49ers select Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana at no. 90

Originally posted by All22:

Originally posted by 49ers808:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Every HC wants their RB to be able to block. That's not a Kyle specific trait imo.

Why would they invest multiple picks in Isaac if he couldn't block (because you say it's vastly important to Kyle)? also Brob wasn't put there on passing downs, that was CMC.

I was never a fan of Sermon or TDP, clearly SF was because they invested multiple day 2 picks on them. Also you're proving my point with constantly burning meaningful picks on RBs who lose out to 6th rd and UDFAs?

what SF has proven thus far is they don't need to spend picks on RBs to have a capable starting RB on the team.

Completely agree with everything you been saying in here NY. Spot on

For the bold:
Jeff Wilson and Jordan Mason has done more than every drafted RB so far in Joe Williams, Sermon, TDP, Isaac G and Jordan James. Elijah Mitchell was a stud and drafted in the 6th; injuries derailed him but as far as production as the undrafted guys; I'll just call it a draw. But if being honest the UDFAs did more longer.

I didn't bring up Mostert cause he came to us later in his career but he was undrafted as well and turned his career around with us, actually getting to play RB. Don't even have to say that he did way more than all of our drafted busts, but I just did lol.

Breida was pretty good too.

Completely forgot about him! Yup, he also did way more than all the drafted guys

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Giedi:
Kyle's scheme is very specific regarding QB protections. I know I don't have to remind you of Lawrence Phillips and Steve Young, and Tyler Kroft and Brock Purdy. In Kyle's system if a player can't protect the QB, he's not going to get a lot of playing time. That's the only thing I can see being the difference between Brian and Isaac. Clearly Isaac was more productive in 2024 vs Brian in 2025.

As for Trey Sermon and TDP, I never was really impressed with their running ability. Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell really were the better RB's vs Trey and TDP in my opinion. One reason they let Mason go because they couldn't afford him - he is being paid by the Vikings 12 million for 2 years (I defer to AB81 or anyone who knows more about this than I do). Elijah was simply injured too often to be kept on the team.

I'm hoping that they do know what they are doing in drafting RB's, and my only proof of that is the fact that in the past -- they did find Jordan Mason, Elijah Mitchell, Brieda, and Mostert.

Every HC wants their RB to be able to block. That's not a Kyle specific trait imo.

Why would they invest multiple picks in Isaac if he couldn't block (because you say it's vastly important to Kyle)? also Brob wasn't put there on passing downs, that was CMC.

I was never a fan of Sermon or TDP, clearly SF was because they invested multiple day 2 picks on them. Also you're proving my point with constantly burning meaningful picks on RBs who lose out to 6th rd and UDFAs?

what SF has proven thus far is they don't need to spend picks on RBs to have a capable starting RB on the team.

I think you are fundamentally misunderstanding how important running back *blocking* is for the Kyle Shanahan offense. Example, Juszczyk is an excellent *blocker* and they've been trying to replace him with Kaden Smith, Charile Woerner, etc... since forever and he's still on the team. Blocking. When you employ the play action pass as central to your offensive scheme (these plays are typically 7 step drops) the guys you draft *have* to block on those long developing passing plays otherwise your QB is *toast.*

TDB and Trey Sermon draft picks were during the Adam Peter's era, maybe that's why Adam isn't on the team anymore. Also note that when John Lynch actually took over from Adam Peter's (in my opinion) the drafting got a bit better. 2025 (i think) has been one of their strongest drafts. I think 2026 will also be another strong John Lynch draft. We shall see.

Teams draft mainly for need and the concept of *best player available isn't always followed,* specially if your scheme requires certain kinds of players to functionally work. If your scheme requires a power run game, you're going to constantly draft first round OLIne Behemoths (example Jim Harbaugh Roman Offense). If your scheme requires fast WR's (Air Coryell offense) you will constantly draft speedster route runners until you find that John Jefferson/Wes Chandler type players. If your offense is the horizontal, west coast, short passing game, you'll get big huge WR's who can catch the alley oop pass (Dwight Clark/Mike Evans, Jauan Jennings). Kyle's offensive system needs a stable of strong credible runners to sell is play action pass, that's why they are constantly drafting RB's and getting RB's in the UDFA.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Giedi:
Kyle's scheme is very specific regarding QB protections. I know I don't have to remind you of Lawrence Phillips and Steve Young, and Tyler Kroft and Brock Purdy. In Kyle's system if a player can't protect the QB, he's not going to get a lot of playing time. That's the only thing I can see being the difference between Brian and Isaac. Clearly Isaac was more productive in 2024 vs Brian in 2025.

As for Trey Sermon and TDP, I never was really impressed with their running ability. Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell really were the better RB's vs Trey and TDP in my opinion. One reason they let Mason go because they couldn't afford him - he is being paid by the Vikings 12 million for 2 years (I defer to AB81 or anyone who knows more about this than I do). Elijah was simply injured too often to be kept on the team.

I'm hoping that they do know what they are doing in drafting RB's, and my only proof of that is the fact that in the past -- they did find Jordan Mason, Elijah Mitchell, Brieda, and Mostert.

Every HC wants their RB to be able to block. That's not a Kyle specific trait imo.

Why would they invest multiple picks in Isaac if he couldn't block (because you say it's vastly important to Kyle)? also Brob wasn't put there on passing downs, that was CMC.

I was never a fan of Sermon or TDP, clearly SF was because they invested multiple day 2 picks on them. Also you're proving my point with constantly burning meaningful picks on RBs who lose out to 6th rd and UDFAs?

what SF has proven thus far is they don't need to spend picks on RBs to have a capable starting RB on the team.

I think you are fundamentally misunderstanding how important running back *blocking* is for the Kyle Shanahan offense. Example, Juszczyk is an excellent *blocker* and they've been trying to replace him with Kaden Smith, Charile Woerner, etc... since forever and he's still on the team. Blocking. When you employ the play action pass as central to your offensive scheme (these plays are typically 7 step drops) the guys you draft *have* to block on those long developing passing plays otherwise your QB is *toast.*

TDB and Trey Sermon draft picks were during the Adam Peter's era, maybe that's why Adam isn't on the team anymore. Also note that when John Lynch actually took over from Adam Peter's (in my opinion) the drafting got a bit better. 2025 (i think) has been one of their strongest drafts. I think 2026 will also be another strong John Lynch draft. We shall see.

Teams draft mainly for need and the concept of *best player available isn't always followed,* specially if your scheme requires certain kinds of players to functionally work. If your scheme requires a power run game, you're going to constantly draft first round OLIne Behemoths (example Jim Harbaugh Roman Offense). If your scheme requires fast WR's (Air Coryell offense) you will constantly draft speedster route runners until you find that John Jefferson/Wes Chandler type players. If your offense is the horizontal, west coast, short passing game, you'll get big huge WR's who can catch the alley oop pass (Dwight Clark/Mike Evans, Jauan Jennings). Kyle's offensive system needs a stable of strong credible runners to sell is play action pass, that's why they are constantly drafting RB's and getting RB's in the UDFA.

Did HaRoman really draft those guys? Nolan and Singletary built that team.

Kyle needs more that just strong credible runners, he likes guys who run the inside and outside zone like it's taught. Guys who can press the outside and make teams overreact. Remember we had Hyde and, in Kyle's system, he wasn't nearly as good as arguably worse RB's like Breida, Mostert, and Jeff Wilson.

Originally posted by All22:
Did HaRoman really draft those guys? Nolan and Singletary built that team.

Kyle needs more that just strong credible runners, he likes guys who run the inside and outside zone like it's taught. Guys who can press the outside and make teams overreact. Remember we had Hyde and, in Kyle's system, he wasn't nearly as good as arguably worse RB's like Breida, Mostert, and Jeff Wilson.

Well that was my point. If the Jimmy Ray/HaRoman run run pass punt is your offense you will draft first round behemoth OLinemen becuase that's *your* offensive system.

My other point is that ShanaLynch have proven in the past to be able to get good RB's so I'm confident Black isn't a bust like potentially Guerendo is. ShanaLynch needs good running backs to power his offense, so he needs to be drafting RB's year in and year out. Walsh had Montana, but he constantly drafted and traded for QB's during Montana's entire career.

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

#49ers rookie RB Kaelon Black at OTA's

Via @957thegame pic.twitter.com/Fp312jV7vk

— ???????????????????????????????????????????? (@TheSFNiners) May 28, 2026

Riveting

Originally posted by Crown:

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

#49ers rookie RB Kaelon Black at OTA's

Via @957thegame pic.twitter.com/Fp312jV7vk

— ???????????????????????????????????????????? (@TheSFNiners) May 28, 2026

Riveting

Originally posted by Crown:
Riveting

Hold the Presses

KB getting some love in OTAs

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
KB getting some love in OTAs

49ers FULL Reaction: Who Impressed At OTAs - Brock Purdy, Jordan Watkins, Kaelon Black.. https://t.co/C4n9J6Uh2m

— Larry Krueger (@sportslarryk) May 29, 2026

Nice!

Maiocco and Barrows both reporting Black was a standout at the OTA day media attended.

Originally posted by KiwiM:
Maiocco and Barrows both reporting Black was a standout at the OTA day media attended.

Seems everyone had positive things to say about Black. Kid is going to be good and will make fools out of a lot of naysayers around these parts.

Originally posted by Chance:
Seems everyone had positive things to say about Black. Kid is going to be good and will make fools out of a lot of naysayers around these parts.

What is 'good'? What should the naysayers expect to see here?

Figure it's worthwhile to have you define it, especially if you're going to completely dismiss the primary concern of people who think taking him in the 3rd round was a misuse of draft assets.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by Chance:
Seems everyone had positive things to say about Black. Kid is going to be good and will make fools out of a lot of naysayers around these parts.

What is 'good'? What should the naysayers expect to see here?

Figure it's worthwhile to have you define it, especially if you're going to completely dismiss the primary concern of people who think taking him in the 3rd round was a misuse of draft assets.

At this point who cares about draft use misuses? He's a 49er…

Good to me(even tho you weren't asking me) is him performing at a high level with the snaps he gets. 4.5+ YPC, good in pass pro and as a receiver.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by Chance:
Seems everyone had positive things to say about Black. Kid is going to be good and will make fools out of a lot of naysayers around these parts.

What is 'good'? What should the naysayers expect to see here?

Figure it's worthwhile to have you define it, especially if you're going to completely dismiss the primary concern of people who think taking him in the 3rd round was a misuse of draft assets.

This thread is full of people saying we could have drafted him much later. You even mentioned that he represented poor value, yet did not answer when asked which criteria you used to determine said value.

I think Black stands as good, if not a better chance in being a productive player beyond what is typical of a pick at 90. There's all sorts of factors that determine his usage. CMC could go down and open the door of opportunity just as easily as James could step up and prove to be a great number 2 back. You want me to predict the future, but all I'm predicting is that he will prove to be a talent worthy of pick 90 whether he has 200 carries or 30.

I'd rather revisit this argument after year three, but will be happy to bump this after this year and take an honest look at what Black did with his opportunities and what that portends for our future.

The prospect of CMC going down spells ruin for this offense. We've seen it in the past. You may argue that picking any RB at 90 is a misuse and of draft assets, but I don't believe it is given CMC's age and tread. We are in win-now mode and a rookie who could come in and do the little things well to keep the offense running, is well worth the investment. Hell, even if the player (be it James or Black) extends CMC's career by lightening the load, that in and of itself is worth an end of round three and round five investment from the team to back up the position.