Overview
- Shanahan, in a Thursday Rich Eisen Show interview, said San Francisco traded back after its top targets at No. 27 did not fall and turned six picks into eight plus a 2027 sixth the team views as trade‑deadline leverage.
- The coach said the 49ers would have taken Ole Miss receiver De'Zhaun Stribling at No. 30 and graded him as a late‑second‑round target before landing him at No. 33.
- Shanahan revealed Indiana running back Kaelon Black was the No. 2 RB on the club’s board and explained taking him at No. 90 despite a projected later range and no combine invite.
- General manager John Lynch underscored the approach by saying he cares about consensus inside the building, emphasizing scheme fit over matching public big boards.
- Outside evaluations stayed critical, with PFF giving the class a D and labeling most picks as reaches while still pointing to edge Romello Height and defensive tackle Gracen Halton as the stronger values.