Trade back targets: Who could be on the 49ers’ radar if they drop back from No. 11?

There’s plenty of intriguing options.

The 11th overall pick is the highest the San Francisco 49ers have held in any draft since 2021. They survived the ill-fated decision to move up from 12 to 3 to get Trey Lance and, with the exception of last season, have continued to thrive in spite of it. As draft day draws ever closer, there’s again talk of them making a first-round trade, albeit in the opposite direction.

NFL Media’s draft expert Daniel Jeremiah talked up the possibility of the 49ers trading down when discussing who they might target in the first round on his annual conference call.

“Walter Nolen to me would be someone if you — maybe if you slid down a little bit just to get more value that would be a defensive tackle that I think would be a fun fit for that group.”

An explosive defensive tackle with the potential to crush the Combine in Indianapolis this week, there’s no guarantee of Nolen being there at 11, and talk around potential character concerns may dissuade San Francisco from drafting him.

With lots of issues to address this year and the 49ers’ track record of moving up and down the board under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, a trade back for more ammunition would make a lot of sense.

If it’s not for Nolen, who else could they target? I’m glad you asked.

Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss

Umanmielen has not received much hype as a potential first-round prospect, but that may change with a strong week at the Combine, as the tape is supremely impressive.

He ranked 10th among all edge rushers with at least 100 snaps last season with a pressure rate of 19.1 percent, per Pro Football Focus, racking up 11 sacks in his final year with the Rebels.

Umanmielen boasts a skill set that the 49ers have desired essentially ever since injury ended Dee Ford’s time with the team. He has a great get-off and can generate speed to power easily, and possesses the speed and lower-body flexibility to turn the corner consistently.

There’s an intriguing variance to Umanmielen’s plan of attack as a pass rusher. He’s found regular success with a spin move at the top of his rush, has a hesitation move in his locker and shows an understanding how to effectively to marry his feet and his hands to manipulate pass protectors and put himself in advantageous situations as a rusher.

While he isn’t dominant against the run, Umanmielen displays strong awareness reading the mesh point in the backfield and has little issue disengaging from tight ends.

With the opportunity to learn from a rusher who was once of a similar mold in the form of Leonard Floyd, the 49ers have an ecosystem to build on the substantial promise Umanmielen has displayed as a pass rusher. The Niners have regularly been connected with Umanmielen’s defensive line teammate Nolen in mock drafts. However, if they drop back into the second half of the first round, Umanmielen would be an intriguing potential target.

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Harmon hasn’t received the same kind of attention as his contemporaries at the defensive tackle position such as Mason Graham and Nolen, but no player at that spot did a better job of consistently generating pressure in 2024.

He led all defensive tackles with 55 pressures and, per PFF, had a pass rush win rate of 17.9 percent that was fourth among interior defensive linemen with at least 100 pass rush snaps.

That consistent pressure only translated to five sacks but, though Harmon definitely could improve at finishing his rushes, there’s a lot to indicate he could be what the 49ers are looking for on an interior defensive line that was awful in 2024.

Harmon’s game is a combination of power and hand usage. He gets his hands into the pads of offensive linemen early and has the brute force to drive them back when doing so. His hands are extremely active on most reps, with Harmon already demonstrating a varied repertoire in terms of moves.

There’s plenty of flexibility to Harmon, both in his ability to flatten towards the quarterback at the top of his rush and his experience succeeding rushing the passer from multiple alignments. Harmon has generated pressure rushing aligned head up on the center in addition to playing as a three and five-technique. He was understandably less effective off the edge at Oregon, but Harmon at least has familiarity as an outside rusher.

Perhaps most intriguingly for the 49ers, Harmon is an asset against the run. He holds his ground extremely well and isn’t consistently blown off the ball by double teams. His 2024 total of 17 run stops would have been higher had he displayed been able to shed blocks more efficiently but, if the Niners aren’t comfortable with Nolen at 11 and want to boost their interior in the first round, there’s a strong case to be made for dropping back and snagging Harmon.

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

The 49ers have invested not insignificant resources in the safety position over the last two years. They spent a third-round pick, their top selection that year, on Ji’Ayir Brown in 2023 before using a fourth-rounder on Malik Mustapha last year.

Brown showed significant promise after entering the starting lineup late in his rookie year and intercepting a pass in the Super Bowl, while Mustapha has all the hallmarks of a day-three home run. Yet with Brown taking something of a step back last season and former All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga set for free agency, safety looms as an underrated issue.

There’s a case to be made that it isn’t a problem that merits the 49ers using a first-rounder on the position given the other needs they clearly have.

However, in a trade-back scenario, there’s several reasons why Starks could be a compelling option, chief among them being the flexibility he would provide in the defensive backfield.

Few safeties can claim to possess the man coverage skills out of the slot that Starks displayed in his time with the Bulldogs. The 49ers have one of the best slot defenders in the NFL in Deommodore Lenoir, but Starks’ prowess in that regard would give San Francisco the potential to be a lot more malleable in the deployment of its coverages.

Throw in his ball skills, his ability to shoot gaps when playing downhill and his range in pursuit, and there’s a lot to suggest the Niners could be enamored by a move down the board to set themselves up for the long-term at safety.

Armand Membou, OL, Missouri

The 49ers haven’t invested a first-round pick in an offensive lineman since the last time they took a right tackle, selecting Mike McGlinchey in 2018. For all the talk of him moving to guard, Membou is a better right tackle prospect than McGlinchey was back then.

Membou didn’t allow a single sack in 2024 and surrendered only nine pressures, with those numbers reflective of the control and calm he exudes when pass blocking. His prowess in this area is in large part the product of excellent footwork that allows him to quickly get square with edge rushers once out of his stance and then mirror them effectively to shut down both outside and inside moves.

On top of that, Membou wins through his ability to consistently dictate the leverage battle, counter pass rush moves quickly with strong and very fast hands, and drop the anchor effectively.

The same strength in his hands allows Membou to displace defenders in the run game, with the combination of his power and his mobility in open space making him an excellent fit for a ground attack that blends zone and gap scheme runs.

Last offseason, offensive line coach Chris Foerster was open about the 49ers’ philosophy being to focus premium capital on players that score touchdowns and back themselves to develop later-round offensive linemen.

Dominick Puni was a success story in their development efforts last season as a rookie third-round pick. But, after the disarray in which the O-Line ended the 2024 campaign, they would be well-advised to take a strong look at Membou as an immediate starter and long-term answer at right tackle whose addition would allow the 49ers to use Colton McKivitz as a versatile depth option, rather than as an at best average starter at a key spot.

If the 49ers could move back a couple of spots and land Membou, they’d be in position for a superb draft.