Did the 49ers strike gold or gamble on unknowns with their 2026 draft class? Unconventional picks spark debate, promising either brilliance or bust.
The San Francisco 49ers made a splash in the 2026 NFL draft. Albeit it may not have been the splash Niners fans were hoping to have.
The 49ers made headlines for their unconventional moves on Thursday and Friday. Saturday culminated with mostly head-scratchers although that was to be expected when you consider the lack of known talent that falls to the fourth round and beyond.
In some ways, the Niners had a terrific draft. The franchise traded back for more picks, much to the chagrin of its fanbase. However, it did get more picks and added some lesser-known players in the process.
San Francisco's first pick was Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling. The Ole Miss wideout may not have been a household name in college, but he was productive. Stribling was particularly good in maximizing his receiving targets with over seven yards after catch per reception. That's seven yards after the catch, not just seven yards per reception. So, it's widely viewed as a great pick, right?
Stribling is receiving mixed reviews from some, in part because of his lack of overall production. The receiver caught 55 passes for just over 800 yards. For reference, USC receiver Makai Lemon took 79 catches for 1,156 yards and was drafted just 13 picks higher than Stribling.
The yards per reception average for each player is about the same, around 14 yards per catch. But the volume of usage is different. Stribling is not being asked to be the workhorse that Lemon is.
The draft gets more interesting the further down the list you go. Texas Tech edge Romello Height is a known commodity in the draft discussion, and probably widely considered a good pick at No. 70, but Indiana running back Kaelon Black is not as well known.
Oklahoma defensive lineman Gracen Halton seems to be a steal in the fourth round as a near 300-pound defensive lineman that has a 36-inch vertical. The Niners also added Washington cornerback Ephesians Prysock who ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and had 20 pass breakups in four years in college.
The other names are guys who may have the upside, but you probably have not heard of in college. So, what is there to make of the 49ers' 2026 draft class?
The jury is out on whether or not it will be successful. In the 1985 draft, the two receivers taken ahead of Mississippi Valley State receiver Jerry Rice were Al Toon and Eddie Brown. Frankly, it's a coin toss as to whether or not you have heard of them.
Drafting is an inexact science. Not everyone is going to agree with the Niners' selections. But one thing seems to be the case: The 49ers picks may either be good or irrelevant. San Francisco will hope for them to pan out when they take the field in 2026.