49ers News: Maybe this draft class is growing on me

Q: Who did the San Francisco 49ers select in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The 49ers selected WR De’Zhaun Stribling, EDGE Romello Height, RB Kaelon Black, and DT Gracen Halton among others in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Q: What are the strengths of the 49ers' draft picks in 2026?

The 49ers' draft picks, particularly Romello Height and Gracen Halton, are noted for their athleticism and potential impact on the team's defense.

Q: Why is there skepticism about the 49ers' draft choices?

Skepticism arises from the timing of some picks, such as Kaelon Black being selected earlier than expected, raising questions about their overall draft strategy.

Q: How did the 49ers' draft strategy differ from consensus expectations?

The 49ers' draft strategy included selections that strayed from consensus rankings, indicating a unique approach that may not align with typical evaluations.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Former San Francisco 49ers player Andy Lee announces a pick Round Two of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images **Hutchinson: 49ers’ draft approach was same old, same old (paywall)** ***“****Round 1, Pick 33: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss:* I don’t mind the Stribling pick. A lot of teams had him much higher than consensus boards. I had him as a late second-round pick, but he wouldn’t have been available at 58. I don’t mind it, but it is rich, and the 49ers did ignore the likes of left guard Chase Bisontis. I’m fine with the pick, and he’s a great fit who gets to learn from a perfect mentor in Mike Evans, but he’s a guy whose main utility is blocking, and who won’t see most of his utility until next season. *Round 3, Pick 70: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech:* Outstanding selection. I wanted to mock Height to the 49ers, but I thought pick 58 was too early, and pick 87 (I mocked a trade down with the Dolphins — they did virtually the same trade, but got 90 instead) was too late. That was accurate. They got a spring-loaded edge rusher to replace Bryce Huff who has outrageous pass rush upside, but will likely get wrecked in the run game. *Round 3, Pick 90: Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana:* I actually love Black for them. He was one of my guys. But in the third round, again? When he was a consensus 4th-round pick, and now the third RB off the board? It’s early. Again, I think he has great tape, does a lot of dirty work as a blocker, has receiving chops, and runs well. It’s a good fit for them. But how in the world can you trust this? *Round 4, Pick 107: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma:* The most Kris Kocurek pick of all time. The 49ers needed more burst on the interior, and Halton is an outstanding athlete who flies off the line. My issue with him is he doesn’t bend the corner or have great balance or agility, and comes with a stumpy frame, so he struggles to finish plays, and gets cleared out of gaps more than I’d like. But he does flash the ability to anchor down at times, and there’s no one who had more burst than him in the middle at this stage. Makes a ton of sense.” “*Tariq* *Ahmad***:**“Gold helmet is everything. And he checked all those boxes. He’s kind of a unique guy. When he transferred in, I’m not certain that Ole Miss knew the quality and caliber of person and player they had early on. Our scouts loved him right away. Our coach loved him right away. Leadership. Goal-oriented. The passion the guy has, the work ethic, the toughness, the durability. He checks all those boxes at a high level.” “The San Francisco 49ers made picks that strayed from the consensus, but one choice that shouldn’t draw sighs from fans is defensive tackle Gracen Halton,” Melo wrote. “One of three fourth-round selections, Halton is undersized but incredibly disruptive due to athleticism and first-step quickness.” “And so, it’s a situation where he hasn’t been in clear, constant communication with the Niners. They’ve had a hard time getting a hold of him. Other teams, I think, have attempted to reach out,” Schefter said. “They’ve had a hard time getting a hold of him.” “While the were previously linked to the veteran receiver, appears to be firmly in the mix.” **** “One of the 49ers’ third-round picks in this draft ended up being , who is a year removed from leading all defensive tackles in pressures. Odighizuwa’s numbers dipped last season, but that was due to the moves made. On obvious passing downs, Mykel gets Romello Height on one side, who was one of the most explosive pass rushers in the draft, especially when you think in terms of short-area quickness. On the other he gets . And he’ll be playing next to Odighizuwa. The 49ers’ draft put in the batter’s box with runners in scoring position and no outs. He’s walking into every hitter’s dream this season.“

49ers News: Maybe this draft class is growing on me

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