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    “He has WAY too much power in the building”: Colin Cowherd calls out Kyle Shanahan over 49ers’ draft approach 

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    Kyle Shanahan has been a very influential figure within the San Francisco 49ers since arriving alongside John Lynch in 2017. Together, the two have returned the franchise to success after the dark age that was the post-Jim Harbaugh era, reaching two Super Bowls and visiting the NFC Championship Game twice more.

    The amount of influence he has within his team alone cannot be underestimated, as he has a certain trait he likes in his players — dynamic, just like many of his offensive playmakers. Colin Cowherd, however, considers himself very wary of this.

    The veteran sportscaster said on Friday’s episode of his FS1 show “The Herd”:

    “Kyle Shanahan has got so much aptitude as a coach – he is so respected, half the league is using his schemes – that I think he has WAY too much power in the building with personnel.”

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    He continued:

    “I’m not denying that the Niners have done very well with some late-round picks. … But they have missed and reached on a lot of first-, second-, third-round picks. … I heard a byte yesterday on the Rich Eisen Show, and he was talking about their theory on how they draft. And I’m like, ‘I don’t know. This doesn’t sound like the way I would do it.'”

    ALSO READ: “I was worried”: 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan speaks out on being “nervous” about team’s draft process

    ALSO READ: WATCH: Kyle Shanahan looks extremely disappointed on 49ers drafting WR De’Zhaun Stribling with 33rd pick in Round 2

    Kyle Shanahan defends 49ers’ third-round drafting of Indiana running back Kaelon Black

    Speaking of “reach”, that term has been applied to many of the 49ers‘ selections in the 2026 draft. However, one that particularly irks Kyle Shanahan the most is Indiana running back Kaelon Black, who went off the board with the 90th pick.

    During his appearance on Rich Eisen’s eponymous show on Thursday, he said:

    “We had him as the second-rated back on the board. So, that’s just our evaluation of him. Right or wrong, that’s our evaluation. Then you’ve got to decide where you think he’s going to go. And I think that’s the hardest thing with this league.”

    He continued:

    “We’ll be alright, everyone hating on us and judging it. … To me, when it’s said and done, they all end up about 50-50. But when you sit there, and you truly believe he is going to be a fourth-round pick for the league and you take him at 90, what’s the gamble there?”

    The 49ers’ rookie minicamp will be held on May 8 and 9. OTAs begin on May 27 and will last until June 4. Mandatory minicamp will be on June 9 and 10.