The San Francisco 49ers had a chance to fill many of the question marks left on the roster after a 12-5 finish to the 2025 season, and as expected, put together another lackluster draft class to say the least. With no selections in round one, due to trading the 27th overall pick to the Miami Dolphins, the 49ers refuse to step up when they get a chance to make a big splash. Ephesians Prysock (4th round) might be the best of the team’s eight picks.
After a tough Divisional Round loss, it was clear that a big emphasis in this draft needed to be offensive line help and more targets on the outside. The free agent signing of Mike Evans helps the wide receiver department tremendously. Resigning Trent Williams was also a must. Unfortunately, with the chance to beef up the roster even more, the 49ers simply failed. They selected two offensive linemen who arguably could have gone undrafted, and a question mark pick at receiver with De’Zhaun Stribling. Here’s more in-depth insight into the full 2026 draft class for the San Francisco 49ers.
Round 2, Pick 33: De’Zhaun Stribling, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
Now, there is a big red question mark surrounding the capabilities of Stribling, given the fact he simply does not have much tape. Displaying good ball skills with back-shoulder catches and physicality within routes, the young second-round pick is decent on the surface. Despite the 49ers already having Evans and Ricky Pearsall on the roster, Stribling will use his 4.36 speed and love for blocking to set himself apart.
At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, his ability to separate in open space is second to none. Not having a dependable deep threat last season, San Francisco may have found their speedster for 2026. Primarily playing in RPO offenses during college, Stribling will need to strengthen his route tree in a room with one of the best to ever do it.
Round 3, Pick 70: Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech
Romello Height addresses a need after the 49ers had a down year in pressures and sacks. He showed flashes as a stand-up rusher on the edge in a season at Texas Tech, recording 10.0 sacks, and recorded a 95th percentile pass-rush get-off. In his sole season, Height displayed strong use of pass-rush moves and speed as an advantage. Maybe most impressive, he ranked first in all graded edge pass rushers according to PFF.
The 49ers produced a surprisingly league-low 20 sacks in the 2025 season, which could have been attributed to the loss of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams. Adding a young spurt of energy to that outside pass rush will be key, on a team that has been successful in the past with a top-ranked defensive line. While showing some spurts in college, the NFL is a different ball game in all aspects. Learning the game from the ground up, surrounded by league-leading veterans, will be key for Height and his progression throughout his rookie season and contract.
Round 3, Pick 90: Kaelon Black, Running Back, Indiana
Now this is where things began to get not only confusing, but upsetting for many 49er fans. In a season where San Francisco depended on their workhorse Christian McCaffrey, there was not much expectation to be welcoming a running back in round three of this draft. Not because Kaelon Black lacks the skill, but the need for this team was huge elsewhere. Black will be joining a running back room with McCaffrey, Jordan James (expected RB2), and the longtime veteran Patrick Taylor. With so many big opportunities still on the board, the 49ers will have a lot to answer for if this pick doesn’t pan out.
Despite not being the ideal pick at 90, Black still showcases skills that can make his selection worthwhile. He has a strong frame and runs behind it every yard, possessing vision to bust into the second and third levels of defenses.Last season at Indiana, he played 16 games, recording 186 carries, 1,040 rushing yards, and 10 touchdowns. Where he can get some early appreciation and love is in his ability to pass block for Brock Purdy.
Round 4, Pick 107: Gracen Halton, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma
With pick 107, San Francisco went back to the drawing board and grabbed someone who can be productive in gaps. While undersized, Gracen Halton has shown flashes of a strong interior player who can disrupt the run game when needed. He adds depth to a position room that will be looking for a turnaround in productivity from last year.
Playing in all 13 games for the Sooners, Halton recorded 33 total tackles (11 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and led the team in quarterback hurries with seven. One positive for the rookie is that he understands his assignment and gets the job done. He’s not always able to win with power, but he implements pass rush moves when needed. He joins a squad that most recently brought in Bryson Eason, Mikail Kamara, James Thompson, and a young playmaker in Cam Sample. Although he will be expected to sit behind Osa Odighizuwa and
Round 4, Pick 127: Carver Willis, Offensive Tackle, Washington
With their second fourth-round pick, the 49ers decided to finally address their big offensive line problem. With Trent Williams locked in, the other positions along the line need help after a rough 2025, especially if they want to have a strong running game this season. They addressed the issue by taking Carver Willis out of Washington.
Willis didn’t jump off the chart with his test numbers, but was dependable in his one year at Washington, after four with Kansas State. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has already confirmed that the rookie will be in competition for the starting left guard spot. Training camp will be huge for Willis if he wants to see some week one action, and keeping Purdy off the ground is a great way to start.
Round 4, Pick 139: Ephesians Prysock, Cornerback, Washington
If there was one pick in this 2026 draft that really hit the mark, it came in round four for the 49ers. Last season, they had a decent year from the defensive back room, led by Deommodore Lenoir (the Hyena) and Renardo Green. They were able to grab some veteran help during the off-season as well, with Eli Apple, Jack Jones, and Nate Hobbs. Ephesians Prysock has the highest chance for week one action, aside from Carver Willis. At 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds, Prysock is everything an NFL defense would like to see on the opposite side of their starting corner. It will be a battle by all means during camp, but one that Prysock is determined to win.
In his last season with the Huskies, Prysock started all 13 games, totaling 48 tackles, eight pass breakups, and one interception. He does a solid job at staying in front of his receiver at the line of scrimmage while also playing physical at the point of catch. Unfortunately, he also has a tendency to leave his hands on, drawing some penalties that can be easily avoided. On a defense where corners must be willing and able in the run game, Prysock has shown he’s not afraid to set the edge when needed. Overall, this was a slam dunk pick for San Francisco and can easily be a player that sees immediate action come week one.
Round 5, Pick 154: Jaden Dugger, Linebacker, Louisiana
This was a risky pick that could pan out in the long run. After losing Fred Warner to injury early in the 2025 season, the 49ers looked to their younger players and depth to fill the void. The team brought back Dre Greenlaw in the off-season, which seemed to re-spark a vibe that was once lost. Expecting Warner back this season, the addition of an eager Jaden Dugger seems to be the correct move if he can learn under his experienced veterans.
Dugger has ideal NFL size, at 6-foot-5 and 239 pounds. He started his career as a safety, but soon moved to linebacker. With his frame, he can easily be an outside linebacker and involved in some pass coverage early on. In his senior season at Louisiana, he filled the stat sheet with 125 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, and one interception. Dugger will provide depth for the season in case of injury, but he has a chance to learn the game and develop in an organization known for some of the best at his position.
Round 5, Pick 179: Enrique Cruz Jr., Offensive Tackle, Kansas
In their second go-around at finding some offensive line help, the 49ers ultimately missed where more could have been found. At a time in the draft where teams don’t just look to add depth, but value as well, San Francisco took a chance with their final pick in round five, selecting Enrique Cruz Jr. He’s a player who spent three years at Syracuse and finished his senior season at Kansas.
Cruz doesn’t pop off the screen when watching his film. He has positive traits, but more often than not shows his need for further development. Testing well at the combine did him some justice, but what he does during game day isn’t always reflected in terms of athleticism. One thing he does well is get to the edge of defenses and reach the second level as a blocker. In a 2025 season where the running game was lackluster for the 49ers, any addition they can find to help McCaffrey will be a plus.
San Francisco 49ers 2026 NFL Draft Grade: C-
This was an absolute head-scratcher from the start in all aspects, starting with trading out of the first round when many expected to take advantage of the 27th pick. When finally getting a chance to start the second round off strong, they underperformed in value. Grabbing a developmental player, instead of taking a chance on someone like Denzel Boston or even addressing the safety position with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. It was not until the fourth round that they made a pick who can be seen as an immediate help on defense.
Taking Ephesians Prysock was a steal in many ways, getting a long corner they have been missing on the outside, who shows similar traits to an Ahkello Witherspoon type player. Not taking advantage of this draft in many ways is disappointing for a team that seems to be just one piece away from another Super Bowl championship. With free agency still looming, it will be interesting to see if San Francisco has anything left up their sleeve.
