Gracen Halton was the 12th defensive tackle in the 2026 NFL draft, but he believed he was the best player at his position in the entire class. After six weeks, he's starting to look like it.
The 49ers rookie defensive tackle told NBC Sports Bay Area dropping to the fourth round hurt him, but it also helped invigorate him during his rookie season.
“It’s crazy for me to say, I really thought that I was the best defensive tackle in that draft,” Halton said. “But, you know, others didn’t. Everything happened for a reason, so I just gave glory to God and put the chip on my shoulder. Everybody that we play against, I know they doubted me. I got to show them who I am.
“I was really hurt on draft day. So I said, have that chip on my shoulder, where it’s like I want to be the best rookie defensive tackle this year. And just build off of it.”
San Francisco didn’t take Halton until the fourth round, at No. 107. Since then, Halton has two sacks, the most of any defensive tackle from his class. His nine solo tackles also lead the group. In total, Halton has 15 combined tackles, five tackles for loss and two QB hits, plus a pass breakup. He also has a forced fumble and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, which came in the 49ers’ 32-29 win at Seattle.
San Francisco is 6-0, and Halton is playing a real role in it. The player who felt overlooked in April is making a case that the draft got it wrong, and he plans to keep making it.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Gracen Halton says he was the draft’s best DT, and now he’s proving it