After their third straight loss, the 49ers’ spot in the 2025 NFL Draft is just as important as their rapidly dwindling spot in the NFC playoffs.

Following San Francisco’s 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Highmark Stadium, the 49ers are now in position for a top-15 pick and are currently ranked No. 14 in the 2025 NFL Draft order.

The 49ers haven’t finished in the top 15 since 2021, when San Francisco selected quarterback Trey Lance from No. 12 to No. 3 overall after a historic trade.

The last time the 49ers held the No. 14 overall pick was during the 2020 draft when San Francisco selected defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.

During coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch’s tenure with the 49ers, San Francisco was ranked in the top 15 five times. Here’s who the 49ers got with these picks.

• Defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (No. 3 overall, 2017)

• Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (No. 9 overall, 2018)

• Defensive end Nick Bosa (No. 2 overall, 2019)

• Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (No. 14 overall, 2020)

• Quarterback Trey Lance (No. 3 overall, 2021)

With five games remaining in the 2024 NFL season against the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco has an uphill battle for a playoff spot or even a winning record.

There’s a very realistic scenario in which the 49ers finish the season with a pick somewhere in the middle of the first round.

The bright side is that San Francisco appears to have added several game-changing factors with some of its 2024 draft picks and could have a valuable opportunity to retool an aging roster by adding an impact player at the top of the first round – something the Case is The 49ers haven’t done it since acquiring Bosa in 2019.