"We've got consensus in this building, and that's the consensus that I care about," Lynch said when asked about the perception that the team tends to reach on draft prospects.
Still, external reviews of the 49ers' draft class were mixed. While some outlets handed out favorable marks, Pro Football Focus (PFF) was among the most critical, assigning San Francisco a "D" grade.
This week, PFF expanded on that evaluation, pointing to what it viewed as a heavily unbalanced reach-to-steal ratio. Much of the criticism centered on where players were selected compared to the rankings on PFF's big board.
Of the 49ers' eight selections, PFF labeled seven as reaches—several by significant margins. The lone exception was defensive tackle Gracen Halton, taken in the fourth round (No. 107 overall), 37 spots below his ranking, making him the only perceived value pick.
It might be unfair to count edge rusher Romello Height as a reach, though. PFF ranked him 77th overall, while San Francisco selected him at No. 70—a modest seven-spot difference. Height was also the highest-graded defender among the group, earning a 92.5 defensive grade last season.
The gap was far wider for the rest of the class.
According to PFF, the biggest reach came with offensive lineman Carver Willis, selected in the fourth round (No. 127 overall) despite holding a 398th overall ranking—a 271-spot difference.
Below is how PFF evaluated each of the 49ers' selections:
| Pos | Player | Pick | Board Rank | Steal/Reach |
| WR | De'Zhaun Stribling | 33 | 112 | Reach: 79 spots |
| Edge | Romello Height | 70 | 77 | Reach: 7 spots |
| RB | Kaelon Black | 90 | 187 | Reach: 97 spots |
| DT | Gracen Halton | 107 | 70 | Steal: 37 spots |
| OL | Carver Willis | 127 | 398 | Reach: 271 spots |
| CB | Ephesians Prysock | 139 | 162 | Reach: 23 spots |
| LB | Jaden Dugger | 154 | 340 | Reach: 186 spots |
| OT | Enrique Cruz Jr. | 179 | 379 | Reach: 200 spots |
While PFF's evaluation leans heavily on draft value relative to its internal rankings, the 49ers consistently prioritize scheme fit and internal evaluations over outside perception—and that's unlikely to change.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
PFF names 49ers' highest-graded player of the 2026 preseason
Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently identified each NFL team's highest-graded player of the preseason. For the San Francisco 49ers, that distinction belonged to cornerback Jack Jones, the veteran defender entering his first season with the team. Jones led... -
49ers reach injury settlement with veteran running back
According to the NFL transaction report, the San Francisco 49ers have reached an injury settlement with veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr., removing him from the team's injured reserve list. Taylor was placed on injured reserve on August 20 with an adductor injury. He... -
49ers' Christian McCaffrey makes massive jump in NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 ranking
A fifth San Francisco 49ers player has earned a spot on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list. Four-time Pro Bowl and five-time All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey came in at No. 6, climbing a massive 67 spots from his No. 73 ranking in 2025. No. 6 on the NFL Top 100... -
Jason McIntyre predicts 49ers could part ways with Kyle Shanahan or John Lynch after 2026 season
Jason McIntyre isn't necessarily predicting Kyle Shanahan will be fired by the San Francisco 49ers after the 2026 season. But he isn't ruling it out, either. During a recent appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, McIntyre made a bold prediction that either Shanahan or Green...