INDIANAPOLIS -- The 49ers will pick 9th and the Raiders 10th in the upcoming NFL Draft following the results of Friday’s coin flip at the scouting combine.
Both teams finished last season 6-10 and with identical strengths of schedule. That necessitated the coin flip to decide who would have the higher first-round draft selection. The two teams will alternate higher picks in the later rounds.
The NFL made a show of the flip, holding it near the bench press area at the Indiana Convention Center. Former cornerback Rod Woodson, who played for both teams, flipped a specially made coin that had the Raiders’ logo on one side and 49ers’ insignia on the other. NFL Network cut in to its coverage of player drills to show the coin flip live.
Head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Reggie McKenzie represented the Raiders at the flip. General manager John Lynch attended for the 49ers. (49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had said earlier this week that Lynch was chosen to attend because: “He’s more athletic than me.”)
Nobody seemed to take the flip, or its outcome, too seriously. (Gruden seemed like he wanted mainly to get it over with, asking at one point: “Is this live?”)
McKenzie wore a smile as he left the room after the flip. “Where’s Woodson?” McKenzie said. “He’s gotta figure out how to make sure it lands on the right side. That was bad by him.”
“Hey, it is what it is,” McKenzie added. “We’re picking 10.”
McKenzie had downplayed the importance of the flip earlier this week.
“I don’t think it matters much as far as the player,” McKenzie said Wednesday. “Now, maybe in trade value it matters a little bit more, if somebody wants to get the 9th pick instead of the 10th. But as far as the pick in itself, I don’t think it’s going to be a huge factor.”
Still, it’s possible the Raiders and 49ers could eye some of the same players going into the April draft. Both have potential needs at linebacker -- the 49ers are waiting for clarity on 2017 draft pick Reuben Foster’s legal issues -- and could have interest in Tremaine Edmunds from Virginia Tech or Roquan Smith from Georgia. Both teams are also thin at cornerback, where Ohio State’s Denzel Ward and Iowa’s Joshua Jackson are projected first-round picks.
Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matthewkawahara
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