RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesSANTA CLARA, CA - JUNE 03: Enrique Cruz Jr. #69 and Carver Willis #74 of the San Francisco 49ers run a drill during a team OTA practice at SAP Performance Facility on June 3, 2026 in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
You can watch all of the college film, ask their coaches, and dig into their background, but you’ll never know the kind of prospect you’re getting until they are in your building.
In the case of San Francisco 49ers fifth-round pick Enrique Cruz Jr., he’ll need a strong preseason to make the roster.
Is Enrique Cruz Jr. in jeopardy of being cut?
The next positive information to come out of the 49ers camp about Cruz Jr. will be the first. The 49ers used a fifth-round pick on a player some teams were planning on bringing in as a priority free agent after the draft. Unsurprisingly, Cruz Jr. looked like an undrafted free agent in camp.
Whether it’s a 1-on-1 or a team setting, reports about the 49ers rookie have been consistent. His hand placement is erratic, and he cannot stay in front of anybody.
It’s one thing to lose a rep to Romello Height in a 1-on-1 setting. Height is a speedster, and those drills are built for him. Still, not getting a hand on Height should’ve been a cautionary tale. With that said, Cruz is losing to the likes of players the Niners just signed off the street, like Titus Leo, Ogbo Okoronwko, and Quinton Bell during practice.
The 49ers’ offensive line has supposedly left a lot to be desired in camp. Cruz Jr. isn’t alone. So when you hear about defensive linemen shining, there’s an asterisk attached to that: They’re likely going against a backup or somebody playing out of position.
Ego could save Cruz Jr. if he continues to look lost during the preseason. Then again, the Niners haven’t had an issue moving off draft picks they felt didn’t belong or weren’t their type. Giving up on Cruz Jr. would have to be more about his skill. It would involve work ethic, lack of progression, and what’s available on the market, which brings us to our next point.
All eyes on the waiver wire
On Monday morning, the Patriots released offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, a third-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft. Wallace’s rookie year was derailed by an ankle injury that landed him on the Injured Reserve. He’s played sparingly through two seasons and will look for a fresh start.
If you’re the 49ers, you see the fourth pick of the third round two years ago. He’s 6’5″, 314 pounds with hand size (90th percentile) and broad jump (96th percentile) that you covet.
The 49ers’ depth is so depleted that they are using Austen Pleasants at guard and have a forever camp body in Brandon Parker at tackle. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and in this instance, a player like Wallace could be just what the team needs to upgrade.
During August, there may not be draft “busts” like Wallace available, but there will be plenty of different talents who could make the Niners think twice about Cruz Jr. Or at the very least, bring that player in to give one of the backups, like Cruz Jr., a run for their money.
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