The San Francisco 49ers selected Kansas OT Enrique Cruz Jr. with the 39th pick (No. 179 overall) in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The 49ers received this pick from the New York Jets as part of their second first-round trade, moving down to the No. 33 overall pick.
Cruz spent his collegiate career playing for Syracuse and Kansas, starting 30 games at both right and left tackle. During his 2025 senior season at Kansas, he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after starting all 12 games at right tackle and allowing only two sacks.
Following his final season, he participated in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, where he recorded a 4.94-second 40-yard dash and a 35-inch vertical jump.
Measurements
The following are the official measurements from the NFL Scouting Combine.
- Height: 6-6
- Weight: 313 lbs
- Arms: 33 3/4 inches
- Hands: 10 1/4 inches
NFL Scouting Combine
The following are the official testing results from the NFL Scouting Combine.
- 40-yard dash: 4.94 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.74 seconds
- Vertical jump: 35 inches
- Broad jump: 9 feet, 8 inches
Hometown
Chicago, IL
College Statistics
| Year | School | GP | GS | POS |
| 2021 | Syracuse | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | Syracuse | 8 | 5 | 4 RT, 1 LT |
| 2023 | Syracuse | 13 | 13 | LT |
| 2024 | Syracuse | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | Kansas | 12 | 12 | RT |
- 2021: Redshirted; enrolled July 2021
- 2022: Started final five games
- 2025: Honorable Mention All-Big 12; enrolled May 2025
Scouting Report
Lance Zierlein's NFL.com scouting report:
Cruz is a big, burly right tackle prospect with outstanding length but athletic limitations. Cruz isn't twitchy but he does flash explosive power when he uncorks heavy hands and upper-body power to knock opponents off-balance. Tight hips bring tall pads, which rob him of leverage as a drive blocker at the point. He plays with good slide quickness out to the rush but struggles to redirect against inside moves and his anchor is slightly below average when challenged by a bull rush. His size, power and length could attract teams on Day 3, but sticking long-term will be tough.
NFL.com Draft Bio:
- 2021 (Syracuse): Redshirted.
- 2022 (Syracuse): Played in 8 games with starts in the final 5 contests (3 at RT, 2 at LT).
- 2023 (Syracuse): Started all 12 games at LT.
- 2024 (Syracuse): Played in 3 games as a reserve.
- 2025: Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference. Started all 12 games at RT.
Pre-Draft Grade:
Cruz earned a pre-draft grade of 6.11 from NFL.com, which equates to a "good backup with potential to develop into a starter," per the site's 8-point grading scale.
Projection:
NFL.com projected Cruz to be a fifth-round draft pick.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) Grades:
Enrique Cruz Jr. is an offensive tackle for the Kansas Jayhawks who earned a 70.3 overall PFF grade in the 2025 season, 102nd among 632 qualified offensive tackles. He played 663 offensive snaps on the season.
More Draft Analysis
Dane Brugler of The Athletic's Analysis:
Barely graded by NFL teams entering the 2025 season, Cruz forced evaluators to take notice with his steadying play. More quick than explosive, he reaches landmarks well and has the size and length to tie up rushers. He flashes vice-grip hands when he connects, but his punch timing and overall hand usage are works in progress (see his reps versus David Bailey and Romello Height on the 2025 Texas Tech tape). He has functional strength, although it can be negated by spotty technique.
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