Kyle Shanahan didn't hide his frustration—or his satisfaction—when discussing the San Francisco 49ers' 2026 NFL draft strategy. The head coach revealed on the Rich Eisen Show that the team's primary goal at pick No. 27 didn't pan out, but a well-executed backup plan turned what could have been a setback into a win for the franchise.

"It was a long process to get there," Shanahan explained. "We had a couple of guys we hoped would be at 27, but we knew the odds were they wouldn't be." The 49ers had a clear target list, but when those top names didn't fall to them, the front office quickly pivoted. Instead of reaching, they chose to trade back—not once, but twice—to stockpile picks in the draft's sweet spot.

That sweet spot, according to Shanahan, was the second and third rounds. "We felt the strength of this draft was really the second round to the end of the third, and we only had one pick there," he said. Entering the draft with just six selections—including a first-rounder, a second-rounder, and four fourth-round picks—the 49ers were hungry for more capital in the middle rounds.

Their patience paid off. By moving back from No. 27, San Francisco landed an extra second-round pick, two third-round selections, and a pair of fifth-round choices. More importantly, they still got the player they wanted all along. "Our first goal was that the guy we wanted would fall to 27, but we got our second goal—and that was to trade back twice, accumulate more picks, and still get the guy," Shanahan said. "We would've taken Stribling at 30 if we had to. But to get to 33 and still get the guy we wanted? That was the win."

For a team that came into draft weekend with limited flexibility, turning six picks into a deeper, more balanced haul is a savvy move. In a league where roster depth is king, the 49ers showed that sometimes the best draft strategy isn't about getting your first choice—it's about knowing when to pivot and making the most of every opportunity.