Why the 49ers are Fortunate They Don't Have a Third-Round Pick

Under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, San Francisco has struggled to find consistent talent in the third round of the draft. Of their 15 selections, only one truly stands out: linebacker Fred Warner.

He has developed into one of the best draft picks in franchise history and is on pace to set multiple 49ers records, with a potential path to Canton and the Hall of Fame. His elite instincts, leadership, and consistency have made him one of the league’s premier linebackers year after year.

Since 2017, the 49ers have consistently struggled to extract value from their third-round picks, and the reasons go beyond simple bad luck. A major issue has been inconsistent player development.

Several selections entered the league with intriguing qualities but failed to refine their skills enough to earn long-term roles. Whether due to injuries, scheme fit, or stalled progression, many never became reliable contributors.

Several selections simply didn’t deliver on expectations. C.J. Beathard was drafted as a developmental quarterback but never evolved beyond a backup option.

Ahkello Witherspoon showed early promise but was inconsistent and eventually lost his starting role. Tarvarius Moore struggled to carve out a consistent defensive role, spending much of his time as a depth or special teams player.

Injuries also played a major role in derailing potential. Jalen Hurd stands out as a complete miss, never appearing in a regular-season game due to repeated injuries. Ambry Thomas had flashes but failed to maintain consistency or secure a long-term starting role.

At running back, both Trey Sermon and Ty Davis-Price were expected to contribute in Kyle Shanahan’s system but were quickly surpassed by later-round picks and undrafted players, raising questions about evaluation and fit.

And finally, there’s the third-round pick spent on Jake Moody, who struggled to convert kicks and quickly made his position untenable, especially once Eddy Piñeiro stepped in and showed what reliable kicking actually looks like.