Whatever your thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers' 2026 NFL Draft class, there's no doubt it's got people talking.
From those complaining of "reaches" and "poor value" to suggestions that this might be one of the worst rookie classes in the league, there's no shortage of strong opinions. Others have focused on the athleticism of the rookie class, and like its chances to make an impact over the short-to-medium term.
Myself, I'm cautiously optimistic. While I wouldn't have made some of the picks the Niners did at the spots they did, I can understand (or at least try to) why they ended up in the positions they did. In a draft class that was known as less-than-star-studded, to say the least, it appears to me as though San Francisco drafted to fill roles on the roster rather than be concerned with overall quality.
In many ways, this makes sense, as with the Super Bowl contending window closing, San Francisco needs some instant impact from its rookies.
That looks possible from a handful.
Let's take a look at the draft's zenith, nadir, and biggest shock, and see if we can't figure out what might be going on.
Best Pick: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech (Round 3, Pick 70)
While this could've gone to the 49ers' first pick in the fourth round, Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton (who I would expect to make some noise in the defensive line rotation immediately), ultimately, the answer must be Height.
Simply put, it's the best combination of right player, right need, and right value on the Niners board, while also being an excellent scheme fit.
Everyone knew the 49ers had to come out with one, if not two, edge rushers in the draft, particularly because of last year's aversion to sacks, but also because of the fact that, outside of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, there's very little quality depth.
That gets even more pronounced when one considers new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris's scheme often calls for a fifth down lineman and/or pass-rusher. As it stood going into the draft, I'd struggle to tell you who that mythical one would be.
So that made the pick of Height, a productive and tooled-up young rusher out of one of college football's best defenses, something of a no-brainer.
However, there's an unspoken part of the pick that makes great sense.
I posted on here a few weeks ago that I didn't think it was likely the 49ers would draft an edge in Round 1. That was partly because I didn't especially like the players available at that spot in the first round, but also because I believed it spoke to a reality the Niners were saying out loud, but no one was listening.
Namely, the 49ers already have their starting defensive line, and it contains Bosa and Williams on the edge. There wouldn't be much value in adding a first-rounder to that pair to play an insignificant number of snaps.
That makes the pick of Height make even more sense; he's straight into pass-rushing packages on third down or in sub packages (allowing Williams to rush from the inside, where he's been much more effective), and he has the potential to be as much, if not more, effective than anyone the Niners could've selected in the first round to do the same thing. But without the prohibitive cost.
It's quite telling that in an ocean of criticism the 49ers draft has received, the pick of Height receives very little. Rightly so.
He's going to have a role from Day 1, and with Kris Kocurek's help, I suspect he'll be good at it.
Worst Pick: Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana (Round 3, Pick 90)
The 49ers quickly went from the penthouse to the outhouse, however, by following their best work of the draft up to that point with one of the most baffling picks in Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch's draft history, let alone in this draft.
I feel harsh on Black. He was a productive back in college, winning a national title. He clearly has talent. He also has a lot of things the 49ers like in a running back. As best I can see, he's a hard-working, grinding running back with great heart, decent hands, and good blocking. Had the Niners taken him in round five, our even round four, I doubt I'd be writing this now.
However, the reason I am writing this is sheer value. Not only do the 49ers have a sketchy record of drafting mid-round reach running backs (Ty Davis-Price, Trey Sermon, Joe Williams, et al), but this seemed like a pick that could've been made up to three rounds later. I know no one who had Black going in the third round, and he wasn't even invited to the NFL Combine.
It seemed a baffling pick with so many other useful players at need positions (offensive line and safety in particular... with Lynch bemoaning not drafting the latter!) on the board at the time.
It's hard to see how this pick works out. Blacks' best bet is to push another former mid-round pick, Isaac Guerendo, off the roster. But the rookie will have the spectre of fan cynicism hanging over him from the first moment he pulls on a practice jersey.
Let's see if he's up to changing the narrative.
Most Surprising: De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Mississippi (Round 2, Pick 33)
I've spent a lot of time looking over Stribling since the 49ers drafted him at No. 33 overall. In fairness, though, that's only because I wanted to be able to expand on my initial response, which went something like "huh?!?"
Stribling must be the most glaring example of the Niners trusting their board and their scouting above all else. While I can see what he brings to the offense in terms of skill set, athleticism and blocking -- including possibly taking the slot position from Jauan Jennings, a similar type of player -- I can't honestly say that anyone expected him to go 33rd overall. He looked a late second- to early third-round talent, to me at least.
The fact Lynch has since said San Francisco would've drafted him with its original 27th overall pick, had it not been able to trade out, is perhaps even more surprising. While consensus boards often differ, and might not even mean anything, I certainly don't know anyone who had Stribling in the first round, but that comment suggests the 49ers did.
It's important to note that surprising doesn't necessarily mean "bad." I think there's enough about Stribling to suggest he'll be a productive NFL player, if nothing else, and if he can win a job playing in the slot, he'll give all of Jennings' advantages plus extra athletic ability. I can see a role for him with the 49ers.
I just didn't expect him to be the first man up on the board, and certainly not ahead of some of the other options available at the time.
More eyes will be on him than most when the NFL's offseason workout machine cranks into gear again. In the past, it's usually been pretty obvious when someone hasn't quite been up to their lofty draft billing (think AJ Jenkins... and, yes, I'm sorry). So hopefully, the rookie wideout makes a strong early impression on observers, allowing him to quietly move into a strong position on the roster.
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