5 Bold Predictions for the 49ers in the 2015 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers have not always gone with conventional wisdom in the NFL draft.

2015 might reveal more of the same if we base such projections on recent history.

General manager Trent Baalke has a knack for stockpiling picks. In 2013, this benefited the 49ers, as they were able to trade up in Round 1 to select safety Eric Reid with their first pick. In 2014, a number of trade executions resulted in the acquisition of former Buffalo Bills wideout Stevie Johnson for virtually nothing—essentially switching places in the fourth round of the 2015 draft with the Denver Broncos.

On top of that, wide speculation led many to believe Baalke and the 49ers would tab a playmaking wide receiver with their first pick in 2014. Instead, San Francisco grabbed defensive back Jimmie Ward.

What will the team do in 2015?

San Francisco will likely have nine picks with which to work this year. Two of these are going to be compensatory picks for the net loss of two qualifying free agents. The 49ers have their own picks in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 and have the Broncos' fourth-round pick and the Indianapolis Colts' seventh-round pick.

We could simply assume the 49ers take a conventional approach and/or simply select the best player available. But that's not very fun.

Instead, let's examine five bold predictions for the 49ers in 2015 and see what possibilities lay ahead.

49ers Trade Up to Grab Wideout DeVante Parker

The 49ers need an explosive wideout in this draft, and it's fortunate that Round 1 boasts a number of wide receiver prospects that could fit the bill.

Louisville's DeVante Parker is one such target. But would he realistically fall to the 49ers with the No. 15 overall pick?

Probably not. There are simply too many teams with receiving needs drafting ahead of San Francisco.

According to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, Parker will be drafted by the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11. If this is the case—and if the 49ers see something in Parker that makes him a worthwhile trade-up target—general manager Trent Baalke could look to move up just before this pick.

The New York Giants sit at No. 9 and aren't likely needing any receiving help in this draft.

This leads to the possibility that San Francisco could send its own first-round pick and another later in the draft—let's say a third-rounder—similar to how the 49ers traded up for safety Eric Reid in 2013.

With the Giants' pick, San Francisco lands Parker and solves its deep-threat, playmaking needs.

49ers Trade Down in Round 1

Unlike the previous two seasons, the 49ers do not have double-digit picks with which to work in 2015.

General manager Trent Baalke likes to stockpile these picks as has been seen. Round 1 gives him a good opportunity to do so.

Trading up for wide receiver DeVante Parker would be nice, but the 49ers do have some legitimate needs this offseason that require some answers. Thankfully, there are a number of late first-round receiving targets that could fit into the 49ers' plans.

Arizona State wideout Jaelen Strong would be a nice first-round addition for San Francisco. But according to Rob Rang and Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, Strong is projected to be drafted no higher than pick No. 26.

This gives the 49ers an opportunity to trade down from their No. 15 pick. 

Trading down to the early 20s could net Baalke a third-round pick in exchange.

Having done so, San Francisco still winds up with a playmaking wideout with plenty of ability and is able to add another mid-round pick to its arsenal.

49ers Trade out of the First Round Entirely

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Wideout Ty Montgomery could be an enticing second-round choice if the 49ers don't address this need in Round 1.

Why would the 49ers trade out of Round 1 when they are slated to draft at the highest spot since 2011?

Well, these are bold predictions, right?

The rationale behind this is that general manager Trent Baalke might look to stockpile picks for 2016 and beyond. With the 49ers pressed up against the salary cap as it is, and with additional contractual decisions looming beyond this season, next year's draft could be the spot in which the 49ers wish to be heavily aggressive.

Whatever San Francisco gets in return is up for debate. It's possible that trading out of the first round altogether nets the 49ers a flurry of additional picks this year. Perhaps such a transaction winds up paying dividends next season.

And it isn't as if the 49ers would be completely hopeless with their draft needs.

It might be a long shot, but Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess could drop into the early stages of Round 2. CBS Sports projects this as an outside possibility.

But a likelier scenario would have San Francisco targeting a receiver like Stanford's Ty Montgomery, who is slated to be a second-round pick, per CBS Sports. The 6'2", 215-pound wideout is tough and has good acceleration should the 49ers look to shore up their receiving needs in Round 2.

And they would be getting some nice payback from such a trade.

49ers Focus on Defense First

John Raoux/Associated Press

One CBS mock has Texas DT Malcom Brown going to the 49ers in Round 1.

Speculation would lead us to believe that the 49ers will target a wide receiver with their first pick in 2015. 

They probably should. San Francisco's passing attack has ranked No. 30 in the NFL in each of the last two seasons. The offense lacks a true deep threat, and the incumbent receiving targets have yet to display the speed necessary to spread out opposing defenses.

But it isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility that San Francisco goes with a defense-first approach.

This is prompted by the sudden depletion of the 49ers' defensive line. Defensive end Ray McDonald has been released and fellow end Justin Smith has hinted at retirement. While inserting second-year pro Tank Carradine into a starting role seems likely, the 49ers would be wise to add some prominent talent at this position sooner rather than later.

Such is the thought behind adding a D-lineman in Round 1.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports mocks the 49ers doing just this. He picks Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown going to San Francisco at No. 15.

The thinking here makes sense. San Francisco's defense remains in the upper echelon of NFL teams, which has given the struggling passing offense some breathing room in recent seasons. The importance of Smith to that defense cannot be understated.

Thus, if Smith were to retire, the 49ers could not afford to upgrade other areas while neglecting the D-line.

49ers Don't Draft a Wide Receiver at All in 2015

USA TODAY Sports

Veteran wideout Anquan Boldin could still be the No. 1 receiving threat for San Francisco in 2015.

You wanted bold predictions, correct?

How about the 49ers not targeting a wide receiver at all in 2015? For starters, general manager Trent Baalke has not exactly had the best track record when selecting impact wideouts during his tenure.

Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins didn't pan out. Neither did wideout Ronald Johnson. 

The book is still out on young receivers like Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington. Both have shown flashes of brilliance, but neither has made a legitimate impact to date.

Unlike last season, this year's draft class at wide receiver is not quite as deep. There won't be any Martavis Bryants sitting around in Round 4 at this position in 2015.

Combine this with Baalke's wide receiver prospect history, and it's not out of the question to suggest the 49ers don't take a wideout at all via the draft.

This would be contingent upon San Francisco's offseason actions, of course. Should the 49ers sign a free-agent wideout prior to the draft, the need to select someone becomes less of an issue to a certain extent.

The 49ers could also look at their incumbent group of wideouts with the hope that these players can emerge as legitimate threats. With veteran wideout Michael Crabtree likely gone via free agency, fellow receiver Anquan Boldin should continue his role as the 49ers' top receiving target.

But the 34-year-old veteran has just one year remaining on his current contract, so San Francisco would eventually need to find a long-term solution here.

Wide receiver Stevie Johnson could step into a more prominent role after showing some prowess with San Francisco over the first half of 2014. Bigger roles could be expected out of players like Ellington and Patton as well.

Avoiding a receiving prospect in the draft likely won't happen. But the 49ers have done some things in recent drafts that have gone against conventional wisdom, so it remains an open possibility.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Supplemental draft information courtesy of CBS Sports.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.

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