5 things to know about 49ers third-round pick Romello Height

Nathan Giese-Imagn Images

5 things to know about 49ers third-round pick Romello Height

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By Kirk Larrabee | Last updated Apr 24, 2026 10:46 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers filled a primary need with their second overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft (Round 3, pick 70 overall) by adding pass rusher Romello Height out of Texas Tech.

Height, who turned 25 earlier this month, gives the 49ers a player who may need some physical development once he reaches Santa Clara but could bring a burst in the pass rush that they've been looking for. Here's a look at what to know about Height as he heads to the Bay Area.

Another well-traveled player

With their first selection of the draft (33rd overall), the 49ers picked a player with three different college stops in wide receiver De'Zhuan Stribling. Height had an even longer journey in college.

Height started his career at Auburn after playing his high school as a four-star prospect at Dublin High School in Dublin, Georgia. He spent two seasons at Auburn, totaling in 19 tackles and three tackles-for-loss in 10 games, then transferred to USC. With the Trojans, Height played in two games in 2022 before totaling 20 tackles and four sacks in 12 game in 2023.

Height then transferred to Georgia Tech for the 2024 season, where he totaled 34 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks along with one interception and two forced fumbles. He spent his final year at Texas Tech, where he racked up 38 tackles, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 11.5 tackles for loss as a complement to this year's No. 2 overall pick, David Bailey. Height's performance in 2025 earned him All-Big 12 first team honors.

Height finished his career with 111 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception, and 131 pressures.

Where he fits

Height's size (6-2 3/4, 239 pounds) and lanky frame led a number of online scouts to question if he would be more than a pass-rush specialist in the NFL who won't figure in much on running downs. Either way, Height adds much-needed pass rush prowess to a 49ers unit that ranked last in the league in 2025 with 20 sacks. It's possible he could do so from a position other than defensive end.

"I feel like I can move around and I'm a little versatile," Height said Friday. "So I feel like I can play the Mike, I can go to outside linebacker. I can go to true standup. I feel like he's (defensive coordinator Raheem Morris) going to use me in a great way."

Height had a chance to talk to linebackers coach K.J. Wright during a visit to team facilities.

"He told me straight up," Height said. "He didn't hold back on nothing. He told me straight up how they were going to use me."

A dream come true, literally?

While every player selected in the NFL Draft is seeing their lifelong dreams of reaching the league come true, Height suggested he in a way may have actually dreamt before the draft that he'd wind up in a 49ers uniform.

"It's crazy," Height told reporters after he was drafted. "I had a dream about it. I had a dream about it. It wasn't actually the Niners, but it was the Niners' colors. And man, look at God."

Even if he hadn't seen it in his dreams, the interest the 49ers had in Height thinking he could receive a call from general manager John Lynch on draft day.

"It's not a surprise," Height said. "I kind of felt it. I've just been having that feeling all week that it was going to be the 49ers. I was telling my agent the whole time that it was either going to either be the Colts or Niners. Thank God it was the Niners."

His next goal is to help the 49ers add to their stockpile of Lombardi Trophies.

"It's a huge blessing that I'm with the Niners because we're gonna go win Super Bowls," Height said.

Growing into an NFL pass rusher

Height was asked by a reporter after his selection if he planned on playing at his current weight. He answered in the negative.

"I see myself putting on some pounds," Height said.

Height spoke about what he can do in the meantime to get around NFL blockers despite a possible size disadvantage.

"Speed and playing chess," Height said. "You've got to switch the game up. If he's got some type of advantage of you, you've got to play with his mind and switch the game up, get him uncomfortable."

The work he did in college on his first step put him in a position to be a draft pick. He plans on it being a strength in the NFL.

"It was key to my game," Height said. "It was something I emphasized when trying to perfect my craft. When hitting the lab, every drill was a get-off drill. It started with get-offs... The get-off is the key to the pass rush. I just emphasized it and continued to work on it. I ain't gonna say I perfected it, but it became a huge deal when I continued to work on it."