The 49ers’ draft class was deemed underwhelming by draft analysts, who gave them grades of Bs and Cs, with most teams in the NFC having better drafts. Sports Illustrated ranked the NFC’s draft classes and placed the 49ers in 11th position.
Gilberto Manzano pointed out that the 49ers passed on higher-profile wide receivers in favor of Ricky Pearsall with the 31st pick. Although the team has a history of successful draft picks like Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers may have to make tough decisions due to limited cap space.
While analysts like Manzano hesitate to criticize the 49ers due to their recent success on the field, he noted that the team may have reached for a player who won’t have an immediate impact. This could mean that the 49ers did not upgrade their team for the upcoming season.
Manzano highlighted several NFC teams that had better drafts than the 49ers, including the Vikings, Packers, Buccaneers, Saints, Cardinals, Rams, Eagles, Lions, Commanders, and Bears. These teams selected players who are expected to contribute significantly in the upcoming season, unlike the 49ers who focused more on building for the future.