49ers are flying high after win over Eagles in the wildcard round, and a new 2026 NFL mock draft fills its biggest roster hole
The 49ers remain alive in the NFC playoffs, but a new 2026 NFL mock draft has the team fill a major need on their offense for next season.
The resilience displayed by the San Francisco 49ers throughout the season has been nothing short of remarkable, and they did it again during the wildcard round by taking down the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The 49ers remain alive in the playoff race, and that will be its primary focus for the time being. The offseason will be here before you know it, though, and there are clear needs on San Francisco’s roster for it to look to upgrade in the coming months.
A new A to Z Sports mock draft has the 49ers filling one of its top offensive needs. Watching star TE George Kittle suffer a torn Achilles makes their need for more dynamic pass catchers even larger. And this mock draft has them landing one, but the player is also dealing with his own injury.
49ers select Louisville star WR Chris Bell a new 2026 NFL mock draft
“While Chris Bell is recovering from a knee injury, this is the type of class where it might still be worth a late first-round investment. He is a massive pass catcher whose YAC skills are well-suited for the San Francisco offense.” – New A to Z Sports 3-round mock draft
Chris Bell is coming off the best year of his collegiate career at Louisville. He set new career highs across the board with 72 receptions, 917 yards, and six touchdowns. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in Louisville’s matchup with SMU this year.
Many believed Bell was the best yards-after-catch threat in the 2026 draft class, and a Sa result was thought to be a first-round talent. He will now be unable to showcase his skills at the NFL Scouting Combine or at his pro day. There are questions about whether he will still be considered by teams in the first round.
The 49ers are expected to part ways with Brandon Aiyuk this offseason and will need to upgrade their WR room. Bell is likely to be high in Kyle Shanahan’s WR rankings thanks to his YAC ability. He’s certainly an upgrade, but they will have to ask themselves if his injury is too significant a risk to take with their first-round selection.
NFL Draft
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