The
NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",[9][10][11] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[12] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the
NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the
Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are
tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[13] From
1947 through
1958 the NFL designated the first overall selection as a "bonus" or "lottery pick". The pick was awarded by a random draw and the winner who received the "bonus pick" forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft and became ineligible for future draws. The system was abolished prior to the
1959 NFL draft, as all twelve teams in the league at the time had received a bonus choice.[14][15]
^San Francisco received
Kevin Hardy and
New Orleans Saints' 1969 first-round selection (No. 7 overall) as compensation for the Saints' signing of receiver
Dave Parks in the days prior to unrestricted free agency.[33][34]
^San Francisco traded offensive tackle
Walt Rock to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for their 1970 first-round selection (No. 17 overall).[35]
^
abSan Francisco traded running back
Vic Washington to the
Houston Oilers in exchange for their 1976 first-round selection (No. 21 overall) and 1977 third-round selection (No. 65 overall).[37][38]
^San Francisco traded their 1978 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 38 and 65 overall), 1979 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 1 and 83 overall), and 1980 second-round selection (No. 29 overall) to the
Buffalo Bills in exchange for running back
O. J. Simpson.[44][39]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1980 first-round selection (No. 2 overall) to the
New York Jets in exchange for their two 1980 first-round selections (Nos. 13 and 20 overall).[1]
^San Francisco traded their 1982 first-, fourth-, and two second-round selections (Nos. 27, 42, 55, and 111 overall) to the
New England Patriots in exchange for their 1982 second-round selection (No. 29 overall) and tight end
Russ Francis.[45][46]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1983 second-round selection (No. 36 overall) to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for defensive end
Fred Dean and the option to swap 1983 first-round selections.[47] San Diego went on to exercise this option, forcing San Francisco to trade their 1983 first-round selection (No. 5 overall) to San Diego in exchange for their 1983 first-round selection (No. 22 overall).[48]
^San Francisco traded a 1983 first-round selection (No. 22 overall, received from
San Diego Chargers)[O] to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their two 1983 second-round selections (Nos. 36 and 49 overall).[48][49]
^San Francisco traded their 1985 first-, second-, and third-round selections (Nos. 28, 56, and 84 overall) to the
New England Patriots in exchange for their 1985 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 16 and 75 overall).[1]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1986 first-round selection (No. 18 overall) to the
Dallas Cowboys in exchange for their 1986 first- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 20 and 131 overall).[50][51]
^San Francisco traded a 1986 first-round selection (No. 20 overall, received from
Dallas Cowboys)[R] and 1987 tenth-round selection (No. 273 overall) to the
Buffalo Bills in exchange for their 1986 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 29 and 56 overall).[52][51][53]
^San Francisco traded their 1986 second-round selection (No. 45 overall) to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for their 1986 tenth-round selection (No. 270 overall) and 1987 first-round selection (No. 25 overall).[54][53]
^San Francisco traded their 1988 first-round selection (No. 26 overall) to the
Los Angeles Raiders in exchange for their 1988 second- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 33 and 102 overall) and wide receiver
Dokie Williams.[55]
^
abSan Francisco traded quarterback
Joe Montana, safety
David Whitmore, and a 1994 third-round selection (No. 92 overall) to the
Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 1993 first-round selection (No. 18 overall).[56][57]
^
abSan Francisco traded a 1993 first-round selection (No. 18 overall, received from
Kansas City Chiefs)[V] to the
Phoenix Cardinals in exchange for their 1993 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 20 and 116 overall).[58]
^San Francisco traded a 1993 first-round selection (No. 20 overall, received from
Phoenix Cardinals)[W] to the
New Orleans Saints in exchange for their 1993 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 26 and 81 overall).[58]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1993 second-round selection (No. 41 overall) to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their 1994 first-round selection (No. 15 overall).[49]
^San Francisco traded their 1994 first-, second, and third round selections (Nos. 15, received from
San Diego Chargers, 56, and 100 overall)[Y] to the
Los Angeles Rams in exchange for their 1994 first-round selection (No. 7 overall).[59]
^San Francisco traded their 1994 first- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 23 and 217 overall) to the
Dallas Cowboys in exchange for their 1994 first- and second-round selections. (Nos. 28 and 62 overall).[60]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1995 first-, third, and fourth-round selections (Nos. 30, 94, and 119 overall) and 1996 first-round selection (No. 26 overall) to the
Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 1995 first-round selection (No. 10 overall).[61]
^San Francisco traded their 1999 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 27 and 134 overall) to the
Miami Dolphins in exchange for their 1999 first-round selection (No. 24 overall).[62]
^
abcSan Francisco traded their 2000 first-round selection (No. 3 overall) to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for their two 2000 first-round selections (Nos. 12 and 24 overall).[63]
^San Francisco traded a 2000 first-round selection (No. 12 overall, received from
Washington Redskins)[AD] to the
New York Jets in exchange for their 2000 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 16 and 48 overall).[63]
^San Francisco traded their 2001 first- third- and seventh- round selections (Nos. 9, 82, and 222 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 2001 first- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 7 and 191 overall).[64]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 2004 first-round selection (No. 16 overall) to the
Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for their 2004 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 28 and 58 overall).[65]
^San Francisco traded a first-round selection (No. 28 overall, received from
Philadelphia Eagles)[AG] to the
Carolina Panthers in exchange for their 2004 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 31 and 127 overall).[65]
^San Francisco traded their 2006 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 37 and 68 overall) to the
Denver Broncos in exchange for their 2006 first-round selection (No. 22 overall).[66]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 2007 fourth-round selection (No. 110 overall) and 2008 first-round selection (No. 7 overall) to the
New England Patriots in exchange for their 2007 first-round selection (No. 28 overall).[66]
^San Francisco traded their 2007 second-round selection (No. 42 overall) to the
Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their 2007 fourth-round selection (No. 126 overall) and 2008 first-round selection (No. 29 overall).[67]
^San Francisco traded their 2010 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 13 and 113 overall) to the
Denver Broncos in exchange for their 2010 first-round selection (No. 11 overall).[68]
^San Francisco traded their 2009 second- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 43 and 111 overall) to the
Carolina Panthers in exchange for their 2010 first-round selection (No. 17 overall).[68]
^San Francisco traded their 2013 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 31 and 74 overall) to the
Dallas Cowboys in exchange for their 2013 first-round selection (No. 18 overall).[69]
^San Francisco traded their 2015 first-round selection (No. 15 overall) to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their 2015 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 17 and 117 overall) and 2016 fifth-round selection (No. 142 overall).[70]
^San Francisco traded their 2016 second-, fourth-, and sixth-round selections (Nos. 37, 105, and 178 overall) to the
Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 2016 first-round selection (No. 28 overall).[71]
^San Francisco traded their 2017 first-round selection (No. 2 overall) to the
Chicago Bears in exchange for their 2017 first-, third-, and fourth-round selections (Nos. 3, 67, and 111 overall) and 2018 third-round selection (No. 70 overall).[72]
^San Francisco traded their 2017 second- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 34 and 111 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 2017 first-round selection (No. 31 overall).[72]
^San Francisco traded their 2020 first- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 13 and 245 overall) to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for their 2020 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 14 and 117 overall).[73]
^San Francisco traded their 2020 first-, fourth-, and fifth-round selections (Nos. 31, 117, and 176 overall) to the
Minnesota Vikings in exchange for their 2020 first-round selection (No. 24 overall).[73]
^
abcSan Francisco traded their 2021 first-round selection (No. 12 overall), 2022 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 29 and 102 overall), and 2023 first-round selection (No. 29 overall) to the
Miami Dolphins in exchange for their 2021 first-round selection (No. 3 overall).[74]
The
NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",[9][10][11] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[12] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the
NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the
Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are
tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[13] From
1947 through
1958 the NFL designated the first overall selection as a "bonus" or "lottery pick". The pick was awarded by a random draw and the winner who received the "bonus pick" forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft and became ineligible for future draws. The system was abolished prior to the
1959 NFL draft, as all twelve teams in the league at the time had received a bonus choice.[14][15]
^San Francisco received
Kevin Hardy and
New Orleans Saints' 1969 first-round selection (No. 7 overall) as compensation for the Saints' signing of receiver
Dave Parks in the days prior to unrestricted free agency.[33][34]
^San Francisco traded offensive tackle
Walt Rock to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for their 1970 first-round selection (No. 17 overall).[35]
^
abSan Francisco traded running back
Vic Washington to the
Houston Oilers in exchange for their 1976 first-round selection (No. 21 overall) and 1977 third-round selection (No. 65 overall).[37][38]
^San Francisco traded their 1978 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 38 and 65 overall), 1979 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 1 and 83 overall), and 1980 second-round selection (No. 29 overall) to the
Buffalo Bills in exchange for running back
O. J. Simpson.[44][39]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1980 first-round selection (No. 2 overall) to the
New York Jets in exchange for their two 1980 first-round selections (Nos. 13 and 20 overall).[1]
^San Francisco traded their 1982 first-, fourth-, and two second-round selections (Nos. 27, 42, 55, and 111 overall) to the
New England Patriots in exchange for their 1982 second-round selection (No. 29 overall) and tight end
Russ Francis.[45][46]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1983 second-round selection (No. 36 overall) to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for defensive end
Fred Dean and the option to swap 1983 first-round selections.[47] San Diego went on to exercise this option, forcing San Francisco to trade their 1983 first-round selection (No. 5 overall) to San Diego in exchange for their 1983 first-round selection (No. 22 overall).[48]
^San Francisco traded a 1983 first-round selection (No. 22 overall, received from
San Diego Chargers)[O] to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their two 1983 second-round selections (Nos. 36 and 49 overall).[48][49]
^San Francisco traded their 1985 first-, second-, and third-round selections (Nos. 28, 56, and 84 overall) to the
New England Patriots in exchange for their 1985 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 16 and 75 overall).[1]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1986 first-round selection (No. 18 overall) to the
Dallas Cowboys in exchange for their 1986 first- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 20 and 131 overall).[50][51]
^San Francisco traded a 1986 first-round selection (No. 20 overall, received from
Dallas Cowboys)[R] and 1987 tenth-round selection (No. 273 overall) to the
Buffalo Bills in exchange for their 1986 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 29 and 56 overall).[52][51][53]
^San Francisco traded their 1986 second-round selection (No. 45 overall) to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for their 1986 tenth-round selection (No. 270 overall) and 1987 first-round selection (No. 25 overall).[54][53]
^San Francisco traded their 1988 first-round selection (No. 26 overall) to the
Los Angeles Raiders in exchange for their 1988 second- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 33 and 102 overall) and wide receiver
Dokie Williams.[55]
^
abSan Francisco traded quarterback
Joe Montana, safety
David Whitmore, and a 1994 third-round selection (No. 92 overall) to the
Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 1993 first-round selection (No. 18 overall).[56][57]
^
abSan Francisco traded a 1993 first-round selection (No. 18 overall, received from
Kansas City Chiefs)[V] to the
Phoenix Cardinals in exchange for their 1993 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 20 and 116 overall).[58]
^San Francisco traded a 1993 first-round selection (No. 20 overall, received from
Phoenix Cardinals)[W] to the
New Orleans Saints in exchange for their 1993 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 26 and 81 overall).[58]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1993 second-round selection (No. 41 overall) to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their 1994 first-round selection (No. 15 overall).[49]
^San Francisco traded their 1994 first-, second, and third round selections (Nos. 15, received from
San Diego Chargers, 56, and 100 overall)[Y] to the
Los Angeles Rams in exchange for their 1994 first-round selection (No. 7 overall).[59]
^San Francisco traded their 1994 first- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 23 and 217 overall) to the
Dallas Cowboys in exchange for their 1994 first- and second-round selections. (Nos. 28 and 62 overall).[60]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 1995 first-, third, and fourth-round selections (Nos. 30, 94, and 119 overall) and 1996 first-round selection (No. 26 overall) to the
Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 1995 first-round selection (No. 10 overall).[61]
^San Francisco traded their 1999 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 27 and 134 overall) to the
Miami Dolphins in exchange for their 1999 first-round selection (No. 24 overall).[62]
^
abcSan Francisco traded their 2000 first-round selection (No. 3 overall) to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for their two 2000 first-round selections (Nos. 12 and 24 overall).[63]
^San Francisco traded a 2000 first-round selection (No. 12 overall, received from
Washington Redskins)[AD] to the
New York Jets in exchange for their 2000 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 16 and 48 overall).[63]
^San Francisco traded their 2001 first- third- and seventh- round selections (Nos. 9, 82, and 222 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 2001 first- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 7 and 191 overall).[64]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 2004 first-round selection (No. 16 overall) to the
Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for their 2004 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 28 and 58 overall).[65]
^San Francisco traded a first-round selection (No. 28 overall, received from
Philadelphia Eagles)[AG] to the
Carolina Panthers in exchange for their 2004 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 31 and 127 overall).[65]
^San Francisco traded their 2006 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 37 and 68 overall) to the
Denver Broncos in exchange for their 2006 first-round selection (No. 22 overall).[66]
^
abSan Francisco traded their 2007 fourth-round selection (No. 110 overall) and 2008 first-round selection (No. 7 overall) to the
New England Patriots in exchange for their 2007 first-round selection (No. 28 overall).[66]
^San Francisco traded their 2007 second-round selection (No. 42 overall) to the
Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their 2007 fourth-round selection (No. 126 overall) and 2008 first-round selection (No. 29 overall).[67]
^San Francisco traded their 2010 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 13 and 113 overall) to the
Denver Broncos in exchange for their 2010 first-round selection (No. 11 overall).[68]
^San Francisco traded their 2009 second- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 43 and 111 overall) to the
Carolina Panthers in exchange for their 2010 first-round selection (No. 17 overall).[68]
^San Francisco traded their 2013 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 31 and 74 overall) to the
Dallas Cowboys in exchange for their 2013 first-round selection (No. 18 overall).[69]
^San Francisco traded their 2015 first-round selection (No. 15 overall) to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their 2015 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 17 and 117 overall) and 2016 fifth-round selection (No. 142 overall).[70]
^San Francisco traded their 2016 second-, fourth-, and sixth-round selections (Nos. 37, 105, and 178 overall) to the
Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 2016 first-round selection (No. 28 overall).[71]
^San Francisco traded their 2017 first-round selection (No. 2 overall) to the
Chicago Bears in exchange for their 2017 first-, third-, and fourth-round selections (Nos. 3, 67, and 111 overall) and 2018 third-round selection (No. 70 overall).[72]
^San Francisco traded their 2017 second- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 34 and 111 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 2017 first-round selection (No. 31 overall).[72]
^San Francisco traded their 2020 first- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 13 and 245 overall) to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for their 2020 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 14 and 117 overall).[73]
^San Francisco traded their 2020 first-, fourth-, and fifth-round selections (Nos. 31, 117, and 176 overall) to the
Minnesota Vikings in exchange for their 2020 first-round selection (No. 24 overall).[73]
^
abcSan Francisco traded their 2021 first-round selection (No. 12 overall), 2022 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 29 and 102 overall), and 2023 first-round selection (No. 29 overall) to the
Miami Dolphins in exchange for their 2021 first-round selection (No. 3 overall).[74]