49ers fans have mixed feelings on trade down for De’Zhaun Stribling

TL;DR

The 49ers selected De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after trading down. Fan reactions are mixed, with only 10% giving the pick an A grade, while many expressed concerns over other positional needs.

Key points

49ers selected De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
Fan reactions are mixed, with only 10% giving an A grade
49ers traded down to gain more draft assets

San Francisco 49ers2026 NFL Draft

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: WR De'Zhaun Stribling #1 of the Ole Miss Rebels runs up the field during the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday January 1, 2026 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images It’s fair to say that the 49ers’ selection of De’Zhaun Stribling with their top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft has divided fans. San Francisco moved down twice, ultimately going from 27 to 33 before taking Stribling, an enticing height-weight-speed prospect who brings substantial YAC upside to the passing game. Trading down and gaining more assets always looked like the smart play by the 49ers, given they entered the draft with just six picks. Having used further choices on edge rusher Romello Height, following another trade down in the second round, and running back Kaelon Black, the 49ers still have five further selections on day three. As such, they have done a good job of maximizing their capital and, with the picks of Stribling and Height, addressing needs. However, opinion on the Stribling pick is decidedly mixed. Indeed, in responding to the Niners Draft Reacts survey on the pick, just 10 percent of fans had given the selection an A grade at the time of writing. A quarter of respondents gave the pick a B, while 23% graded it as a C. Yet a large section of respondents did not have a high opinion of the choice of Stribling. Twenty-three percent said the pick deserved a D, and 19% gave it an F. Other needs, such as offensive line and safety, may have been viewed as greater priorities by fans. However, this is a franchise that has long since placed an emphasis on touchdown scoring positions above others in the draft. The 49ers will now likely focus on other areas with their day three resources, but there will be a lot of scrutiny on Stribling in his rookie year as he looks to prove he was worthy of the 33rd pick. ****

Q&A

Why did the 49ers trade down in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The 49ers traded down to gain more assets, entering the draft with only six picks, which allowed them to maximize their capital.

What were fans' reactions to the De’Zhaun Stribling pick?

Fan reactions were mixed, with only 10% giving the pick an A grade, while 23% rated it a D or F, indicating dissatisfaction with the choice.

What other positions did fans believe the 49ers should prioritize in the draft?

Many fans felt that the 49ers should have prioritized offensive line and safety over selecting Stribling.