Kaelon Black Headlines Hampton Roads NFL Draft Class as 49ers Take Him in Third Round

The 2026 NFL Draft was a good one for Hampton Roads, with four area athletes hearing their names called over three days in Pittsburgh.

The biggest surprise came when the San Francisco 49ers selected Virginia Beach's Kaelon Black — a Salem High graduate — in the third round with the 90th overall pick. Black, a running back, was taken ahead of several higher-profile names, making him the third running back off the board behind Notre Dame teammates Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.

Some analysts questioned the pick, but the 49ers clearly saw something they liked in Black's combination of speed, vision, and pass-catching ability. At 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, he profiles as a three-down back who can contribute immediately in Kyle Shanahan's zone-running scheme.

Black wasn't the only local product to get drafted. Three other Hampton Roads athletes were selected across the weekend, cementing the region's growing reputation as a football talent pipeline. The area has produced multiple NFL draft picks in recent years, and 2026 continued that trend.

For Black, the journey from Salem High to the 49ers' backfield is a testament to years of work. He'll join a San Francisco team that has been to two of the last five Super Bowls and has a clear need for running back depth after trading away veteran talent this offseason.

**What This Means For You:** If you're a 49ers fan, Black could be a Day 2 steal — his pass-catching ability fits perfectly in Shanahan's offense. If you're from Hampton Roads, keep an eye on the region's growing NFL pipeline; the area keeps producing NFL-caliber talent year after year.