Despite only making three picks through the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers have actually been one of the most active teams, as they’ve made multiple trades.
San Francisco’s final pick of Day 2 came at No. 90 overall when they took Indiana running back Kaelon Black near the end of the third round.
Before Black joins the 49ers in the Bay Area in person, let’s introduce him to the fan base.
Pro Day Measurables
Black is 5-foot-9 and 208 pounds. While he didn’t attend the combine, he did work out at his Pro Day. He ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash with a 1.53-second 10-yard split. He also recorded a 37.5-inch vertical and a 125-inch broad jump while putting up 27 reps on the bench.
Collegiate Success
Black was a three-star recruit out of Salem High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, before splitting his college career between James Madison and Indiana. In 56 games over six years, he rushed for 2,595 yards and 17 touchdowns on 5.2 yards per attempt while hauling in 55 passes for an additional 528 yards and six scores.
The 24-year-old broke out in 2025, rushing for 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns on his way to a national championship with the Hoosiers.
49ers loved him
“Kaelon Black was a kid, and you hear this story a lot, as the process went, we just kept feeling better and better and better,” John Lynch said after Day 2. “His film speaks for itself. He’s a really hard-running kid, a rocked-up kid. I had an opportunity to visit with him at the Senior Bowl, met with him at the Senior Bowl. You can’t help but love the kid and everything that he stands for. People there just talk about him being one of their favorite kids in the program. A lot of that from the school, the strength coach, the offensive coordinator. And then you turn on the film, and we really feel like he can help us in a big way. We’re really excited to have landed him.”
Expected Role
The 49ers lost Brian Robinson Jr. this offseason, so there was a clear need for another running back on the depth chart. Christian McCaffrey will be the starter, but beyond that, jobs are open. Black will have an opportunity to compete with 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. for the backup role. If he shows out in the offseason, he could force Guerendo and/or Taylor off the roster.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 4 things to know about 49ers third-round draft pick Kaelon Black
Reporting by Mike Masala, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
