Oklahoma fans already knew defensive tackle Gracen Halton would be a steal in the 2026 NFL Draft, especially after slipping to Day 3, and now, San Francisco 49ers fans are already realizing what a deal they got with Halton in the fourth round on Saturday.
The 49ers selected Halton with the 107th overall pick, just a pick after OU teammate and offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu in the fourth round, after many mocks leading up to the draft had Halton going as early as the second round. It was a bargain for the 49ers that they will reap from.
Gracen Halton will prove what Oklahoma fans already know after late selection in NFL Draft
Peter Panacy of Niner Noise, which is FanSided's 49ers site, immediately raved about Halton as the 49ers' pick with an article headlined, "Gracen Halton might be NFL Draft's best late-round steal (and 49ers got him)," making it clear they realize what they got in San Francisco.
"Taken with the No. 107 overall pick, one that fell in Round 4, Halton has plenty of developmental upside that should translate quickly to the NFL ranks," Panacy wrote. "Sure, there are concerns about the defensive tackle's short-ish arms, and one might be a bit worried about his leverage when trying to disengage from blocks.
"That said, there are plenty of intriguing characteristics fans should immediately recognize and San Francisco's coaching staff should have no issue harnessing."
As Panacy also noted, the fact the 49ers swiped Halton late further proves how promising he is. That 49ers front office has recently had a knack for discovering superior talent late in drafts, including quarterback Brock Purdy (7th) and tight end George Kittle (5th).
In what's a rarity in college football today, Halton spent his entire four-year college football career at Oklahoma, totalling 47 games and 10 starts as part of one of the most dominant defensive lines in the country the past two years. Last season, Halton posted 33 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, and forced and recovered a fumble.
Halton's film from the season was impressive, but he stood out even more every time he was in front of scouts during the pre-draft process at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. He astonished at the combine with a 36.5-inch vertical at 6-foot-3 and 293 pounds. It was the third-best vertical mark ever by a defensive tackle at the combine.
As a fourth-round pick, Halton will still have to fight for playing time as a rookie, but after going later than expected, he'll still be much more valuable than what the 49ers got him for.
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