The San Francisco 49ers are receiving plenty of flak surrounding their 2026 NFL Draft class, specifically the numerous "reaches" where general manager John Lynch and Co. selected players who were likely not going to be picked by anyone else for some time.
This certainly applied to the Niners' top pick, wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, who was seen as a third-round prospect but ended up being selected at No. 33 overall.
But Stribling isn't the biggest reach. Not by a long shot.
While there may have been some reaches on day three of the draft, the nature of picks taken in Rounds 4 through 7 don't register on the radar nearly as much as ones made on the first two days.
So, when looking at San Francisco's worst and biggest reach, one name comes to mind: Indiana running back Kaelon Black, selected in Round 3 at No. 90 overall.
Kaelon Black is easily 49ers' worst pick from 2026 NFL Draft
Nothing against the 5-foot-9, 208-pound tailback. It's certainly not Black's fault he was selected on day two, and he'd have to be happy about being a mid-round pick instead of getting picked in Round 4 or later.
But, by nearly every account, he was a massive reach. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein tabbed him as a bottom-of-the-roster/practice squad-type player, suggesting he'd be a fifth- or a sixth-round pick.
Making things worse, the 49ers haven't exactly had success with third-round rushers. Memories of the failed Trey Sermon and Tyrion Davis-Price picks come to mind, and it's understandable why many a 49ers fan winced when Black's name was called toward the end of Round 3.
Especially knowing the Niners already have four tailbacks rostered: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Patrick Taylor Jr. and Isaac Guerendo. Sure, there's always room for depth, but a third-round draft asset on a player who probably could've been had a round or two later certainly doesn't sit well.
Granted, if Black winds up being an exception to San Francisco's previous third-round RB draft failures, few will look back with any skepticism.
For now, however, it's hard to do anything else but point at this particular pick and call it the worst from the 49ers' crop of 2026 picks.
Add us as a preferred source on Google