The 6 biggest 49ers NFL Draft steals of the last decade

The NFL Draft's fire and pizzazz is usually reserved for prime time, but history shows successful teams are often built in the middle and late rounds.

Let's take a look at the best draft steals the 49ers have had there in the last decade.

By John Porter | Apr 11, 2024

Mar 3, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy (QB12) goes through a drill / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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Honourable mentions

I considered adding both defensive backs Deommodore Lenoir and Talanoa Hufanga to this list, but Hufanga missing most of this season through injury and Lenoir's slow maturation have caused me to leave both off in favour of better candidates.

However, for a pair of fifth-round picks, they're definitely up there as steals, and if both continue their upward trajectories, they'll almost certainly be on future lists.

For Hufanga, that likely means a full recovery from the ACL tear suffered midway through 2023 and an increasing ability in coverage, whereas for Lenoir, that means nailing a definitive spot down in the secondary and being allowed to develop at that spot.

Some of that is up the 49ers staff, but given the recent attempts to find a nickel corner, I think that's something we may well see.

What draft steals have you identified over the years for San Francisco?

Honourable mentions

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