The San Francisco 49ers took a pass rusher with the sixth pick of the third round in the 2026 NFL Draft. Romello Height enters the pros with one of the most impressive first steps in the draft class.
Height doesn’t just cover ground on his first step. His ability to get off the ball, tied with a first-round motor, should help the 49ers harass quarterbacks in a way they did a few years ago.
Height was one of the most productive pass rushers of this draft class. He finished fourth overall in pressure
percentage and third in quick pressure percentage — telling us that there isn’t much fluff in his numbers.
Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek came off as somebody infatuated with what he’s seen this spring from Height. Kocurek spoke to reporters on Tuesday about Height’s traits:
“Just the speed, athleticism, his explosion on get-off, and then, just natural pass rush ability. It’s been really impressive so far. We’re not in pads or anything yet, so that’ll be the determining factor for the whole thing, but just the way he moves.”
One of the biggest differences between Height and the rushers on the roster last season is those movement skills Kocurek is referring to. New defensive coordinator Raheem Morris can run different kinds of games with the defensive line while deploying Height from every gap, and even as an off-ball linebacker getting a running start.
Kocurek continued:
“Then, at the end of the day, we drafted him to rush the passer, and he’s really excelled at that. His get-off has been really, really good, being able to put tackles behind the eight ball with his get-off and making them set differently and protect differently and getting on them quickly.”
When we talked about the Myles Garrett trade, his get-off was the best in the league. Right behind Garrett last season was Nick Bosa. The only pass rusher on the 49ers with a get-off time in the top half of the league at the position was Bryce Huff, who retired. The 49ers knew they needed to replicate Huff’s speed element, making Height an ideal 1-for-1 trade-off.
Kocurek finished with, “Just the work ethic that he brings,” when talking about what else he’s seen from Height. “He works really, really hard. The energy that he plays with. Just the whole package. Excited about him.”
Having big bodies on early downs and using Height as a designated pass rusher will help Height gain confidence as a rookie. He’ll get to focus on what he was drafted for, instead of worrying about holding up on a down-to-down basis against the run.
