The San Francisco 49ers made Enrique Cruz Jr. their final selection in the 2026 NFL draft, using the 179th pick in Round 5 to add another offensive lineman. The move comes after a season in which Cruz Jr. drew attention for his steady play at Kansas and earned All-Big 12 honors. The 49ers used the pick to double-up on the offensive line on draft day.
49ers turn to Enrique Cruz Jr.
San Francisco closed its draft by taking Enrique Cruz Jr. from Kansas University, marking the team’s last pick in the 2026 NFL draft. The selection fits the team’s decision to stay focused on the offensive line with the final choice, and it gives the 49ers another lineman to develop.
Cruz Jr. was listed as a one-year starter at Kansas and a starter for two-and-a-half years overall. He took over at right tackle in offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski’s balanced scheme, where he showed enough promise to put himself on NFL teams’ radar. The context around his rise is straightforward: he entered the 2025 season barely graded by NFL teams, then forced evaluators to take notice with his play.
Enrique Cruz Jr. brings a developmental profile
Enrique Cruz Jr. arrives with a profile built on growth, not polish. He is described as more quick than explosive, with size and length that help him tie up rushers, and he flashes strong hands when he connects. At the same time, the scouting view highlights areas still in progress, including punch timing and overall hand usage.
That mix helps explain why he fits as a Day 3 selection. The notes on him point to a player who is still learning how to use his tools together, but whose 2025 tape created optimism. For a team like the 49ers, that makes Enrique Cruz Jr. a reasonable bet on development rather than an immediate finished product.
From Chicago to Kansas, then to San Francisco
Cruz Jr., whose full name is Enrique Antonio Cruz Jr., was born and raised in Chicago by his mother, Vanessa Garcia. He played multiple sports in high school, including basketball, wrestling and track, before building into a standout football prospect at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois.
He later became a three-star recruit, first committed to Syracuse, and eventually transferred to Kansas for his final season of eligibility after losing his starting job under a new staff in 2024. At Kansas, he earned an NFL Combine invitation and All-Big 12 honors, then added a certificate in project management while graduating from Syracuse with a degree in communications.
What comes next for Enrique Cruz Jr.
For the 49ers, the key question now is how Enrique Cruz Jr. develops once he reaches the next level. His college path shows adaptation across programs and positions, and his 2025 tape gave teams reason to keep watching him closely. The 49ers used their final draft pick on an offensive lineman with room to grow, and Enrique Cruz Jr. now moves into that next stage with San Francisco.
