San Francisco 49ers

NFL Draft: Projecting Where the 49ers Will Pick in 2017

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The 1-8 San Francisco 49ers are headed to a top-five pick in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft. But they don’t have a good chance to land the No. 1 overall pick. Let’s break down some possibilities.

At 1-8, the San Francisco 49ers are a lock to secure a top-five pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. But there’s a long way to go in determining exactly where the Niners’ first draft pick will land.

49ers

Niner Noise 19h49ers vs. Cardinals: The Good, Bad and Ugly in Week 10 for San Francisco

More headlines around FanSided:

1 d - 49ers vs Cardinals: Week 10 Grades and Analysis for San Francsico1 d - 49ers at Cardinals Recap, Highlights, Final Score, More1 d - 49ers vs. Cardinals: Live Week 10 In-Game Thread & Updates for San Francisco1 d - Fantasy Football: Week 10 Targets on the 49ers Roster1 d - Fantasy Football: Week 10 Daily Fantasy Football PicksMore News at Niner Noise

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the winless Cleveland Browns have the best chance to secure the top pick in the draft — 86.8 percent to be exact. San Francisco has the next best chance at 10 percent.

Based on Cleveland’s remaining schedule, it’s entirely feasible to assume the Browns finish 2016 with an 0-16 record.

The 49ers likely aren’t going to win more than two or three games this season. Maybe the Niners can take advantage of a depleted and underachieving Chicago Bears team in Week 13. The hapless New York Jets come to town a week later, and their season is all but over as well.

Both the Jets and the Bears are in contention for a top-five pick as well. Where these teams finish — and how the Niners fare against them — might have some significant NFL Draft implications next year.

Likely Top-Five Teams in the NFL Draft Order

The 49ers, Browns (0-10), Bears (2-7), Jets (3-7) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) all could be destined for a top-five pick in the upcoming draft.

Jacksonville isn’t on the Niners calendar this year, but their remaining schedule doesn’t exactly guarantee a lot of winnable games. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Jaguars finish with a 3-13 record or maybe 4-12.

Head-to-head matchups with the Jets and Bears will have implications though.

NFL: San Francisco 49ers at New York Jets. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

The Niners take on Chicago on the back end of a two-game Bears home stand. And while little has gone right for head coach John Fox this season, wins like the one Chicago had over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8 could be in the back pocket.

But the Bears will have to do so without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (suspension) and guard Kyle Long (ankle).

The Jets aren’t exactly in a good position to beat the Niners either. But two of their three wins have come on the road, so look for Week 14 to play a vital role in determining the draft order when New York visits San Francisco.

If the Niners win both these games (and no other), the team would finish with a 3-13 record. And if the Jets lose out — which could happen, based on their schedule — New York would leapfrog San Francisco in the draft order.

More from Niner Noise

The Niners could still wind up drafting ahead of Chicago if the 49ers won in both Weeks 13 and 14 as long as the Bears finished with a better record.

But for those hoping San Francisco gets the best pick possible, these games might be ones in which the Niners toss away.

So the rest of the schedule actually means something to the red and gold, doesn’t it.

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from San Francisco 49ers Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

San Francisco 49ers

National Football League