Kyle Shanahan explains why the 49ers drafted RB Kaelon Black

The San Francisco 49ers turned some heads during the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Indiana running back Kaelon Black with the 90th overall pick.

While some analysts viewed the pick as a reach, head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear the organization saw something very different.

For the 49ers, Kaelon Black wasn’t just another mid-round prospect — he was one of the top backs on their entire board.

Shanahan revealed just how highly the team valued Black during his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. “We had him as the second-rated back on the board,” Shanahan said. “That’s just our evaluation of him, right or wrong.”

That evaluation put Black just behind Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, who was selected third overall, highlighting how aggressively San Francisco graded the Indiana product compared to the rest of the league.

#49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said Indiana RB Kaelon Black was the second-highest-rated RB on their board (implying Seahawks 1st-round pick Jadarian Price was not).

Here’s his explanation for why they loved him so much, via @RichEisenShow: pic.twitter.com/XlCyP0WjA4

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 30, 2026

More on 49ers RB Kaelon Black

Kaelon Black’s college resume backs up the intrigue. As a senior for the national champion Indiana Hoosiers football, he rushed for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns across 16 games, proving both durability and production on a big stage.

Still, the pre-draft process created uncertainty. Black wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, which often signals a lower draft projection. Shanahan acknowledged how that complicates evaluations.

“You got a guy who’s not invited to the combine. So what does that mean? Maybe it means he’s going in the sixth round,” Shanahan explained. “But then you evaluate him, you’re like, ‘Man, I think this is a third-round running back.’”

That disconnect forced the 49ers into a classic draft dilemma: wait and risk losing him, or act early and face outside criticism.

As the draft approached, Shanahan said the league’s perception of Black began to shift upward. “By the time the draft came, we felt everyone’s looking at this guy as a fourth-round pick,” he said.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 06: Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes pushes Kaelon Black #8 of the Indiana Hoosiers out of bounds during the first quarter in the 2025 Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

At that point, the decision became simple.

“If we want him, I’ll take him at 90 in the third,” Shanahan said. “We’ll be all right with everyone hating on us and judging that as long as that’s what we feel like.”

Shanahan also pointed to years of experience influencing that mindset. Waiting for “value” can backfire. “I’ve done that so many times… and then he goes two picks before you,” he said. “You’re like, ‘Man, why did we try to get cute?’”

For the 49ers, the takeaway is clear: trust your board. And in this case, it led them to Kaelon Black — a player they believe could outperform his draft slot and validate their conviction.

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