The 49ers have a brief-but-busy afternoon ahead of them on Day 3 of the NFL draft. As of Sunday, they hold four selections Saturday, all of which land in the fourth round.
All the frenzy will occur in a short window as they are scheduled to make picks at No. 127, 133, 138 and 139.
This puts them in a position to dominate the last half of the fourth round, a round that has delivered notable players including Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, Brandon Marshall, Jared Allen and Maxx Crosby over the years.
With the 49ers having needs in the secondary, offensive line, wide receiver and defensive end, here are some Day 3 sleepers the 49ers could target:
Genesis Smith, Safety, Arizona
Smith is a rangy 6-foot-2, 202-pounder with high-level instincts and a nose for the ball. Over the last two seasons, he’s come up with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups. The ball-hawk capabilities make him an intriguing Day 3 prospect.
His likely availability in the fourth round is due to his issues as a tackler, where he struggled with a 19.8% miss rate in 2025.
That is concerning, no doubt, but it always felt like it was a technical issue more than talent. Smith has all the tools to become more proficient in that area, and if he’s willing to be coached up and put the work in, the 49ers’ coaching staff can take it from there.
Caden Curry, Edge, Ohio State
Curry started one season at Ohio State, but, boy, did he make the most of it with 66 tackles, including 16.5 behind the line of scrimmage, and 11 sacks.
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It could be a preview of things to come for the 6-3, 257-pound edge rusher, whose best football appears to be ahead.
Assuming Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams successfully return from their season-ending knee injuries, the 49ers can bring a prospect like Curry along slowly in his rookie season. But there is no reason to think he isn’t capable of making an impact as a rotational pass rusher at some point in Year 1.
Austin Barber, Tackle, Florida
Barber is one of just a few true left tackle prospects in the draft, especially at this point in the draft. But he also has the flexibility to move to right tackle. Right off the bat, he’d be a candidate to fill the 49ers’ swing tackle position with the chance to be even more.
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A high school basketball player with upper-level athletic ability, Barber checks off the profile box standing 6-6 and weighing 318 pounds. He also started 27 games in his college career against top-notch SEC competition.
According to Pro Football Focus, Barber graded out at 83.5 (out of 100) with an outstanding 90.0 run-block grade.
Deion Burks, Wide receiver, Michigan
When it comes to this point in the draft, it’s all about traits. In Burks’ case, you simply can’t teach the 4.3 40 time and athleticism he brings.
Did he always put that speed to practical use? No. But the 49ers have capable coaches who can get more out of that trait moving forward. As is, he is a technically sound, intuitive receiver out of the slot, whose best football is ahead.
He’ll be available in the fourth round because he lacks physical measurables, standing just a shade over 5-9. But he has a chance to be a contributing player, and if he gets there, that would mean a big win at this stage of the draft.
