The San Francisco 49ers made some questionable picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, although one can hope their history of hitting on fifth-round picks pays off with this most recent class.
General manager John Lynch opted to trade down several times throughout the draft, and those efforts ultimately landed the Niners two Round 5 picks where they weren't originally scheduled to have any selections.
After using the first of his two fifth-rounders on a raw-but-promising edge rusher in Jaden Duggar, Lynch spun the No. 179 overall selection into Kansas offensive tackle Enrique Cruz Jr.
Perhaps the 6-foot-6, 313-pound Cruz gets in line behind other notable San Francisco fifth-round pickups like tight end George Kittle, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
And it's not hard to find the long-term projection.
49ers wrap up 2026 NFL Draft class with possible Colton McKivitz replacement
The 49ers already have a starter at right tackle, Colton McKivitz. But, with McKivitz having zero in guaranteed money after 2026, it's possible the Niners are considering Cruz a potential heir apparent. After all, that spot is where the draftee spent the bulk of his collegiate playing days.
A long-term successor to left tackle Trent Williams is still a mystery, though.
As for Cruz, who'll be a seamless fit in a zone-style blocking system under head coach Kyle Shanahan, he'll need to work on a lot of his technique and rely less on pure athleticism. Putting on some functional weight to boost his strength certainly would help matters, too.
Out of the gate, though, Cruz might be San Francisco's preferred swing tackle to support both McKivitz and Williams. And if Cruz succeeds in that role, it wouldn't be a shocker to see him take on a more prominent job as soon as 2027.
In a draft not boasting much prospective blue-chip talent but having a lot of depth, San Francisco aimed to take full advantage by stockpiling those mid- and late-round picks to infuse key pieces into the roster. Perhaps the numerous trade-downs that netted the franchise multiple Round 5 picks ultimately translate into more late-round gems.
Cruz hopes to be next.
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