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

This is important to remember.

Nov 16, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks on the sidelines before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

The San Francisco 49ers only have six picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.

A first, a second, and four fourth-round picks is all they’ve got left. They traded their third to the Dallas Cowboys for Osa Odighizuwa, which, to be fair, was a good move. And honestly, not having a third-round pick might help, since it takes a tricky decision off the table.

But there's one good reason why the 49ers are fortunate not to have a third-round selection this time around.

The 49ers have made good poor selections in the third round in recent years

Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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.

Year	Selection
2025	Nick Martin
2025	Upton Stout
2024	Dominick Puni
2023	Ji'Ayir Brown
2023	Jake Moody
2023	Cameron Latu
2022	Ty Davis-Price
2022	Danny Gray
2021	Trey Sermon
2021	Ambry Thomas
2019	Jalen Hurd
2018	Fred Warner
2018	Tarvarius Moore
2017	Ankello Witherspoon
2017	CJ Beathard

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; NBC Sports analyst Fred Warner prior to the New England Patriots game against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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.