2026 Draft Grade

Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Shouldn't of used AI.

AI would've drafted the league consensus regardless of scheme fit and got an A grade from everyone.

Originally posted by genus49:
I give it a C-

I don't hate the players we got. I hate how much we reached to get them and I'm annoyed we didn't bring in a legit safety to push the mediocre guys we have now.

I think that nearly every pick for every team after the first round was more of a reach this year than normal. It just wasn't a great draft. The Jets had a great 1st round with 3 solid picks The Browns and Raiders also look good on paper. However those teams seem to draft high every year because they always stink no matter who they get.

As for safety I really think they wanted Thieneman but the Bears snagged him 2 spots in front of the Niners. I say that because they immediately traded back after that happened. I wasn't expecting a great draft going in since the talent was weak and the Niners only had 6 picks. None were at the top of the round. They managed to get a couple extra picks and even got 6th rounder in next years draft. All and all I guess they did okay.

Another mind blowing draft, with team taking position picks based on some internal game of patty cake rather than team needs

D, like the last few.

Im sympathetic to eccentric "reaching" but the picks have to work out. We can't throw rookie players away at a higher rate than our peers and expect to have success.

I give a B-.
I like the WR, Edge, and CB picked.

I personally love the draft. Considering where we picked at the end of round 1.

Stribling to me looks like Aiuyk and Jennings combined. Big and fast. Catches everything. Fierce blocker. He will be a future #1. I think he is a day 1 starter at Z

(X)- Mike Evans / Demarcus Robinson
(Z)- De'Zhaun Stribling
(Y)- Ricky Pearsall / Christian Kirk

I love that group.

Romello Height will be a designated pass rusher and should better than Huff. He is electric off the edge I'm excited to see what our 5 man fronts look like under Morris especially on passing downs.

DE- Nick Bosa
DT- Osa Odiahizuwa
DT- Gracen Halton
DE- Mykel Williams
OLB- Romello Height

Considering what we had last year that's a massive upgrade.

Black runs hard! I love his highlites and Indiana runs the exact same offense as Shanahan. Of all the backs we have picked I think Black is the best of the bunch. He can catch and run routes and he is a pro ready in protection. I think he plays a big role for us and won't have to come off the field. CMC is still electric as a receiver but he lost a little bit of burst as a runner. I think Black can put up Jordan Mason numbers for us.

Halton might be my favorite pick aside from Stribling. Hes a monster interior pass rusher and has a dominant senior bowl. He was unblockable. Him and Osa on the interior is going to cause problems. I had him mocked in most of my drafts in round 2. Getting him in the 4th is a steal.

All the others are athletic freaks. Carver Willis is a beast in run blocking. Prysock has length and can run. Don't count us out with our 5th round linebackers and Cruz tested as the best OL in the draft.

I've been hard on Lynch's drafts but I really like this one.

Originally posted by genus49:
I give it a C-

I don't hate the players we got. I hate how much we reached to get them and I'm annoyed we didn't bring in a legit safety to push the mediocre guys we have now.

You can't get every position filled. We got way too many needs to be filled upfront on top of that

Ultimately you can't help but feel that the Niners didn't think this was a strong draft class outside of the top first round picks locked up by other teams, and so we've obviously looked for players where they think there is upside.

I think the wide receiver might be interesting - he looks a bit raw but he has a knack of finding a way to be available and hey, he gets to learn from Mike Evans no less.

Question: If Niners got a deal done for Joey Bosa, would you feel slightly less worried about the draft picks?

Originally posted by captveg:

Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Shouldn't of used AI.

AI would've drafted the league consensus regardless of scheme fit and got an A grade from everyone.

I asked AI(gemini), "If I told you to come up with a system to pick the best nfl draftees that fit what the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff likes to do, give me the explanation as to why you chose the guys they drafted this year", here is what it came up with:

The San Francisco 49ers' 2026 draft class—headlined by WR De'Zhaun Stribling and RB Kaelon Black—is a textbook example of the "Shanahan-Lynch System." This system isn't just about raw talent; it's a rigorous filter for positionless versatility, high-end motor, and specific physical archetypes that fit their scheme.

Here is the system I'd use to evaluate these picks and the explanation for why these specific players were the "right" choices for San Francisco.

1. The "YAC-First" Wide Receiver Filter,
The System Rule: If a receiver can't block and can't create 5+ yards after the catch (YAC), they don't play for Kyle Shanahan.

• The Pick: De'Zhaun Stribling (WR, Ole Miss)
• Why he fits: At roughly 6'2", Stribling fits the physical profile of a "big slot" or "X" receiver who can handle the physical demands of the 49ers' run-heavy schemes. Shanahan loves receivers who play like "angry runners" once the ball is in their hands (think Deebo Samuel or Jauan Jennings). Stribling was drafted because he has the frame to crack-block safeties and the play-strength to break the first tackle on a slant route.

2. The "Bobby Turner" RB Protocol,
The System Rule: Do not overspend on RBs. Look for "One-Cut" runners with elite vision who can find the "cutback lane" in the Outside Zone scheme.

• The Pick: Kaelon Black (RB, Indiana)
• Why he fits: Running back coach Bobby Turner has a legendary track record of turning mid-to-late-round backs into 1,000-yard rushers. Black fits the mold of a "slasher"—a runner who doesn't dance in the backfield. He sees the hole, plants his foot, and gets vertical. With Christian McCaffrey leading the way, the 49ers needed a younger, cheaper insurance policy with the speed to threaten the edge on a toss play.

3. The "Wide-9" Defensive Line Mold
The System Rule: Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek wants "get-off" speed over everything. If a D-Liner can't explode off the ball in the first 1.5 yards, he isn't a 49er

• The Picks: Romello Height (EDGE) and Gracen Halton (DL)
• Why they fit: The 49ers operate a "Wide-9" front where the ends line up way outside the tackles. This requires extreme burst. Height and Halton are typical "Kocurek projects"—high-motor players who might have lacked elite college stats but possess the "explosive 10-yard split" that the 49ers' front office values. They are drafted to be rotational "wave" rushers who keep Nick Bosa fresh.

4. The "Length and Versatility" Secondary Check
The System Rule: With Raheem Morris influencing the defense, the team now prioritizes length and "do-it-all" versatility over pure lockdown speed.

• The Pick: Ephesians Prysock (CB)
• Why he fits: Prysock is a massive corner (6'4") who fits the trend of the 49ers moving toward longer, more physical defensive backs. The system here is to find players who can play "Match-Quarters" or "Cover 3" while having the size to tackle physical RBs in the flat. He follows the Deommodore Lenoir developmental path: high-upside length that can be coached into a starter by Year 2.

5. The "Agility-Over-Power" O-Line Standard
The System Rule: Offensive linemen must be able to move laterally. If a guard is too "heavy-footed," they can't reach the edge on a zone stretch.

• The Pick: Carver Willis (OL)
• Why he fits: Willis is the prototypical "Shanahan Lineman"—athletic and lean enough to get out in space and lead-block for a screen or a sweep. While the team needs to find an eventual successor to Trent Williams, Willis provides the interior depth required to keep the run game efficient.

Summary Checklist: Why this class?The 49ers didn't just pick "the best players available." They picked the players who survived these specific filter

• Violence: Do they hit people? (Stribling/Prysock)
• Suddenness: Do they have a fast 10-yard split? (Height/Black)
• Intellect: Can they handle the most complex offensive playbook in the NFL? (Black/Willis)

Immediate draft grade?

Playing on our emotions LOL

Originally posted by MTninerfan:

Originally posted by captveg:

Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Shouldn't of used AI.

AI would've drafted the league consensus regardless of scheme fit and got an A grade from everyone.

I asked AI(gemini), "If I told you to come up with a system to pick the best nfl draftees that fit what the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff likes to do, give me the explanation as to why you chose the guys they drafted this year", here is what it came up with:

The San Francisco 49ers' 2026 draft class—headlined by WR De'Zhaun Stribling and RB Kaelon Black—is a textbook example of the "Shanahan-Lynch System." This system isn't just about raw talent; it's a rigorous filter for positionless versatility, high-end motor, and specific physical archetypes that fit their scheme.

Here is the system I'd use to evaluate these picks and the explanation for why these specific players were the "right" choices for San Francisco.

1. The "YAC-First" Wide Receiver Filter,
The System Rule: If a receiver can't block and can't create 5+ yards after the catch (YAC), they don't play for Kyle Shanahan.

• The Pick: De'Zhaun Stribling (WR, Ole Miss)
• Why he fits: At roughly 6'2", Stribling fits the physical profile of a "big slot" or "X" receiver who can handle the physical demands of the 49ers' run-heavy schemes. Shanahan loves receivers who play like "angry runners" once the ball is in their hands (think Deebo Samuel or Jauan Jennings). Stribling was drafted because he has the frame to crack-block safeties and the play-strength to break the first tackle on a slant route.

2. The "Bobby Turner" RB Protocol,
The System Rule: Do not overspend on RBs. Look for "One-Cut" runners with elite vision who can find the "cutback lane" in the Outside Zone scheme.

• The Pick: Kaelon Black (RB, Indiana)
• Why he fits: Running back coach Bobby Turner has a legendary track record of turning mid-to-late-round backs into 1,000-yard rushers. Black fits the mold of a "slasher"—a runner who doesn't dance in the backfield. He sees the hole, plants his foot, and gets vertical. With Christian McCaffrey leading the way, the 49ers needed a younger, cheaper insurance policy with the speed to threaten the edge on a toss play.

3. The "Wide-9" Defensive Line Mold
The System Rule: Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek wants "get-off" speed over everything. If a D-Liner can't explode off the ball in the first 1.5 yards, he isn't a 49er

• The Picks: Romello Height (EDGE) and Gracen Halton (DL)
• Why they fit: The 49ers operate a "Wide-9" front where the ends line up way outside the tackles. This requires extreme burst. Height and Halton are typical "Kocurek projects"—high-motor players who might have lacked elite college stats but possess the "explosive 10-yard split" that the 49ers' front office values. They are drafted to be rotational "wave" rushers who keep Nick Bosa fresh.

4. The "Length and Versatility" Secondary Check
The System Rule: With Raheem Morris influencing the defense, the team now prioritizes length and "do-it-all" versatility over pure lockdown speed.

• The Pick: Ephesians Prysock (CB)
• Why he fits: Prysock is a massive corner (6'4") who fits the trend of the 49ers moving toward longer, more physical defensive backs. The system here is to find players who can play "Match-Quarters" or "Cover 3" while having the size to tackle physical RBs in the flat. He follows the Deommodore Lenoir developmental path: high-upside length that can be coached into a starter by Year 2.

5. The "Agility-Over-Power" O-Line Standard
The System Rule: Offensive linemen must be able to move laterally. If a guard is too "heavy-footed," they can't reach the edge on a zone stretch.

• The Pick: Carver Willis (OL)
• Why he fits: Willis is the prototypical "Shanahan Lineman"—athletic and lean enough to get out in space and lead-block for a screen or a sweep. While the team needs to find an eventual successor to Trent Williams, Willis provides the interior depth required to keep the run game efficient.

Summary Checklist: Why this class?The 49ers didn't just pick "the best players available." They picked the players who survived these specific filter

• Violence: Do they hit people? (Stribling/Prysock)
• Suddenness: Do they have a fast 10-yard split? (Height/Black)
• Intellect: Can they handle the most complex offensive playbook in the NFL? (Black/Willis)

Damn! AI is going to take all our jobs!

Originally posted by frankieuc68:
I gave it a solid C. They addressed all needs but reaching lowered it big time. At least no kicker/punter that would have lowered the grade a bit more.

My thoughts on previous drafts:
Last year's class I gave it a C+ after the draft. We got some good players but I wasn't very high on Mykel and Alfred Collins. I also have other players in mind like most of you. With Stout, I was the same way like "who?" as there are more known players. The 2 big fellas along with CJ West contributed and played well enough. Stout was thrown in the fire and held up fine. Nick Martin played but got hurt and Jordan James showed a bit promise. After letting it play out the season, I gave the class a B grade. If that class continue to improve, let's say 1 becomes a Pro bowler or couple players get a 2nd contract, definitely will be in the A- grade for me. Here are my other thoughts on previous class:

2019 Nick Bosa/Samuel/ Greenlaw- started as an A+ and I still give it A+ because Nick is one of the best at his position. Deebo was Deebo. Greenlaw was a monster and Wishnowsky was a starter.

2017 Solomon Thomas/Foster draft- started as A-. I thought those 2 were going to be a monster and long contributors for this team. We know what we got from those 2. Akhello sucks, Joe Williams sucks, Beathard was a good backup. Now, I gave it a C+ and it could have been an F if not for that future hall of Famer TE named Kittle and the monster DJ Jones, tiny receiver Trent Taylor to save that class.

So let's see how this class plays out. I like most of the picks along with the undrafted FA haul. We will have a feel once they get in uniform and see how they translate to our system.

Originally posted by D-NOTTE:
We s**t the bed with this draft!!!!

Don't the players have to play first in order to say we s**t the bed?

Originally posted by RedGold68:
Ultimately you can't help but feel that the Niners didn't think this was a strong draft class outside of the top first round picks locked up by other teams, and so we've obviously looked for players where they think there is upside.

I think the wide receiver might be interesting - he looks a bit raw but he has a knack of finding a way to be available and hey, he gets to learn from Mike Evans no less.

Question: If Niners got a deal done for Joey Bosa, would you feel slightly less worried about the draft picks?

I'm not particularly worried about the draft picks,I'm more concerned about the process that resulted in these picks and the fact that they ignored major areas of need once again.

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by D-NOTTE:
We s**t the bed with this draft!!!!

Don't the players have to play first in order to say we s**t the bed?

Yes they do. I suspect most of the fans posting comments (me included) haven't seen these guys play a lot other than highlight clips which make everyone look great. When teams draft players that fans aren't as familiar with then they tend to say it was a bad draft. Even the best players in any draft aren't always the best fit for your team. I gave this draft a C only because I really couldn't tell what their plan was. Maybe this draft was harder to target certain positions because of the mediocre talent pool.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by D-NOTTE:
We s**t the bed with this draft!!!!

Don't the players have to play first in order to say we s**t the bed?

Yes they do. I suspect most of the fans posting comments (me included) haven't seen these guys play a lot other than highlight clips which make everyone look great. When teams draft players that fans aren't as familiar with then they tend to say it was a bad draft. Even the best players in any draft aren't always the best fit for your team. I gave this draft a C only because I really couldn't tell what their plan was. Maybe this draft was harder to target certain positions because of the mediocre talent pool.

It's always the case and I'm guilty of it too sometimes. But then again I get over excited about some of the picks and then end up s**tting the bed like Drake Jackson and Jiayir Brown. Two players that I really wanted in the draft. But we'll see what happens next season, the real enemy that everyone keeps forgetting is injuries. If the team can be at least 80% free of injuries, I don't doubt Shanahan and Morris can at least get back to the NFCC.