The San Francisco 49ers have found themselves at the center of draft debate once again—this time, landing dead last in Daniel Jeremiah's 2026 NFL Draft value chart. While the team's brass remains confident in their selections, the numbers tell a different story.

General Manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have faced sharp criticism for reaching on several picks, taking players well above where most consensus boards had them ranked. Despite the outside noise, the duo has stood firm, pointing to their own internal consensus board as the guiding force behind their decisions.

Two picks, in particular, have raised eyebrows. Wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling was selected at No. 33 overall, even though most evaluators saw him as a late second-round prospect. However, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer later reported that Stribling was rated higher by NFL teams than by the media, with whispers of a potential draft-night rise. That inside knowledge reportedly fueled San Francisco's decision to grab him at that spot rather than risk trading back.

Then there's running back Kaelon Black, taken at No. 90 despite being projected as a mid-to-late Day 3 pick. Shanahan later revealed on The Rich Eisen Show that Black was actually the team's No. 2 running back in the entire draft class—just behind Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love.

But when it comes to pure draft value, the numbers weren't kind. Jeremiah's system awards points based on where players are selected compared to his Top 150 board. The 49ers managed just a 50.6 percent return above expected value, ranking 32nd out of 32 teams. For context, the Indianapolis Colts topped the list, followed by the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders.

Whether this draft class proves the critics wrong or validates their concerns will play out on the field. But for now, the 49ers are wearing the label of the league's biggest draft-day gamblers.