De’Zhaun Stribling didn’t meet with Kyle Shanahan or John Lynch prior to being drafted

TL;DR

De’Zhaun Stribling, drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, did not meet with head coach Kyle Shanahan or general manager John Lynch before the draft. He noted minimal communication with the team prior to being selected.

Key points

De’Zhaun Stribling was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers.
He had minimal communication with the team before being selected.
Stribling did not meet with head coach Kyle Shanahan or general manager John Lynch.

Mentioned in this story

De’Zhaun StriblingKyle ShanahanJohn Lynch

Mike McGlincheySan Francisco 49ers

Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Mississippi wideout De'Zhaun Stribling (WO35) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images | Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images San Francisco 49ers 2026 second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling is a reminder not to take stock in which prospects meet with the team prior to the draft. Stribling answered questions from the media after his selection and noted there wasn’t much in terms of back and forth with the 49ers, just “a little communication”. That little communication did not include talks with head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch “I haven’t met with them yet,” Stribling said. “First time hearing from them [the phone call to tell him he was being picked].” Normally, when draft season starts, there’s a reminder about weighing official visits and pre-draft meetings. The gist is that it’s not the best way to predict where a pick will go when they enter the NFL, even the 49ers. Well, *especially* the 49ers. Mike McGlinchey was a top-10 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and didn’t have an official visit either. Stribling was picked in the second round with a similar lead-up. It serves as another example that if a draft crush isn’t getting the attention you’d want, meetings are not something to hedge bets on. Stribling wasn’t projected to go when the 49ers took him, and the pick is lukewarm if you check social media. Then again, he might not have been there when the 49ers picked again. He and . This is a guy who can benefit from on the roster.

Q&A

Why didn't De’Zhaun Stribling meet with Kyle Shanahan or John Lynch before the draft?

Stribling stated that he had not met with either Shanahan or Lynch and only had minimal communication with the 49ers prior to the draft.

What round was De’Zhaun Stribling drafted in?

De’Zhaun Stribling was selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

What does De’Zhaun Stribling's draft selection indicate about pre-draft meetings?

Stribling's selection suggests that pre-draft meetings are not always reliable indicators of a player's draft position, as seen with other players like Mike McGlinchey.