The San Francisco 49ers have completed their 10th draft under the tandem of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, and the reviews are predictably mixed. Five hours after the final round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the duo sat down to evaluate the eight-man class they assembled -- and they didn't shy away from the outside noise. Specifically, they addressed the criticism that several of their selections were "reaches," including their first pick of the entire draft: Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, taken early in the second round.
According to the Marin Independent Journal, both Shanahan and Lynch defended their process, which included trading down twice out of the first round entirely. It's a familiar song for 49ers fans -- the team has often zigged when the draftniks expected them to zag. But this year's class feels particularly polarizing, especially given the value they could have found had they stayed put or moved up.
A Decade of Drafting Together
Shanahan and Lynch have now been at the helm for 10 drafts. That's a decade of roster building, Super Bowl runs, and yes, the occasional head-scratching selection. The duo has earned the benefit of the doubt in many corners -- they've consistently found contributors in the middle and late rounds, from George Kittle (fifth round) to Brock Purdy (Mr. Irrelevant). But they've also had their share of "reaches" that didn't pan out, like Trey Sermon (third round) or Dante Pettis (second round).
This year, the draft board fell in a way that forced their hand. The 49ers entered the weekend with the 31st overall pick, a spot often associated with near-first-round talent or teams looking to trade back. They did exactly that -- twice. Moving out of the first round entirely, San Francisco accumulated additional capital while targeting players they believed would be available later. But when the board didn't cooperate with their plan, they pulled the trigger on Stribling at pick No. 42 overall, a selection that many analysts labeled a "reach" based on aggregate rankings.
The De'Zhaun Stribling Pick
Stribling is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound wide receiver from Ole Miss who put up solid numbers in the SEC -- 72 catches for 1,023 yards and nine touchdowns in his final season. He has a prototypical X-receiver frame, good hands, and the ability to win contested catches. But he wasn't widely projected to go in the top 50 picks. ESPN, NFL Network, and most major draft boards had him slotted somewhere in the third or fourth round.
When asked about the criticism, Shanahan didn't mince words.
"We don't really care what the outside says about reaches," Shanahan said, per the report. "We do our own work. Our board is our board. If a guy we love is there at our pick and we believe he can help us win, we're taking him. We're not going to let someone else's rankings dictate our decisions."
Lynch echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the front office had Stribling graded much higher than the consensus.
"De'Zhaun's tape was special," Lynch said. "He plays big, he's physical, he runs better routes than people give him credit for. In our scheme, with the way we use our receivers, he's a perfect fit. We had a first-round grade on him. So when he was still there in the second round, we didn't hesitate."
The question now: Can Stribling prove the doubters wrong? The 49ers' receiving corps is headlined by Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, but Samuel's future in San Francisco remains a topic of discussion. Adding a big-bodied outside threat makes sense on the surface. But taking him 10-plus picks before most expected him to go invites pressure. Stribling will be expected to contribute early, especially if Samuel's role shifts or if injuries hit a talented but banged-up group.
Trading Down Twice: Patience or Passivity?
Perhaps the most notable storyline from the 49ers' draft weekend was their decision to trade out of the first round -- not once, but twice. The team originally held the 31st overall selection. When they found no trade-up partner for a quarterback or an elite pass rusher, they dealt the pick to a team that wanted to jump into the back of the first round. Then, they traded their newly acquired pick again, eventually settling into the early second round where they selected Stribling.
In total, San Francisco came away with additional picks in the middle rounds -- selections they used to address depth needs at offensive line, cornerback, and defensive line. But for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations every season, skipping the first round entirely is a risky bet. Many critics argue that elite difference-makers -- the kind that push a roster over the top -- are most often found in the first round.
Lynch pushed back on that narrative.
"We looked at who was available in the late first round and we just didn't feel the value matched our board," Lynch explained. "Instead of forcing a pick, we decided to move back, accumulate assets, and get players we truly believe in a little later. It's not about being passive -- it's about being smart with your resources."
The 49ers have historically been aggressive when they see their guy. They traded up for Nick Bosa, for Brandon Aiyuk, for Trey Lance. But this year, they showed restraint. Whether that restraint pays off will depend entirely on how this class develops.
The Rest of the Class
Beyond Stribling, the 49ers added seven more players, though the full names and positions of the late-round selections were not detailed in the report. What is clear is that the team focused on depth and scheme fit -- two hallmarks of the Shanahan-Lynch era.
The team's offensive line added a versatile interior player with starting potential, a need exacerbated by the departure of veteran guard Jon Feliciano and ongoing questions about the swing tackle spot. The cornerback room also got an infusion of youth, with a mid-round pick who possesses the length and press-man skills the defensive coordinator covets. And on the defensive line, the 49ers added a rotational pass rusher who could see snaps early if injuries strike a group that leans heavily on Bosa and Chase Young.
One thing Shanahan emphasized: this class was about building the competition throughout the roster, not finding instant superstars.
"We like our core," Shanahan said. "We think we have a really good team. The draft is about adding layers, finding guys who can push the starters in camp, and developing for the future. Not every pick needs to be a Day One starter."
The Bigger Picture
Ten years into the Shanahan-Lynch tenure, the 49ers have built one of the most consistent rosters in the NFL. They've been to two Super Bowls (with one win), won multiple NFC Championships, and have an identity that translates regardless of who's under center. The draft has been a critical engine for that sustained success.
But the margin for error is thinning. The roster is expensive, with big-money contracts to Bosa, Aiyuk, Samuel, Fred Warner, and others. The salary cap forces the team to hit on mid-to-late-round picks more than ever. Missing on a reach like Stribling -- or failing to get production from the compensatory picks gained by trading down -- could accelerate a championship window that feels very much open but perhaps not wide open.
For now, Shanahan and Lynch are sticking to their process. They've earned the right to be trusted based on their track record. But the critiques won't go away until this draft class produces on the field. In a league where "grade the draft" analysis is a cottage industry, the 49ers are betting that their internal evaluations matter more than the noise from outside.
As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on Stribling and the rest of this eight-man class. The verdict won't come until September -- or beyond. But in the hours after the draft, the message from Santa Clara is clear: we know what we're doing.
Only time will tell if the NFL world agrees.