Will the 49ers stay at No. 31?

They can stay put, move up, or trade down.

When you look at mock drafts and who the San Francisco 49ers are projected to pick, some analysts have the Niners trading up, while others have them moving out of the first round as another team makes an enticing offer.

You’re not going out on a limb to say that John Lynch will make a trade. During the 49ers’ first draft under Lynch, six trades were orchestrated. Are you guaranteed to hit on every trade you make, whether up or down? Absolutely not — looking at you, Solomon Thomas and Trey Lance.

Yet, in the case of the trade for Thomas, the 49ers reaped a significant reward. They acquired a third-round pick for the 2018 draft, which they wisely used on a safety converted to linebacker from BYU. This player has since become a perennial All-Pro and the best at his position in the NFL. This success story reminds us of the potential rewards from trades that don’t pan out in Year 1.

Lynch and the front office will hear their phones ring tonight. In a handful of scenarios, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is available at the second-to-last pick of the first round.

But it won’t just be for quarterbacks. Let’s say the 49ers have a group of players they’re comfortable with drafting in the early 30s. A new like the New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, or New York Giants could trade up for a wideout. I also wouldn’t rule out a team jumping in front of the Kansas City Chiefs for an offensive tackle.

And remember, because one team views a player as a first-round prospect, the Niners, or 20 other teams for that fact, may disagree.

Then, there’s the other side of the equation. Lynch said the team has 22 first-round grades in this year’s draft. San Francisco could view the drop-off between the top 22 players and whoever would be available to them at 31 as steep, leading them to move up for a player they covet.

The final outcome is the draft falls to the 49ers, and they have their pick of the litter, from an offensive tackle to a wide receiver, a defensive lineman, or a cornerback. There are endless outcomes that will unfold tonight. Which one do you think will happen to the 49ers?

My guess? A trade up to the early 20s to second one of their first-round targets who will contribute immediately.