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San Francisco 49ers 2026 Draft Class: Rookie Impact
Jul 1, 2026Ryan McCrystalSharp Football Analysis
Getting things ready
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Player mentions
Isaac Guerendo
RB · SF · #general
...Sermon and Tyrion Davis-Price, along with fourth-rounders Joe Williams and Isaac Guerendo. Carver Willis (fourth round) spent five years at Kansas State befo...
Kaelon Black
RB · SF · #general
...alton led all FBS interior pass rushers with a 14.4% pressure rate. Kaelon Black (third round) was a reach, and it looked particularly bad given Shanahan a...
Joe Williams
RB · #general
...nning backs Trey Sermon and Tyrion Davis-Price, along with fourth-rounders Joe Williams and Isaac Guerendo. Carver Willis (fourth round) spent five years a...
Deebo Samuel
WR · #general
...produce after the catch, traits the current roster lacked with the loss of Deebo Samuel and the impending departure of Aiyuk. During his career, Stribling generat...
Brandon Aiyuk
WR · SF · #general
Article text
The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2026 Football Preview . In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps, as well as draft class analysis from Ryan McCrystal. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2026 Football Preview . Every team is excited about their incoming class of rookies, but how will those new players affect each team in 2026? Let's look at the San Francisco 49ers, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from their class while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field. San Francisco 49ers 2026 Draft Class: Which Rookies Will Make an Impact? The 49ers did well to trade out of the first round, moving back twice before selecting De’Zhaun Stribling (second round) as a replacement for Brandon Aiyuk. While Stribling came off the board earlier than most expected, it’s easy to see why the 49ers coveted his skill set. Kyle Shanahan wants physical receivers who can block and produce after the catch, traits the current roster lacked with the loss of Deebo Samuel and the impending departure of Aiyuk. During his career, Stribling generated 24% more yards after catch than expected based on route-adjusted data. Romello Height (third round) might lack the strength to be a three-down defender, but his explosive pass-rush skills will allow him to see some action immediately. With Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams both returning from knee injuries, Height likely plays a significant role and possibly starts in Week 1. When quarterbacks took a traditional dropback of three or more steps, Height generated a pressure rate of 22%. His ability to contribute on passing downs should add value to the Niners defense immediately. Height will be joined on the defensive line by Gracen Halton (fourth round), who also might be a pass-rush specialist contributing on the interior defensive line. Halton lacks ideal bulk and length to be a force against the run, but his quick first step makes him tough to contain as a pass rusher. Last year at Oklahoma, Halton led all FBS interior pass rushers with a 14.4% pressure rate. Kaelon Black (third round) was a reach, and it looked particularly bad given Shanahan and John Lynch’s brutal track record of drafting running backs. The 49ers whiffed on previous third-round running backs Trey Sermon and Tyrion Davis-Price, along with fourth-rounders Joe Williams and Isaac Guerendo. Carver Willis (fourth round) spent five years at Kansas State before closing out his career at Washington. He was a perfect fit for the Wildcats’ physical rushing attack. The 49ers might move Willis around in training camp to see where he fits best. He’s not a great fit at tackle due to mediocre athletic traits and short arms, but he also lacks the ideal bulk to move to the interior offensive line. There’s a chance he’s a man without a position, but on Day 3, it’s worth gambling on someone who could provide depth at four positions. Enrique Cruz Jr. (fifth round) also played tackle in college and has the athleticism to stay there, but also has traits that might suit him well on the interior. The depth chart is crowded, but offensive line coach Chris Foerster pounded the table for him, so Cruz is a good bet to make the roster. Ephesians Prysock (fourth round) is a developmental cornerback with elite length and athletic traits, but he never added up to the sum of his parts at Arizona or Wa…