Kaelon Black

The 49ers were evidently quite high on Black, with the consensus UDFA type reportedly ranked as the RB2 in the class by Kyle Shanahan. Selecting Black in the third round certainly makes sense if he's the second-best running back in the class, but the evidence for that is sorely lacking. Black (5-9, 211) logged a solid 4.46-second pro day 40 and demonstrates high motor running between the tackles, but he'll turn 25 in October and didn't produce by conventional NFL standards at Indiana or James Madison. Black didn't start until his fourth season at James Madison, and in his fifth season -- his first at Indiana -- Black ran behind non-prospects Justice Ellison and Ty'Son Lawton. Backs with Black's production profile through five years quite simply never make it in the NFL. Black's sixth season was a major success, on the other hand, even though Black ran behind Roman Hemby. Hemby was the team's preferred passing-down back of the two, while Black was more explosive than Hemby as a rushing specialist. Black will compete with 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James for the RB2 role behind Christian McCaffrey. Read Past Outlooks