Why the 49ers picked WR De'Zhaun Stribling, and how he fits their team

The San Francisco 49ers made a stunning choice to select Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling to open the second round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Stribling was a projected late Round 2 or Round 3 pick who was ranked 67th overall on Dane Brugler's top 300 players at the Athletic. Daniel Jeremiah had him ranked 62nd overall in his top 150.

It's not a huge surprise the 49ers took a wide receiver with the 33rd overall pick. It is a bit of a shock that they went with Stribling as early as they did when there's a strong chance he'd have been available if they waited until the 58th pick to take him.

So, why were the 49ers so enamored with Stribling?

Because he checks about every box they look for in a wide receiver.

Stribling has NFL size at 6-2, 207 pounds, and he ripped off a 4.36 40-yard dash at this year's combine. He also played a ton of college football. He started 55 of 56 games across his five college seasons. Stribling spent two seasons at Washington State, two at Oklahoma State and then joined Ole Miss for his final year in 2025. In those 56 games he posted consistent production, beginning with 44 catches for 471 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman. Overall he grabbed 216 receptions for 2,964 yards and 23 touchdowns in his college career.

Hitting those size and production marks are nice, and his experience indicates he may be ready to contribute in his rookie season -- a rarity among 49ers rookie WRs. His play style also stands out.

Brugler in The Athletic pointed directly to Stribling's strong hands and willingness to be a blocker, both qualities the 49ers look for in their receivers.

He has dependable hands (1.9 percent drop rate in 2025) and plays strong to the football, but needs to do a better job with his positioning downfield to finish tight-window throws. His smarts and willingness to do the dirty work are coach-pleasing qualities.