The general rule of thumb is that three season must pass before a team's draft class can be properly evaluated.

Following the conclusion of a 2023 season in which they suffered an agonizing Super Bowl defeat, the San Francisco 49ers' 2021 draft can now be assessed properly.

Of course, the headline move of that draft was one the 49ers wish they had never made, but they also did a lot of good work that has been pivotal to their success over the last three years.

So, as the page turns to the final year of their rookie deals for the members of this class, let's grade the 49ers' efforts in the 2021 draft.

Round 1, Pick 3: QB Trey Lance

Grade: F

There's no two ways about it, the decision to trade up to the third overall pick and select Lance represented a huge miss for the 49ers, though it was one quickly negated by their incredible fortune in unearthing a gem with the final pick of the following year's draft in Brock Purdy.

San Francisco was able to recoup a fourth-round pick for Lance after he lost out to Sam Darnold in the fight for the backup job last season, but spending three first-round picks on a quarterback who started only four games for the team is objectively bad business.

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Round 2, Pick 48: G Aaron Banks

Grade: B

There's a strong case to be made that the 49ers would have been better off fortifying the center position for the long term with the selection of Creed Humphrey, who went 63rd overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.

But in Banks they have found a dependable starter who fits the offense well and has formed an impressive partnership with Trent Williams on the left side of the line. Still only 26, Banks has room to get even better over the next few seasons.

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Round 3, Pick 88: RB Trey Sermon

Grade: F

The 49ers traded up for Sermon in the third round, sending two fourth-round selections to the Los Angeles Rams.

But after catching the eye at Ohio State, Sermon played in just nine games as a rookie, scoring one rushing touchdown. He was released ahead of the 2022 season, signifying another ultimately unsuccessful aggressive move at the running back position for Kyle Shanahan.

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Round 3, Pick 102: CB Ambry Thomas

Grade: C

I'm perhaps being a little generous with this grade given Thomas is a candidate to be cut or traded before the 2024 season starts. However, the body of work is acceptable for where Thomas was drafted out of Michigan.

After injuries pressed him into service in the second half of his rookie year, he put some struggles at the catch point behind him to make the interception that sent the 49ers to the playoffs. He took a step back in 2022 but got back on the field regularly in 2023, starting at outside corner on nickel downs and holding up well in the regular season.

Things changed in the playoffs. Thomas was picked on regularly and struggled mightily, eventually leading to him being benched for Super Bowl 58. With the 49ers adding extensively to the cornerback room this offseason, it appears they've finally had enough of his inconsistency.

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Round 5, Pick 155: OT Jaylon Moore

Grade: C

Moore is a difficult player to grade as he hasn't been on the field very often in his career. However, the 49ers have a high opinion of Moore as their swing tackle and, in two starts last season while left tackle Williams was out injured, he gave up only three pressures and no sacks, though San Francisco lost both games.

With increased competition for places at the reserve offensive line spots this year, it will be interesting to see if Moore is able to retain his place as the primary backup.

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Round 5, Pick 172: CB Deommodore Lenoir

Grade: A

This is where the draft starts to get very good for the 49ers.

Lenoir looked on a path for an excellent rookie year only to be benched, perhaps unfairly, after a primetime trial by fire at the hands of Aaron Rodgers.

He bounced back superbly in 2022, however, and has now put together two very strong seasons in which he has consistently displayed his inside-out versatility and ability to not only hold up but thrive playing both zone and man coverage.

Lenoir could be primed for a huge contract next offseason that the 49ers may be unable to afford if he stacks a third successive excellent season. That is maybe the greatest testament to just how good of a pick this was.

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Round 5, Pick 180: S Talanoa Hufanga

Grade: A

Though Hufanga was having his worst season as a coverage defender when a torn ACL ended his 2023 campaign in Week 11, the fact is he still represents a huge success for the 49ers and is one of their biggest draft steals under Shanahan and John Lynch.

An All-Pro in his first full season as a starter, Hufanga has proven himself to be a walking splash play who, when at his best, can impact the game at all three levels. The 49ers will be hoping for a return to that best in 2024. If Hufanga does excel in year four, it could prove to be his last with the 49ers given the attention he could attract on the open market.

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Round 6, Pick 194: RB Elijah Mitchell

Grade: B-

Mitchell appeared a tremendous find when he led the 49ers in rushing as a rookie and, when healthy, he has continually looked like a dependable back and excellent complement to Christian McCaffrey.

The problem is that he has simply been unable to stay healthy, with his lack of durability likely critical in the 49ers' decision to trade up in the fourth round of this year's draft for running back Isaac Guerendo.

It's tough to ding the 49ers too much for his injury troubles. The selection was still sound, but Mitchell's potential has unfortunately never truly been realized.

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Overall Grade: C

It's tough to be too enthusiastic about a draft in which the 49ers whiffed spectacularly on the biggest decision of the Shanahan-Lynch era and also executed an ill-advised trade for a running back.

Still, the 49ers landed three starters from this draft, with Lenoir and Hufanga the crown jewels. This is a draft that, for the Niners, will always be remembered for Lance, but ultimately it is the work they did in the later rounds that has had a larger influence on their fortunes in recent years.

Fred Warner confident new 49ers coordinator won’t have issue that hindered predecessor Steve Wilks

He expects a seamless transition.