The San Francisco 49ers continue to receive underwhelming reviews for their 2026 NFL Draft class.

After NFL.com handed the team a C- grade—ranking them 30th overall, ahead of only the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams—the outlook didn't improve much in CBS Sports analyst Ryan Wilson's latest rankings.


Wilson placed the 49ers at No. 29, with only the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and Jacksonville Jaguars graded lower.

Despite the low ranking, Wilson's overall evaluation wasn't especially harsh. He gave San Francisco a respectable B- grade. The disconnect between grade and ranking stems from how generous the grading scale seemed. No team received lower than a C-, while 17 teams earned grades in the A range.

"Unless you're repeatedly selecting long snappers in Rounds 1-7, it's hard to flunk the draft," Wilson noted.

Wilson also revealed his favorite pick, best value, and most surprising pick for each team.

Favorite pick: De'Zhaun Stribling


Wilson identified wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, selected No. 33 overall, as his favorite pick for the 49ers.


"I had heard for weeks that Stribling was going to go higher than expected, but no one figured for 33rd overall," Wilson wrote. "He's a tough, physical player, but I wouldn't have taken him over Denzel Boston or Germie Bernard."

Still, Wilson acknowledged that scheme fit likely played a major role in the selection, with Stribling viewed as a strong match for head coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive system.

Best value: Ephesians Prysock


For best value, Wilson pointed to cornerback Ephesians Prysock, a fourth-round selection.

"Ephesians Prysock played with Tacario Davis at Washington, giving the Huskies two of the longest corners at any level of football last season," Wilson wrote. "At 6-foot-3, 196, he is loooong (Prysock has a wingspan of 80.5 inches, which is 3 inches longer than Will Campbell's). And he'll use his length to [create a] disruptive presence on throws to every level."

Most surprising pick: Kaelon Black


Wilson's most surprising pick for San Francisco was running back Kaelon Black, selected in the third round at No. 90 overall—a choice that drew significant criticism from analysts given the player's projected value being far lower.


"It was a surprise in the moment to see Kaelon Black go 90th overall, but maybe it shouldn't have been," Wilson wrote. "Kyle Shanahan likes big backs, and Black, who didn't get a combine invite but blazed a sub-4.5 40 at his pro day, is that. He runs hard, is underrated as a receiver, and is a willing blocker."

Below is a full breakdown of the 49ers' eight draft picks, including where each prospect ranked on Wilson's big board.

Rd Pick Player Final Grade BB Rank
2 33 De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss 2nd 48
3 70 Romello Height, ED, Texas Tech 2nd-3rd 69
3 90 Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana 5th-6th 248
4 107 Gracen Halton, DL, Oklahoma 3rd-4th 98
4 127 Carver Willis, OG, Washington 5th-6th 230
4 139 Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington 3rd-4th 92
5 154 Jaden Dugger, LB, Louisiana 7th-UDFA 359
5 179 Enrique Cruz Jr., OT, Kansas 6th-7th 326


Follow us on: X, Facebook, Threads, Instagram

Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article? Report it.

Read Original Article
Visit 49ers Webzone

More San Francisco 49ers News