49ers mailbag: Which 2026 draftees will make an impact? Will SF add more free agents? Was Kyle Shanahan annoyed by the first pick?

The picks have all been made for the San Francisco 49ers. The undrafted rookie free agents have been decided upon or invited for a tryout. And the 49ers rookie minicamp has been set for May 8-9. That will be the team's first look at their new rookie class.

We opened the 49ers Webzone Mailbag this week to see how you're feeling and what questions you may have. you asked some great questions, as always. Let's take a look.

Of the 8 players drafted, how many have a realistic chance of playing a role this year (STs aside). We know about Kyle's history with rookie WRs, so I don't expect much from Stribling. Height could be a situational pass rusher. Maybe Halton is in the DT rotation. But that's it. - Rockin' Daddy

You're right that Romello Height will get a lot of run as a pass rusher on most third downs. And you're correct that Gracen Halton will be part of a defensive line rotation. But I think De'Zhaun Stribling will play more than you think.

Why? Because he's a very good blocking wide receiver. I get it—that doesn't get anyone excited. But that's a big thing to Kyle Shanahan, especially coming off a season in which the 49ers didn't run the ball very well.

Stribling also has some run-after-catch ability, which could see him get the ball in certain situations. He's not Deebo Samuel, but he has the ability to move around the field. Remember, he has lined up in the backfield before. I doubt he'll do that in the NFL, but it shows his versatility.

I know everyone hated the 49ers taking Kaelon Black so early, but he may get more playing time than we think. He's excellent in pass protection, and Bobby Turner loves running backs who can keep the quarterback safe.

Wasn't a fan of this draft. Does the Webzone offer therapy? LOL - which pick do you think has the best chance to contribute this season? Do you see a signing in any other free agents? - Lowbridge

Yes, we offer post-draft therapy. Our techniques are a little controversial, but we believe in them. You don't have any fear of being electrocuted, do you? We can get you started today. All we need is your non-refundable deposit and your signed release form.

On a less disturbing note, I think Stribling, Height, Black, and Halton will get some playing time this season. Who will have the biggest impact? I'm going with the edge rusher Height.

I definitely can see the 49ers adding to their roster through free agency. Will it be someone like Joey Bosa? Matt Maiocco does not believe so, and he knows better than I do. But I believe San Francisco will bring another free agent or two.

A few questions for you. 1) Why is the OL always a distant second to the DL? 2) If we were gonna draft an OT, why didn't we just draft Caleb Lomu at 27? 3) According to multiple reports, most said the 49ers reached on the majority of their picks outside of Gracen Halton. Do you agree or disagree? - Johnny Y.

Shanahan and Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster believe they can get by with offensive linemen who aren't the elite players at their positions. But Shanahan and John Lynch don't believe they can get by with second-rate defensive linemen. And that's why they focus more on DL than they do OL.

The 49ers must not have believed Caleb Lomu, or any other offensive lineman that they could have picked in the late first round, was worth being taken that high.

Did the 49ers reach on most of their picks? Probably so. But I do not get worked up over that. If the player works out, does it really matter where they were drafted? If Joe Montana had been taken in the first round, everyone would have said he was taken way too early. But we know he would have been worth the top pick.

What purpose does it serve to hand out grades on a test that hasn't even been given yet? - Invader49er

Ding, ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. I completely agree. It's way too early to grade a draft class before they have even touched the field. In fact, it's still too early to grade last year's draft class.

And those who hand out grades are only doing so in comparison to other opinions in the media or public. I don't get worked up about where a player is taken, and I don't really care about draft grades.

Is Gracen Halton the best pick? Are you happy the 49ers drafted an Oklahoma Sooner? - CG Ruthless

I'm not sure if Gracen Halton was the 49ers' best pick or not. But he could end up being the one who makes the biggest impact. He's being compared to Kalia Davis, but he will be much better than Davis.

Yes, I was excited to see the 49ers pick an OU guy. Especially when you believe that guy can help the team. Halton played on an excellent Oklahoma defense that you couldn't run on, and that got after the quarterback. He was one of the reasons why.

What was your favorite pick and least favorite pick from the draft? - Don A.

Favorite: Gracen Halton (See previous question)

Least favorite: Carver Willis (Is this going to be the starting left guard? I'm not so sure.)

So how many times did you find yourself scratching your head during the draft on what the Niners or the other teams in the division did? - Ed H.

The biggest head-scratcher to me was the Black pick. Not so much because Shanahan took another running back in the third round, but because the pick didn't align with what he said at the NFL meetings. That's when he said he wanted another back with skills like Christian McCaffrey, so he could just call plays and not have to worry about who was in there.

I'm just not sure Black has the skill set that McCaffrey does. He wasn't used as a receiver very often, and I seriously doubt he has the downfield pass-catching skills that McCaffrey has displayed. But he may turn into a strong rusher for the 49ers.

How would you grade the 49ers draft, cause I feel like they didn't address the biggest need! - Shawniieboy

I don't grade drafts, especially before we've seen them for a few seasons. But I would have liked to have seen them address the safety position.

There was a video from the 49ers war room that showed Kyle Shanahan looking annoyed when they drafted De'Zhaun Stribling. Do you think he's upset with the pick? - Ed P.

No. I don't think any offensive pick (and maybe no defensive pick) is made without Shanahan's endorsement. In fact, we don't even know who actually makes the picks. Is it Lynch or is it Shanahan? They say they do it together.

Either way, no offensive player is drafted unless Shanahan wants that player. Remember Joe Williams? He wasn't even on the 49ers draft board in 2017. But Shanahan fell in love with him and convinced Lynch to draft him in the fourth round.

Marc, you posted something this weekend in which you said, "Something is not quite right with the 49ers draft process." That seems a little like an overreaction. What do you think is not right? - Caroline F.

I'm not sure, but something just feels off. Drafting another running back in the third round, especially when he doesn't appear to match what Shanahan wants, doesn't help.

The fact that in 2021, they traded up to draft a QB, who most said would be Mac Jones. Then it was Trey Lance. Who wanted Lance? Did Shanahan want Jones, but was talked out of it? How did they mess that up so badly?

I've also been hearing that in later rounds, the 49ers allow position coaches to make picks. I hope that's not true. If it is, it worked out with Purdy, but that's not going to happen very often. Again, I don't know if those rumors are true, but I've heard them multiple times.

I mentioned this earlier, but we still don't know who has the final say on who the 49ers draft.

Is this draft going to be the nail in the coffin for GM John Lynch? - Jonathan P.

Maybe—if he's the one making the picks.

I have a question. Why does lynch still have a job? WHY??!! - Jeff Z.

Lynch has done a good job. The last handful of drafts are questionable, but he's still been effective at building a roster that is competitive year in and year out. They've been to two Super Bowls that they should have won.

And this offseason has been solid for Lynch's 49ers. We'll see how it plays out. But it looks good so far.

Yes, there are plenty of misses, like an offensive line that cost the 49ers at least one Super Bowl. But as we've discussed, I'm not sure if they all fall at Lynch's feet.

That's all we have for this edition of the 49ers Webzone Mailbag. We'll be back with another one soon.