The San Francisco 49ers have just wrapped up the 2026 NFL Draft, but already, whispers are circulating about the team's decision-making—and one name in particular is sparking debate: Isaac Guerendo.

The 49ers selected Guerendo with the 129th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, hoping he'd develop into a reliable backup. As a rookie, he showed flashes, starting three games and appearing in 16, racking up 420 yards and four touchdowns on 84 carries. But last season? He played in 14 games and didn't get a single carry. That's a steep drop-off for a player the front office once saw as part of the future.

Now, according to The Athletic's 49ers insider Vic Tafur, Guerendo "seems like he is buried (on the depth chart) and will be looking for a new team." Tafur stops short of predicting a trade, but it's hard to ignore the writing on the wall. With Christian McCaffrey locked in as the workhorse and a crowded backfield that includes Jordan James, rookie Black, Patrick Taylor Jr., and Sincere McCormick, Guerendo's path to touches is narrowing fast.

The 49ers are hunting for a complementary back who can give McCaffrey a breather—and it's looking like they're ready to admit Guerendo isn't that guy. A trade could offer both sides a fresh start, but it also raises a bigger question: is this a one-off miss, or a sign of deeper issues in the team's drafting process?

Let's be fair—trading a player buried in a talent-rich position room doesn't automatically mean a draft pick was a failure. Sometimes, circumstances shift. Injuries, scheme changes, or the emergence of another player can all make a once-promising pick expendable. And if the 49ers can recoup value in a trade, that's not a total loss.

But here's the thing: you draft players to keep them. You draft them to develop, to contribute, to help you win at a high level. When a fourth-round pick is already on the trade block just two years later, it's fair to wonder if the front office is reaching—or if their developmental track needs a serious reboot.

Only time will tell if the 2026 class proves the doubters wrong. But for now, the Guerendo situation is a spotlight on the 49ers' recent drafting struggles—and a reminder that in the NFL, every pick carries weight.