The San Francisco 49ers have enjoyed sustained success since John Lynch took over as general manager and Kyle Shanahan became head coach. Still, critics have frequently pointed to the duo's struggles to consistently find impact contributors in the NFL Draft, particularly in the early rounds.
That criticism resurfaced following the 2026 NFL Draft, with some analysts accusing the 49ers of reaching on several selections—an issue that has surfaced in previous draft classes as well.
Several recent draft picks have failed to develop into long-term contributors. For example, only two of the nine players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft remain on San Francisco's roster—quarterback Brock Purdy and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj—and none from the first five rounds.
That inconsistency prompted one fan to ask NFL insider Tom Pelissero, while guest-hosting The Rich Eisen Show, whether Lynch should be fired if the 49ers' 2026 draft class fails to produce.
Pelissero made it clear that he does not believe the success or failure of one more draft class will affect the job security of either Lynch or Shanahan.
"I don't see a world where John Lynch ever gets fired by the 49ers," Pelissero said. "Same thing with Kyle Shanahan. They have stabilized that franchise. If you remember how things were for several years before they got there, it was a constant churn. It was the end of the Jim Harbaugh era, which became the Jim Tomsula era, which became the Chip Kelly era. The 49ers are competitive year after year."
Pelissero also noted that San Francisco has managed to offset several draft shortcomings through trades and free agency.
At the same time, the 49ers have found significant value in the later rounds of the draft. Pelissero highlighted players such as Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and linebacker Fred Warner as examples of the organization's ability to uncover talent outside the early rounds.
"Top of the draft, bang for the buck hasn't always been there," Pelissero added. "I don't think it's a matter of do you fire John Lynch. If anything, at some point, could John Lynch decide, I've had enough, and I'm going to walk away, I'm going to go into an emeritus role."
Pelissero went on to review several of the 49ers' top draft selections during the Lynch-Shanahan era, pointing to several notable misses—including the costly trade-up for quarterback Trey Lance—while acknowledging a few hits.
"You'd like to land more superstars in the draft," Pelissero concluded.
You can watch the full segment here:
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