The San Francisco 49ers are no strangers to doing things their own way under general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. They march to the beat of their own drum, and sometimes that march leads to big hits.
Other times, it doesn’t. With the 2026 NFL Draft class now complete, analysts are questioning whether San Francisco once again drifted too far from consensus boards in key spots.
The criticism is not just noise from social media, either. When respected draft evaluators start pointing to the same issues, it adds weight to the conversation.
Mel Kiper Jr. Questions the San Francisco 49ers’ Draft Strategy
Kiper’s review of the class zeroed in on the biggest concern surrounding San Francisco’s process: value. While the team clearly targeted specific fits, the timing of those selections raised eyebrows across the league.
“The 49ers traded out of Day 1, and I wrote about their Day 2 on Friday night,” Kiper wrote. “There were some really confusing picks in this class. I like De’Zhaun Stribling, Kaelon Black and some others, but it seemed like general manager John Lynch went off the board to get the guys he wanted, often way ahead of where they were valued.”
That tension between conviction and value has followed this front office for years. The selection of De’Zhaun Stribling at No. 33 became the flashpoint this time around. While Stribling has traits to develop into a contributor, many projections had him going later, making the pick feel aggressive.
It was not just one move, either. San Francisco continued to lean into its board throughout Day 2, taking players like Kaelon Black earlier than expected. That pattern reinforced the idea that the 49ers were comfortable operating outside the consensus, even if it meant sacrificing perceived value.
To be fair, this approach has worked before. Lynch and Shanahan have built a roster that has consistently competed at a high level. Still, drafts are about stacking talent efficiently, and when multiple picks come with reach labels, the margin for error shrinks quickly.
Mixed Results for 49ers’ Day 3 Draft Picks
If Day 2 sparked concern, Day 3 did little to fully quiet it. Kiper pointed out that while there were flashes of value, the overall body of work left something to be desired.
“Day 3 was more of the same, with the exception of their first pick of the day. Gracen Halton jams running backs at the line of scrimmage despite weighing only 293 pounds. He had 10.5 tackles for loss and 16 run stops last season. He should be in the mix for playing time as a 3-technique, and I’m a fan of the value on this pick. But I’m not sure San Francisco did enough otherwise.”
That evaluation lines up with how many graded the class, with PFSN giving it a D-. Defensive tackle Gracen Halton stood out as a strong addition, offering immediate rotational upside and scheme fit. Beyond that, the returns felt uneven.
MORE: NFL UDFA Tracker 2026: Latest Undrafted Free Agent Signings Following the 2026 NFL Draft
There were solid depth swings, including cornerback Ephesians Prysock and offensive tackle Carver Willis, but few picks generated excitement. The class, instead, felt like a collection of bets that will need time to justify their draft slots.
That brings the conversation back to the bigger picture. The 49ers are not drafting from a position of desperation, which allows them to take risks. But when those risks stack up across multiple rounds, scrutiny is inevitable.
