Shanahan Details Why the 49ers Trusted Their Board in 2026 NFL Draft
49ers.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2026 NFL Draft with six picks but exited with eight new players after trading down twice and acquiring additional draft capital, including key selections like WR De'Zhaun Stribling and RB Kaelon Black.
- Head coach Kyle Shanahan detailed the rigorous pre-draft process, emphasizing collaboration with position coaches who create highlight tapes to help efficiently evaluate a large pool of prospects.
- The 49ers had multiple draft scenarios planned, focusing on the No. 27 pick but prepared to trade back if top targets were unavailable, successfully executing this strategy to accumulate picks while still securing desired players.
- Shanahan highlighted the internal rise in value of Stribling and Black throughout the evaluation process, choosing to draft them earlier than some projections due to strong conviction in their potential contributions.
- The draft concluded successfully for Shanahan as the team added depth and talent they believe can compete for roster spots and contribute to the 49ers' future success.
