t many others. This always could change when players start falling and teams are on the clock.”

While there is plenty of talent in this class, it’s not a draft where there are many prospects teams will view as being worthy of a trade up, with a dearth of exciting potential starting quarterbacks a problem for any team looking to move back.

The 49ers have, in essence, paid the price for the Trey Lance trade and for missing on so many picks in the subsequent years in which they did not have a first-round selection.

Theirs is a top-heavy roster in need of another infusion of both starters and depth at several positions following a promising 2024 draft. That will be the motivation behind their desire to trade back and acquire more ammunition to move up and down the board in the later rounds.

But it’s seemingly the wrong year for the 49ers to have that goal. Shanahan and Lynch will be hoping that, come draft night, some willing partners are ringing their phone.