Grant Cohn: Are the 49ers reaching too often in the Draft?

Grant Cohn isn’t backing down from the question that went viral following the San Francisco 49ers draft: why does the team “reach” so often?

Joining Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, SI’s Grant Cohn doubled down on his critique—suggesting the issue may stem less from general manager John Lynch and more from the organizational structure led by head coach Kyle Shanahan.

“I don’t think John is making the picks,” Cohn said. “I think he asks Kyle and the coaches who they want and gives them what they want.”

That dynamic, according to Cohn, can lead to aggressive selections like wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling at No. 33 overall—a move widely viewed as a reach relative to consensus draft boards.

“The Niners have this long track record of reaching for players,” Cohn said. “And they don’t have a lot of success when they do so.”

(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

More from Grant Cohn on the 49ers’ draft

The concern isn’t just about one pick.

Grant Cohn pointed to a broader trend: a lack of high-end draft hits in recent years, aside from quarterback Brock Purdy. For a team consistently in the playoff mix, he believes the inability to consistently draft Pro Bowl talent is becoming harder to ignore.

“We’re trying to figure out why,” Cohn explained. “They haven’t really drafted a Pro Bowler in the last five years. So what is the pattern here?”

Cohn argues the 49ers’ approach prioritizes traits and long-term upside over immediate impact—sometimes at the expense of current roster needs.

“They drafted a bunch of players who could be starters in a few years,” he said. “But they didn’t necessarily get any plug-and-play impact players.”

That philosophy shows up clearly in the Stribling pick. While Cohn acknowledged the upside—“He’s 6-2, runs a 4.36, a really good blocker”—he questioned the timing and fit for a team still chasing a Super Bowl.

“Aren’t you trying to make yourself better now?” he asked. “Don’t you need a left guard, a safety?”

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – DECEMBER 20: De’Zhaun Stribling #1 of the Ole Miss Rebels makes a catch during the second quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Grant Cohn also suggested the selection could signal uncertainty at the position, calling it “a hedge” following an uneven rookie season from Ricky Pearsall.

Still, it wasn’t all criticism. Cohn praised the team’s ambition in targeting high-ceiling athletes rather than settling for depth pieces, and pointed to one clear strength heading into 2026: quarterback stability.

“They’re one of the few teams that have two starting quarterbacks,” Cohn said, referencing Purdy and backup Mac Jones. “The floor for them is 10 wins.”

Ultimately, Cohn believes the 49ers remain competitive—but if draft results don’t improve, bigger organizational questions could follow.

“They may need someone who’s really, really good at drafting,” he said. “From outside the organization.”

Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the Sactown Sports YouTube channel.

Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

More NFL content from Sactown Sports

• Report: WR Jauan Jennings visiting with Vikings
• ESPN’s Nick Wagoner breaks down 49ers’ controversial Draft decisions
• George Kittle Optimistic About Achilles Recovery, Eyes Early 2026 Return
• San Francisco’s De’Zhaun Stribling ‘Excited to Work’ With New Team

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