The NFL draft analyst OG Mel Kiper Jr took a minute to collect his thoughts before delivering his biggest winners and losers from the second and third rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kiper loved what the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and others were able to do with multiple picks on Day 2, covering a list of seven “winners” in total. Only one team, however, was listed in the biggest loser category: the San Francisco 49ers.
General manager John Lynch and company came away with former Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, Texas Tech edge rusher Romello Height and Indiana running back Kaelon Black – much to Kiper’s chagrin.
Golf News: United States Ryder Cup Captain Pick Sparks Major Criticism
More NFL: George Pickens Could Take Drastic Action Amid Cowboys Standoff
“I had mixed feelings on the 49ers kicking off Day 2 with Stribling. 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,” he said.
“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.”
Kiper also panned the decision to take Height, his No. 107 prospect at No. 70 overall.
“San Francisco did get an edge rusher in Round 3, but it went down the board again to do so. My No. 107 prospect went No. 70. Height plays with speed off edge and easy bend, converting that into 10 sacks last season. But I wonder about how his skill set is going to translate to the pros,” Kiper said.
But he wasn’t done.
Kiper also wasn’t a fan of the 49ers drafting Black [his No. 12 running back] in the third round when only two other running backs had come off the board.
“Can you imagine Mike Washington Jr.’s speed in Kyle Shanahan’s offense? Or Emmett Johnson’s ability in the pass game? Black doesn’t contribute as a pass catcher. He capped off a really odd night for San Francisco,” Kiper concluded.
San Francisco has five picks remaining in the draft, including four in the fourth round.
More NFL: Video Shows Moment Makai Lemon Was Snatched From Steelers by Eagles
Related Articles
