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ESPN analytics predicts likeliest players to go with 49ers' draft pick

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ESPN analytics predicts likeliest players to go with 49ers' draft pick


Trading back has always been an intriguing draft strategy for the 49ers in a year where they’re unlikely to find a top-end player at their biggest position of need with the 31st overall pick. Moving back a few spots and stockpiling more picks while also not needing to reach for a player in Round 1 could ultimately be more beneficial in the immediate and long-term futures for San Francisco.

A good illustration of why there could be several opportunities for the 49ers to trade back comes via ESPN analytics’ draft predictor, which laid out the players most likely to be taken with the 31st overall selection. That doesn’t mean San Francisco will definitely be making the pick, this is just the player most likely to go with that pick regardless of which team ultimately makes it.

Here are the 10 players most likely to go 31st overall per ESPN:

(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

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Would the 49ers pick him?
Yes. Mitchell has some high-end traits that could be enticing to the 49ers, especially if they wind up moving Brandon Aiyuk in this year’s draft. Not that Mitchell is a similar player, but Aiyuk’s exit would create a pretty gaping hole on the depth chart.

Chance he’s taken: ~ 7.75 percent

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Would the 49ers pick him?
Probably not. They’ve never taken a cornerback earlier than the third round under general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. If McKinstry’s name gets called with the 31st pick it likely means the 49ers have traded out.

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Chance he’s taken: ~ 7.25 percent

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Would the 49ers pick him?
Worthy has different, game-changing speed the 49ers don’t really have in their receiving corps. It’s easy to see how Shanahan could fall in love with what Worthy can do with the ball in his hands. On the other hand, this might be a bit of a reach even after Worthy set the NFL combine record with a 4.21 40-yard dash.

Chance he’s taken: ~ 6.25 percent

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Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Would the 49ers pick him?
Definitely! Of all the WRs who might fall to San Francisco, McConkey is the one who makes the most sense for them. He can play outside or in the slot, and he’s almost always open which would give quarterback Brock Purdy another go-to pass catcher in big situations.

Chances he’s taken: ~ 5.0 percent

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Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Would the 49ers pick him?
Absolutely! Guyton is in the second tier of this tackle class, but he has good enough size and athleticism to hang in Shanahan’s offense. If San Francisco is set on picking an OT in the first round it’s easy to see them liking what Guyton brings now and in the future.

Chances he’s taken: ~ 4.5 percent

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

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Would the 49ers pick him?
In theory they could, but it’s hard to envision them going with a defensive back in Round 1 with so many other needs stacked up. Perhaps they really like a player with DeJean’s athleticism as a safety with Talanoa Hufanga entering the final year of his contract. If DeJean is the pick though the 49ers have likely traded out.

Chances he’s taken: ~ 4.3 percent

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Would the 49ers pick him?
Rakestraw is a really fun player who fits the 49ers’ defensive ethos. They don’t take CBs in Round 1 though historically, and it’s unlikely they’d start with Rakestraw.

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Chance he’s taken: ~ 4.3 percent

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Would the 49ers pick him?
Absolutely. They might even run to the podium to turn in the draft card. Newton is a force as a pass rusher with enough run-stuffing chops to work as a potential Arik Armstead replacement in the next couple of seasons.

Chance he’s taken: ~ 4.25 percent

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Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

Would the 49ers pick him?
They sure would. Robinson has an elite first step that might make defensive line coach Kris Kocurek salivate. There’s some required development for Robinson, but he’s at minimum a rotational pass rusher out the gate for the 49ers.

Chances he’s taken: ~4.1 percent

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Would the 49ers pick him?
Yes, for sure. Morgan is an interesting prospect since some analysts project him as a guard in the NFL. If that’s the case for the 49ers they may want to trade back and see if Morgan is still around in the second sometime. If they view him as a long-term tackle on either the right or left side though they’d not hesitate to call his name on Draft Night.

Chances he’s taken: ~ 4.0 percent

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Flight of fancy: San Francisco moves to build private luxury airport terminal

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Flight of fancy: San Francisco moves to build private luxury airport terminal


Sick of the TSA lines? Tired of playing musical chairs at the gate? Rather sit as far from your fellow airplane passengers for as long as possible, in the comfort of your own private, luxury airport terminal?

Soon you may get your wish. And San Francisco international airport wants to be your genie – for a fee.

The airport is hoping to build a brand-new terminal exclusively for passengers who pay a premium, gaining access to a luxurious airport experience complete with private security lines and valet service from terminal to tarmac. It will service commercial flights, not business or corporate jets, and the terminal will have its own Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) lines for international travel.

SFO is seeking bidders to take on the development, construction and operation of the private terminal, which is planned for a 75,000-sq-ft site located across the runway from all current public terminals. The airport will accept proposals between late September and early October, and is looking to award a contract by early December with hopes of opening the terminal in late 2028.

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SFO’s interest in a luxury development comes from what airport spokesperson Doug Yakel called a “high level of demand” for “premium experiences” in travel, citing the popularity of existing credit card and premium lounges. A private terminal is essentially the next step up in exclusivity from those lounges – and the best chance at avoiding airport crowds entirely.

“Somebody that uses this product really wouldn’t see the other passengers they’re traveling with until they’re taken up the stairs of the jet bridge and onto the aircraft,” Yakel said.

Spending on “pay-to-play” luxury experiences at large is on the rise, according to a new report by Bain & Company and Altagamma. The airline industry has bought in, revamping lounge and onboard experiences with chef-designed menus and expanded premium seating for the highest-paying passengers.

Many see a market in San Francisco, where an AI-driven wealth boom is already agitating the local housing market, with homes sold at the fastest pace in five years and the single-family median home price clocking in at $2.2m.

Yakel said SFO felt now was the right time to enter the market of luxury travel.

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“We see the level of interest that’s being invested onboard aircraft, inside terminals, around airports, and clearly this is something that other airports are rolling out,” Yakel said.

The price to pay for a private airport experience will be decided by whoever wins the bid for operations, and will be offered on a membership or per-use basis. The traffic experienced at public terminals likely won’t change, Yakel said.

Private terminals have become popular worldwide. London Heathrow and Paris-Charles de Gaulle airports in Europe have long operated luxury terminals, and São Paulo/Guarulhos international airport recently opened the first private terminal in Latin America.

If SFO is successful, it would become the next major American airport to open a luxury terminal. Los Angeles, Dallas Fort Worth, Miami and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airports all offer a private terminal through PS (formerly known as the Private Suite), a company owned by security firm Gavin de Becker and Associates. Multiple representatives from PS and Gavin de Becker and Associates attended a June conference hosted by SFO about the private terminal, and PS has said it hopes to open a private terminal at every major US airport by 2030.

Access to existing PS private terminals can cost passengers $1,295 for a one-time experience, or up to $4,850 for a yearly membership. Heathrow’s private terminal costs thousands of pounds per person.

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What’s next for San Francisco Giants as MLB trade deadline approaches?

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What’s next for San Francisco Giants as MLB trade deadline approaches?


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The San Francisco Giants have a lot to consider at this juncture of the MLB season.

There were mid-level expectations for the Giants at the start of the season. On paper, it seemed like the Giants could battle for a wild card berth.

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The Giants won’t meet those expectations.

A week before the All-Star break, San Francisco has the third-worst record in baseball at 38-54. The Giants lost 10-0 to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 8, held hitless through eight innings.

It’s becoming increasingly obvious that this team won’t be competitive down the stretch, which has many of the Giants faithful singing a NxWorries tune, wondering what to do and where to go from here.

It’s evident that a shake-up is needed. It’s simply a matter of where they start and what they can realistically do to change things in the dugout. But one thing’s for sure: the Giants are sellers heading into the trade deadline.

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What should the Giants do now?

The Giants have to accept their fate. Entering the season, they looked like a team that could compete with anybody, but then the baseball games were played and that proved to not be the case. So now San Francisco has to look itself in the mirror and figure out what went wrong and how to make things right – well, better than they have been going, anyways.

Here are a few ideas:

Get aggressive in the trade market, sell high

It’s easier said than done, but the Giants have to get off the expensive contracts eating up their salary. Reason being, you won’t be able to get any talent, let alone invest in your prospects, if there isn’t enough dollars to go around by the time negotiations occur.

It’s also a matter of how aggressive they plan to be and who will be prioritized. Who is untouchable? ESPN’s Jeff Passan has Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee as a top-ranked trade candidate. He plays all throughout the outfield. Offensively, Lee ranks top 10 in MLB in batting average and strikeout rate.

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Lee, 27, makes $22.83 million this season and next, before going down to $21.33 million in both 2028 and 2029. Although not a star, the Giants can sell teams on Lee being a promising, solid all-around player.

Move on from veteran players

With a record like San Francisco’s, the best thing you can do for the fans is give them something to be hopeful for. That’s not aging veterans.

Examine the market for your guys who are age 30 and up, or are occupying a ton of salary space.

Rafael Devers turns 30 in October. His age isn’t so much a problem, but his contract … combined with the lack of expected production. Devers has had a down year so far, batting .244, registering 86 hits and 18 homers. He’s under contract through 2033 at a hefty price tag.

Others to consider moving on from are Willy Adames and Matt Chapman. They’re fan favorites, but based on age and dollars it all makes sense. Adames is under contract through 2031 at over $31 million per season. Chapman is locked up through 2030 at over $25 million per year.

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It’s hard to say goodbye, but in the best interest of the Giants, they have to find new homes for these guys. And honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising if Devers, Chapman and Adames wanted to find a new home if it meant playing for a contender and a chance at a World Series title.

Retain young talent, bring in fresh faces

There’s promise for the future in this squad with guys like Bryce Eldridge, Blade Tidwell and Drew Gilbert. It’s a start.

“The San Francisco Giants, who would love to trade two of their infielders at the trade deadline, need to clear space for power-hitter Bryce Eldridge. They realize it’s stunting his growth as an infielder to keep using him as a DH at the age of 21,” USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale wrote.

Eldridge has had plenty moments as a designated hitter but none bigger than his walk-off grand slam against the Washington Nationals on June 10.

Another intitiative San Francisco needs to focus on is hanging on to guys like Logan Webb, Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt and Landon Roupp. The best bet is to hang on to them to help usher in a new era. Years from now, when the team has a new look, you can decide whether to leverage them for additional assets.

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However, in the interim, hold on to those guys for dear life because teams will come knocking as MLB gets closer to the trade deadline.



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San Francisco, CA

Bay Area Teen Waymo Riders Nabbed For Allegedly Shooting Projectiles From Robotaxi

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Bay Area Teen Waymo Riders Nabbed For Allegedly Shooting Projectiles From Robotaxi


San Mateo Police said they were contacted by Waymo about the two 15-year-old riders after they were seen drinking and shooting from the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped as police responded and officers were able to safely remove the teens.

An investigation determined the teens were shooting Orbeez water beads and drinking while being chauffeured around the city.





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