San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared the team’s draft strategy approach during his April 30 appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show.”
Over the last few days, the Niners have been receiving criticism for their drafts, given that they have more whiffs than hits under general manager John Lynch. Shanahan shared the thought process behind deciding to “reach” for a player, using the selection of Kaelon Black as an example.
“By the time the draft came, we felt everyone’s looking at [Black] as a fourth-round pick,” Shanahan said. “So if everyone’s looking at him as a fourth-round pick, man, if we want him, I’ll take him at No. 90 in the third.
“We’ll be all right with everyone hating on us and judging that as long as that’s what we feel like. And that doesn’t mean you’re going to be right.”
Nonetheless, these remarks drew criticism from The Mercury News’ columnist Dieter Kurtenbach, who didn’t hold back.
“All this tells me is something I already know: The Niners’ front office locks onto players and is easily scared on draft day,“ Kurtenbach wrote on April 30 on X. “The result: Bad plays in the market. ‘Why’d we get cute?’ A better question: ‘Why is it this guy or bust?'”
Niners Are Blocking Out All Outside Noise
Moreover, Shanhan noted that the Niners’ approach isn’t to get cute and choose who they want even if its a round too early, given that he’s wanted players in the past only for them to go a couple of spots before his team picks.
“When it’s said and done, they all end up about 50-50, but when you sit there and you truly believe he’s going to be a fourth-round pick for the league and you take him at No. 90, what’s the gamble there? ‘Hey man, this will look right if we take him in the fourth round, so let’s wait 12 more picks?‘” Shanahan added.
“That would be awesome, but I’ve done that so many times in 22 years, and then he goes two picks before you, you’re like, ‘Man, why did we try to get cute? It was close enough.'”
Moreover, Lynch stated on April 25 that he is only concerned with the opinions of those within the organization.
“Well, I appreciate that you think that — it depends on whose consensus,“ Lynch said to a reporter (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area). “We’ve got consensus in this building. That’s the consensus I care about.”
Mel Kiper Jr. Among the Critics of the 49ers’ 2026 Draft
One of the more prominent voices to push back on the 49ers’ draft was Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN. He took issue with the team’s first three selections: Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling at No. 33, Texas Tech EDGE Romello Height at No. 70, and Black at No. 90.
“I had mixed feelings on the 49ers kicking off Day 2 with Stribling,” wrote Kiper in his April 25 article. “He has 4.36 speed and shows burst out of his breaks, and the pick hit on a need. But he was No. 73 on my board and the No. 12 wideout. Denzel Boston? Germie Bernard? Antonio Williams?
“I had a half-dozen receivers who made more sense in that spot. For the next 20-30 picks, teams were taking guys ranked ahead of him. And although there wasn’t an offensive tackle in range at No. 33, there were edge rushers, which I clocked as a bigger need than receiver.”
49ers Under Fire After Kyle Shanahan Reveals Draft Strategy