The 49ers have seen some great late-round value over the past few years.
The San Francisco 49ers have seen their fair share of draft successes during the Kyle Shanahan era, as they’ve looked to build their team via the draft, capitalizing both on early-round value and late-round selections as well.
Now, not every draft pick has been successful, with some being major misses, but there have been a number of quality selections as well, with value being found in the later rounds in addition to the top rounds.
This year, the 49ers are in a prime position to add some top-tier talent to their roster, as they hold the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, while having almost every single one of their picks heading into the offseason.
So, with the draft being as prevalent as it is, I thought it’d be a fun exercise to revisit the last five drafts and identify the top value selections since 2020 for the 49ers. Because they’ve played in just one season, I did not include any of the rookies, although a couple of them could very well be on this list next year.
Let’s get into it.
No. 5: S Talanoa Hufanga
The 49ers struck paydirt in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft when they took Talanoa Hufanga, who seemed like he’d go much earlier before poor testing hurt him at the NFL Combine.
Nonetheless, he made waves as a third safety for the 49ers in his rookie season before elevating to a full-time starting role in 2022, where he was named an All-Pro after accumulating 97 tackles, nine pass breakups, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
A breakout star on the defense, Hufanga dealt with injuries in both 2023 and 2024, as he suffered a torn ACL that ended his third year before a variety of issues plagued his fourth, and possibly final, season with the 49ers.
Inconsistencies and injuries hurt the backend of his time with San Francisco, but an All-Pro selection is certainly noteworthy for a sixth-round pick.
No. 4: WR Brandon Aiyuk
Edging right past Hufanga is star receiver Brandon Aiyuk, whom the 49ers traded up to grab in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Aiyuk’s career has taken a few interesting turns. He caught 60 passes for 748 yards and five touchdowns over 12 games in his rookie year, which seemed to put him on the fast track to be San Francisco’s next star wide receiver.
But, struggles to begin his second year had Aiyuk’s production slow down before he ultimately ended up with 56 catches for 826 yards and five touchdowns, this time over 17 games.
Aiyuk’s breakout finally came in his third year, when he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time, catching 78 passes for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns, leading the 49ers in 2022.
He took a major step forward turning into an All-Pro in his fourth season, catching 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming one of the most productive wideouts in the NFL en route to earning a massive four-year extension.
Receiver is quickly becoming one of the top premier positions in the NFL, and the 49ers struck paydirt with Aiyuk in the backend of the first round, getting who could be a perennial All-Pro.
No. 3: WR Jauan Jennings
Sticking to the position of wide receiver, it’s hard to have a top draftees list without including 2020 seventh-round pick Jauan Jennings.
Interestingly enough, Jennings was actually cut initially by the 49ers, but worked his way back to the roster and has since been a mainstay in a major way.
After not playing in his rookie year, Jennings has seen four productive years in the NFL, primarily working as a chain-mover, as well as a blocker for the 49ers, assimilating well into their hard-nosed culture.
The former seventh-round pick had his most productive season yet in 2024, nearly topping 1,000 yards with a 77-catch, 975-yard, and six-touchdown season, stepping up with Brandon Aiyuk suffering a torn ACL.
Jennings, who was rewarded with a two-year, $15.4 million extension last offseason, has certainly been one of the top 49ers’ draft picks in recent memory.
No. 2: CB Deommodore Lenoir
Another player whose career has seen a turn is cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Selected alongside fellow cornerback Ambry Thomas in that 2021 draft, Lenoir was the early standout of the two before Thomas got more playing time towards the end of their rookie seasons.
But, starting in 2022, Lenoir developed into a starter and slowly started to see growth, initially playing more on the outside before finding a home in the nickel.
Lenoir’s past two seasons have been his best, as the cornerback has been a great run fitter, while holding up in coverage as San Francisco’s best defensive back. That earned him a five-year, $92 million extension midseason, setting him to be the team’s top player in the secondary long-term.
Being taken in the fifth round and essentially working his way to being a Pro Bowl-caliber player, Lenoir is the No. 2 player on the list.
No. 1: QB Brock Purdy
The most obvious selection on the list is quarterback Brock Purdy, who was taken in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The 49ers really struggled with their 2022 NFL Draft from top to bottom, with a number of draftees no longer on the team, but they certainly hit on Purdy, who has grown to be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
First coming onto the scene as a rookie in 2022, Purdy led the 49ers to an NFC Championship Game, winning his first seven starts, before taking over as the full-time starter in 2023.
Coming back from a torn UCL injury, Purdy had his best season yet, leading the NFL in a number of efficiency metrics, while throwing for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, en route to a Super Bowl appearance and being named fourth in MVP voting.
Purdy had a bit of a different third year, as he had a number of injuries around him that caused his play to take a step back, but he’s been one of the most valuable selections in 49ers draft history, given his status as Mr. Irrelevant.
Helping save the 49ers quarterback problems, he comes in at No. 1 on the list.