2026 Draft Grade

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:
with 110 votes, 45% of respondents have voted D+ or lower.

another 16% at C-.

Excessive influence on the value of the Black pick. Take that out and that number will diminish by 2/3.

Sorry but the was considered mid day 3 pick.
I voted C though. Filled needs with good talent, I don't care about reaching beyond day one.

Look, most folks are grading this draft as poor because it went against the consensus value of draft pundits. This draft was a weird one because of the lack of elite talent - instead its a slew of solid starters and contributors, otherwise a bunch of raw prospects.

Putting that aside, here's my take:

Stribling - we need a physical receiver to replace Jennings. Yes he needs to do a better job against press coverage, but I think he'll be a solid contributor in year 1. Guarantee Evans, Kirk, and/or Pearsall will be hurt, and Stribling will get his time. Outside of Pettis, John and Kyle have a solid track record for late 1st, early 2nd WR prospects. Also, Stribling was in my last mock.

Height - if the assumption is you can get the same potential productivity as Mason Thomas or Howard but in the 3rd, then it's a solid pick. We need that speed edge to replace Huff, and there's a lot to like in Height's tape. I just wished we doubled down on EDGE in this draft.

Black - yeah, the biggest head scratcher. However, Black is an underrated pass catcher and a strong blocker. Given that, I actually think Kyle will use him as the Robinson role. I also see some opportunities for 2 back formations where you motion CMC to WR and keep Black in the backfield as a blocker and dump off target. He's built differently than prior 3rd round RBs. And that gives me some hope.

Halton - love the pick. HUGE upgrade to Gross-Matos or Givens. Oso and Halton as DTs with Bosa and Height is going to be dangerous. And DT was an underrated position of need. This was probably the best value selection out of all of our picks.

Willis - wasn't the biggest fan of this pick. Willis needs to put on weight and improve his strength to be our day 1 starter at LG. He's going to be a project, but if he can be our next McKivitz at LG, we'd be cooking. The good news is that there are some good vets still in FA if we need to make a pivot from our current compeition.

Prysock - love the selection. We needed size in the secondary. Luter is just not good. I see this as a 1:1 swap. Love Pryscok's potential in Morris's scheme.

Dugger - such an interesting prospect. WLB and MLB experience, I can't wait to see him in pre-season. My hope is he becomes a special teams ace and see time at all 3 LB spots. Maybe some EDGE given his size and arm length.

Cruz - I wasn't comfortable with Pleasants as our RT backup. Cruz has good upside to be our next J. Ford as a swing tackle depth. Could also potentially succeed McKivtiz at RT once his contract is up if he develops.

Overall, I give it a B- because they didn't draft a K or P on day 2.

I agree with Cosell, I think it was a pretty good haul for this draft, which is one of the weirdest ones I can ever remember.

Originally posted by Memphis9er:
I agree with Cosell, I think it was a pretty good haul for this draft, which is one of the weirdest ones I can ever remember.

Everyone who freaked out about the draft needs to listen to this. Cosell loved a lot of our picks, Stribling, Black, Halton, and Cruz he was very complimentary on.

Originally posted by Chance:

Originally posted by Memphis9er:
I agree with Cosell, I think it was a pretty good haul for this draft, which is one of the weirdest ones I can ever remember.

Everyone who freaked out about the draft needs to listen to this. Cosell loved a lot of our picks, Stribling, Black, Halton, and Cruz he was very complimentary on.

Well I freaked out when they picked Kaelon. I don't watch college ball so I was clueless. That draft pick hit me from left field. We still had untried RB's drafted from last year that i haven't even seen play in the NFL yet, and they are drafting another one, and worse still, they drafted him in the dreaded 3rd round. Yikes!

But the more clips I watched of his college highlights, the better I felt. The more I found out about his character, work ethic, and athleticism the more I liked him as a 49er. I'm hoping I can see Jordan James and Kaelon play in preseason - because I haven't any of last years drafted RB's at all in any meaningful way yet.

I freaked out too. I think we all have PTSD with third round RBs. This dudes one on ones in Senior Bowl practices show a guy who looks like he's got the tools in the pass game. He looks downright explosive.

Kaelon seems like a much better scheme fit than the past 3rd round RBs. Joe Williams just sucked, Trey Sermon was such a bad fit in retrospect plus he sucked and had no vision, and Guerrendo could have been good since he fit the mold but he just didn't have it mentally. Sounds like they did a bit more homework this time around, hopefully it pans out.

D-

This will most likely be the draft that finally shakes things up going forward.

Anyone know why Washington Jr here dropped?

Raiders got him in the 4th and imo looks like an effn' steal!

6'2 223 4.3 speed.. and that actually shows on the field. Caught some passes for big plays as well.

I wouldn't have been mad at our expected 3rd round RB selection if it were him .

Looks like a more agile Mostert that can break tackles...

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by Chance:

Originally posted by Memphis9er:
I agree with Cosell, I think it was a pretty good haul for this draft, which is one of the weirdest ones I can ever remember.

Everyone who freaked out about the draft needs to listen to this. Cosell loved a lot of our picks, Stribling, Black, Halton, and Cruz he was very complimentary on.

Well I freaked out when they picked Kaelon. I don't watch college ball so I was clueless. That draft pick hit me from left field. We still had untried RB's drafted from last year that i haven't even seen play in the NFL yet, and they are drafting another one, and worse still, they drafted him in the dreaded 3rd round. Yikes!

But the more clips I watched of his college highlights, the better I felt. The more I found out about his character, work ethic, and athleticism the more I liked him as a 49er. I'm hoping I can see Jordan James and Kaelon play in preseason - because I haven't any of last years drafted RB's at all in any meaningful way yet.

Black was an unknown to me, but after we picked him, I watched his highlights and I think he will start before James, who I don't think is the player Black is. One of the best things about both Black and Stribling is how good both are at blocking, which is a good sign they will get on the field sooner rather than later. I knew nothing about Cruz either, but I have been looking into him and he looks like something worth developing. I didn't hate the draft because I don't care one bit about mock drafts and some talking head's perceived value of a player. I look at the player and try to envision how they fit into what we do.

Originally posted by Afrikan:
Anyone know why Washington Jr here dropped?

Raiders got him in the 4th and imo looks like an effn' steal!

6'2 223 4.3 speed.. and that actually shows on the field. Caught some passes for big plays as well.

I wouldn't have been mad at our expected 3rd round RB selection if it were him .

Looks like a more agile Mostert that can break tackles...

fumble machine for one.

Originally posted by Afrikan:
Anyone know why Washington Jr here dropped?

Raiders got him in the 4th and imo looks like an effn' steal!

6'2 223 4.3 speed.. and that actually shows on the field. Caught some passes for big plays as well.

I wouldn't have been mad at our expected 3rd round RB selection if it were him .

Looks like a more agile Mostert that can break tackles...

Weaknesses

• Needs to gather steps getting into downhill cuts in outside-zone schemes.
• Can be a step slow to see the opening and trigger downhill.
• Needs to become more willful and aggressive between the tackles.
• Lacks sudden acceleration for ideal escapability in small spaces.
• Fumbles have been an issue over the last two seasons.
• Has size for pass protection but is missing consistent grit.

Originally posted by jersey49er:
I truly hope this class becomes good-great for us 1st bc we need it to be for the future and 2nd to shove it to all the so called analyst, reporters who act like they know football, mostly Grant Cohn, I honestly don't know how he hasn't gotten beat up by a player yet with the disrespect he talks.

Like I said Lynch shut him down, although some disagreed. Cossell being interviewed did just that, refuting somethings that Cohn said, that Cossell refuted.

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:
There's a lot of question marks, not just "the Black pick."

Why pass on Cooper to take Stribling 5 picks later? Stribling is a better blocker, but cooper gets open better.
Why pass on Lomu to take two more developmental tackles later? You could still take Cruz as a developmental project.
We didn't draft a IOL. 27 other teams in the nfl did.
Here is what skynet says about drafting IOL: Interior line depth is now treated as a must-fill every draft cycle

Kyle and Lynch can provide answers to these questions, but the fundamentally its clear we are picking the best players that fit our system, rather than adjusting the system to fit the best football players available.

You said it yourself, Stribling is a better blocker. However, lets add bigger, faster and stronger. Grant Cohn is an a-hole who hasn't watched any film, keeps saying things like his route tree is limited. He probably like many others only looked at youtube highlights of this year. How do I know this, cause Greg Cossell said he wanted the truth and did a deep dive by watching film at his previous stint and no, Stribling worked the middle and his route tree is not as limited as they say. At his last stop that is what the Coaches asked of him. Cossell also talked about how one offensive Coach who has been working in the NFL for 30+ years told him, he thinks that Stribling is better prospect than Makai Lemon! Let's emphasize Prospect.

Stribling came up clutch during a big game when the game was on the line with Georgia (12-1) and Ole Miss (12-1) Less than a minute ball at the 30 caught a ball and took it to the other 30 to set up a game winning field goal and this was at Georgia's home field.

Then there was Bucky Brooks who mentioned that there several AFC South teams that were eyeing Stribling in the 2nd round. And that is just AFC South. So as I mention in a post, if you trade back who is behind you, and what can you get without losing your player. Omar probably doesn't fit what Kyle is looking for in a WR. Mississippi has had some good WR come out from there, DJ Metcalf and AJ Brown.

One other thing about all this is -nobody was in the room when they talked to these players. During these interviews and testing (the niners I learned do a test that is different from others have heard the most NFL teams use. WIT?) Maybe Cooper flunked that or did worse than Stribling.

A final thought is that Stribling is not only a faster JJ, but maybe Kyle thinks can be a faster Debo. We already have Watkins, who is similar to Cooper.

In as far as those who thought why not Boston. They have Evans who is the Red Zone target with Kittle. Niners want/hope for a WR who can bring something different. Also, Boston's stupid agent told him not to run a 40-ever. I get that is what players do sometimes. However, that is the kind of thing that can raise a red flag. What are you hiding? Sure don't want another Aiyuk.

Lomu is a future need- would not play unless Trent got hurt. Even then, who would pay more dividends. If you are thinking about the future, niners can always sign a coveted FA since Trent's money will be available.

Cosell

Originally posted by Chance:
I freaked out too. I think we all have PTSD with third round RBs. This dudes one on ones in Senior Bowl practices show a guy who looks like he's got the tools in the pass game. He looks downright explosive.

Yup, I saw those clips too. He was impressive. To some folks he may have been a reach, but if you can find a CMC look-a-like in the 3rd round, to me that looks like a steal in my book.

Originally posted by Young2Owens:
Kaelon seems like a much better scheme fit than the past 3rd round RBs. Joe Williams just sucked, Trey Sermon was such a bad fit in retrospect plus he sucked and had no vision, and Guerrendo could have been good since he fit the mold but he just didn't have it mentally. Sounds like they did a bit more homework this time around, hopefully it pans out.

I think Guerrendo was the R&D squads pick. I think Guerendo taught them a lesson that athletic ability without that mental ability equals a wasted 3rd round pick. So I think they really focused on the mental side this draft cycle - to get more pit bull guys who are still athletic - on the team.