From Lance's blockbuster trade to Kinlaw's injury woes, relive the 49ers' most disappointing draft selections since 2017.
The Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era has been defined by finding "diamonds in the rough" (think George Kittle and Brock Purdy), but it has also featured some high profile swings that missed the mark entirely. To build a championship roster, you have to take risks, but for the 49ers, those risks have occasionally resulted in colossal busts.
Here is a breakdown of the biggest draft misses since the regime took over in 2017.
The "All-Time" Whiff: Trey Lance (QB, 2021)
- The Investment: Three 1st round picks and a 3rd round pick.
- The Result: 4 starts, 2 touchdowns, and eventually traded for a 4th round pick. There is no bigger bust in franchise history given the capital surrendered. The 49ers traded a king's ransom to move up to No. 3 overall for Lance, a project QB with immense ceiling but limited experience. A combination of ill timed injuries and the unexpected rise of Brock Purdy led to Lance being shipped to Dallas just two years later. While the 49ers' roster was strong enough to survive the mistake, the opportunity cost was massive.
The 1st-Round Defensive Misses: Solomon Thomas & Reuben Foster (2017)
The 2017 draft started the era with two defensive picks that set the tone for a rough first year.
- Solomon Thomas (No. 3 overall): Drafted as a foundational piece for the defensive line, Thomas never found a natural home between the edge and the interior. He finished his San Francisco tenure with just 6.0 sacks in four seasons.
- Reuben Foster (No. 31 overall): Foster was a Top 10 talent who fell due to character concerns. While he showed All-Pro potential on the field, a series of off field issues and arrests led to his release after just 16 games.
The "Doghouse" Receiver: Dante Pettis (Round 2, 2018)
The 49ers traded up to No. 44 overall to grab Pettis, who was viewed as a creative route runner and return specialist. After a promising rookie season (467 yards, 5 TDs), he famously fell into Kyle Shanahan’s "doghouse" for a perceived lack of urgency and physicality. By 2020, he was waived mid-season, a rare high round failure for a coach known for offensive genius.
The "Knee" Concerns: Javon Kinlaw (Round 1, 2020)
Drafted at No. 14 to replace DeForest Buckner, Kinlaw was a physical specimen with high expectations. However, chronic knee issues plagued his entire San Francisco career. While he was a "serviceable" player when on the field, he was never the game changer the team needed him to be for a top 15 pick. The team declined his fifth year option, and he moved on in free agency.
The Third-Round Running Back Curse
If there is one area where Lynch and Shanahan have consistently struggled, it is finding value in the third round at running back.
- Trey Sermon (2021): Traded up to get him and he lasted just one season and 167 yards.
- Tyrion Davis-Price (2022): Another physical runner who couldn't crack the rotation, totaling just 120 yards in two seasons before being waived.
Honorable Mentions
- Jalen Hurd (Round 3, 2019): A fascinating prospect who unfortunately never played a single regular season snap due to a string of devastating injuries.
- Cameron Latu (Round 3, 2023): A "disaster" rookie camp followed by a season ending injury has fans worried this is another 3rd-round miss.