The Kyle Shanahan era begins with two first-round draft selections
With the 2nd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft the San Francisco 49ers traded down one spot with the Chicago Bears. With may holes to fill following a disappointing 2-14 season, the 49ers received from Chicago a 3rd and 4th round pick in the 2017 and a 3rd round in 2018. Later new general manager John Lynch would trade back into the first round by giving up a 34th and 111th for 2017.
With the 3rd overall pick the 49ers selected defensive lineman Solomon Thomas from Stanford University and later in the first round would get linebacker Reuben Foster from the University of Alabama. (With the 2nd overall pick from the 49ers Chicago would take QB Mitchell Trubisky from the University of North Carolina)
Solomon Thomas had 54 career tackles and 7 sacks while a member of the Stanford Cardinal. New general manager John Lynch said of Thomas, “He’s a disruptive player” and then added, “The kid is a great football player too and he plays with a tremendous amount of passion. He’s got tremendous versatility. We couldn’t be happier”
What some analysts took to Twitter to say about the 49ers trade and 1st round selection…
#49ers took a haul from the #Bears and still got arguably the cleanest player in the draft. He can be just as impactful as Garrett day 1.
— Brian Billick (@CoachBillick) April 28, 2017
John Lynch said Mitchell Trubisky was the highest-rated QB on the 49ers’ draft board
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) April 28, 2017
Can’t believe the @ChicagoBears gave up so much for @Mtrubisky10. @49ers got all those picks and still got their guy. #NFLDraft
— Robert Anderson (@RobNAnderson) April 28, 2017
#49ers John Lynch (on @KNBR) says talks with #Bears came over past week, engaged with one more team today, credits Paraag Marathe for help
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) April 28, 2017
With the added 31st pick (acquired from Seattle) the defense was bolstered with linebacker Reuben Foster from Alabama. According to Kevin Jones (KNBR .com and The Bone-Crushing 49ers Postgame Show) Foster is regarded by many to be the second best player in this NFL draft.