The San Francisco 49ers have not been the best team in the world when it comes to adding talent on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, and it seems like they have realized that. The best way for them to use Day 2 draft capital to improve this roster might be forgo the draft and move those picks to a contender.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell was both extremely complimentary of how one of their third-round picks was used and very vitriolic when asked about how John Lynch drafted. Barnwell loved the decision to trade a third-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys to land an impact defensive lineman in Osa Odighizuwa.
The draft, however, was not well received.
Barnwell was very critical of their decision to not only use a mid-round pick on a running back (a common pain point among 49ers fans), but he wasn't thrilled with the player they added, being Indiana's Kaelon Black.
Once again, Lynch's strategy on Day 2 continues to befuddle observers around the league just as much as Niners fans.
49ers ripped and praised for use of 3rd-round picks
Odighizuwa, who is in the middle of a four-year, $80 million contract, is still one of the better penetrating defensive tackles in the game. The 49ers took advantage of a Cowboys team that essentially left a quality starter without a role after the additions of Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
While Odighizuwa will be an immediate impact player for a defense that will try to find its way after losing Robert Saleh, Black was a very puzzling selection in a 2026 NFL Draft class that had quite a few picks like that. It's not unreasonable to suggest that teammate Roman Hemby, who ran for more yards last year, is a better prospect. Hemby went undrafted.
To prove Barnwell wrong here, Black will need to avoid becoming the latest mid-round running back Lynch has drafted who failed to provide anything in terms of long-term value. He (and fellow mid-rounder Isaac Guerendo) may join the graveyard already populated by names like Trey Sermon, Joe Williams, and Tyrion Davis-Price.
The 49ers could make Barnwell and many of the doubters in the fanbase look foolish if Black ends up being the one mid-round running back who can actually prove to be a solid backup behind Christian McCaffrey.
If he fails, at least they can fall back on Odighizuwa being a dynamite starter acquired for relative pennies on the dollar.
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