Even with the Raiders gone from the Bay Area, they still seemed to be joined at the hip with the 49ers in the NFL Draft.

Heading into Sunday’s regular-season finales, the 49ers (6-9) and Raiders (7-8) were set to pick at Nos. 15 and 16, respectively, which would mark the fourth straight season the teams either picked right next to each other or were separated by one team.

If the 49ers upset Seattle and the Raiders lose in Denver, there’s a possibility of the Raiders inching ahead of San Francisco. But, if the 49ers lose and the Raiders win it would mean the 49ers would probably separate themselves a bit from the Raiders.

Should the 49ers and Raiders remain next to each other when the final draft order is set late Sunday afternoon, it might also lead to the teams coveting the same player once again.

In this year’s draft, the 49ers were said to be coveting speedy wide receiver Henry Ruggs III with their pick at No. 13 overall. The Raiders, of course, took the former Alabama star one pick ahead of San Francisco at No. 12.

This may or may not have caused the 49ers to trade down a pick, where they drafted defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw at No. 14 before trading up to select receiver Brandon Aiyuk later at No. 24.

Through 15 games, Aiyuk has been much more productive than Ruggs.

In 2019, the Raiders were picking at No. 4 overall and were among the pass-rush needy teams eyeing Nick Bosa, whom the 49ers chose at No. 2 overall after Arizona took Kyler Murray at No. 1. The Raiders, who likely would have drafted No. 1 overall had they not upset the Steelers in Week 14, settled for Clelin Ferrell at No. 4.

After two season, Bosa is among the NFL’s best pass rushers while Ferrell is a steady, yet unspectacular player.

In 2018, a coin flip was needed to break a tie between the 49ers and Raiders for the ninth overall pick. Both teams were reportedly enamored with Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey, whom was picked by the 49ers after they won the coin flip. The Raiders traded down from the 10th spot and wound up with left tackle Kolton Miller at No. 15.

Through three seasons, Miller seems to be the better of the tackles taken in ’18 by Bay Area teams.

It may be far too early to speculate on which players the 49ers and Raiders may be coveting in April, but with both teams likely needing help on the defensive line and at cornerback, there remains a chance they could again be focused on the same player.