The San Francisco 49ers are the most likely team to trade up of anyone in the NFL draft, as the franchise has amassed 13 picks to work with heading into Thursday's event, meaning that it is likely that Jim Harbaugh will be making a top 20 selection despite being runner-up in the Super Bowl.
According to Yahoo Sports, the 49ers are looking to trade up in the draft and possibly into the top 10 to make a selection and the prime targets so far include Tavon Austin, Sharrif Floyd and Desmond Trufant at cornerback. The 49ers have the 31st pick in the first round as well as two second round picks and five among the top 93 selections, making them very likely and able to move their way up the board.
The second round pick from Kansas City could be a huge bargaining chip, as they could move into the top 10 and still have a full draft class despite making it to the Super Bowl. The team lost a number of important players in free agency in Dashon Goldson and Delanie Walker and the draft move could help replace those players on the roster. General manager Trent Baalke and Harbaugh are not afraid to take a risk and they could jump into the top 10 to take someone like Dee Milliner or Austin, who is considered to be one of the fastest players in the draft.
Austin would join a decent receiving corps in San Francisco with Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and Anquan Boldin and he could get ahead of last year's draft pick AJ Jenkins, as he was a disappointment in 2012. The defense could also be the ones who benefit, as a trade would put San Francisco in a position to select Sharrif Floyd, Dee Milliner or Missouri's Sheldon Richardson, since they may not want to go cornerback after signing Nnamdi Asomugha. North Carolina's Sylvester Williams should also be available and the team could even look to get into the top five with the Eagles looking to trade out to select someone like Dion Jordan.
The 49ers still have a number of needs after making it to the Suepr Bowl, including at tight end, safety and on the defensive line. Harbaugh could select his former Stanford player in Zach Ertz as well as tight end Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame, while safeties like Eric Reid and Matt Elam will also be available as they select later in the draft. Goldson will be a big loss but if the team can add a solid replacement they should be fine.
Milliner or someone like Desmond Trufant could be a solid addition to Asomugha in the secondary and the team will need to be ready this season, as the rival Seattle Seahawks acquired Percy Harvin from the Vikings and look more dangerous than ever.
