Here are the 49ers draft picks to watch as rookie minicamp activities begin
Editor's Note: The San Francisco 49ers rookies are practicing as pros for the first time this weekend at the team’s rookie minicamp, giving the coaching staff and front office their first look at the new players integrating into their system.
The minicamp will be one practice held at their Santa Clara facility on Friday, where the eight-man draft class, undrafted free agents and players there on a try-out basis will all be participating. There will also be meetings and walk-throughs.
The 49ers draft class has received polarizing reviews. The team has made it clear their priority is adding players that can help get the team over the Super Bowl hump in the short term, which meant drafting older and more experienced college players rather than taking younger developmental prospects. The Sacramento Bee dove into the team’s process earlier this week.
San Francisco began the draft with six picks but made five trades, which included moving down the board from No. 27 in the first round to No. 33 overall, the first pick in the second.
Here’s a look at the players they added, and how the team expects them to fit.
De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
Size: 6-2, 207
Pick: Round 2, 33rd overall
Stribling was a surprise pick given he was widely viewed as a second- or third-round prospect before the draft. However, the 49ers like Stribling’s size, explosiveness (4.36 in the 40-yard dash) and physicality. They believe he can be an asset as a blocker after the 49ers had issues blocking outside for Christian McCaffrey, who averaged a meager 3.9 yards per attempt in 2025.
There’s a clear need at the position with Mike Evans likely expected to be with the team for one or two seasons, Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk’s times coming to an end, and newcomer Christian Kirk signing a one-year deal. Should Stribling reach the 49ers’ expectations and become a long-term starter this year or next, they won’t regret drafting him as high as 33. The 49ers believed he would have gone soon after 33 and didn’t want to risk trading down and missing out.
Romello Height, DE, Texas Tech
Size: 6-3, 239
Pick: Round 3, 70th overall
Height is 25 and may be viewed differently if he was coming off his 9.5-sack season earlier in his career. But the sixth-year senior didn’t break out until last year at Texas Tech, his fourth college stop after Auburn, USC and Georgia Tech. There are questions about if he’s already maxed out his talent his slight-ish 239-pound frame.
The 49ers believe he can step into a Dee Ford- or Bryce Huff-type role after Huff retired this spring. The 49ers like Height for his relentless play style and explosiveness (his vertical and broad jump at the scouting combine ranked in the 94th and 89th percentile among edge defenders).
Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
Size: 5-10, 208
Pick: Round 3, 90th overall
The 49ers went back to the well with a mid-round running back despite whiffing badly previously Tyrion Davis-Price, Trey Sermon, Isaac Guerendo and Joe Williams. But they didn’t let those misses deter their thinking on Black, whom Shanahan believes could step into a big role if McCaffrey missed time.
“When it just comes to running the ball, you need to have more than one starter,” Shanahan said. “We’ve gone through a number of years here where we’ve been through at least four backs.”
Isolating Black from the previous mistakes at running back, his addition makes sense. He’s considered decisive, key in Shanahan’s offense, and accelerates quickly. The 49ers also valued him heavily for his character and background as a winner on Indiana’s national championship team.
Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
Size: 6-3, 293
Pick: Round 4, 107th overall
The 49ers believe Halton can provide pass rushing juice from the inside complementing last year’s draftees Collins and West, who will be used as more traditional space-eating defensive tackles. Halton is in the mold of recently acquired Osa Odighizuwa, who is similarly undersized.
Halton has a background as a defensive end, which the team believes will help him in obvious pass rushing situations.
Carver Willis, OL, Washington
Size: 6-5, 303
Pick: Round 4, 127th overall
Willis played tackle his last three collegiate seasons, working on the right side in 2023 and 2024 at Kansas State before joining Washington to play left tackle.
The 49ers believe he’ll be in the mix to compete for the starting left guard spot as soon as this summer, where his athleticism on the outside could translate well in Shanahan’s offense.
Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington
Size: 6-3, 196
Pick: Round 4, 139th overall
The 49ers like Prysock for his size, athleticism and experience. His 33 1/-8-inch arms and 4.45 speed helped him start 42 games the last three seasons with Arizona and Washington.
He figures to compete for a depth role right away with veterans Darrell Luter Jr. and free-agent additions Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs.
Jaden Dugger, LB, Louisiana
Size: (6-5, 239)
Pick: Round 5, 154th overall
Dugger is one of the most developmental prospects of the class. The 49ers were enticed by his size, athleticism and versatility. He began his college career at Georgetown where he played safety, and then switched to a hybrid linebacker role when he transferred to Louisiana, which included pass rushing off the edge.
Dugger likely won’t see the field much on defense in 2025, but the 49ers hope linebacker coach K.J. Wright can help Dugger utilize his tools and become a starter down the road. He’ll be a candidate for a strong side linebacker role when San Francisco uses five-man fronts along the defensive line.
Enrique Cruz Jr., OL, Kansas
Size: 6-6, 315
Pick: Round 5, 179th overall
Cruz was one of the most athletic offensive linemen of the entire class. His 40-yard dash (4.94), vertical jump (35 inches) and broad jump (116 inches) were all in the 95th percentile or higher for tackles.
He’ll be a project for highly regarded offensive line coach Chris Foerster, but who better to learn from than another freakishly-athletic tackle: Trent Williams.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Here are the 49ers draft picks to watch as rookie minicamp activities begin."
