The San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling from Ole Miss with the 33rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team, which added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency, sought a long-term solution at the position. Stribling brings size, speed, and blocking ability to the roster.
The 49ers waited through early trade discussions before making their first selection of the draft at pick 33. National reporters noted activity around the team, but no deal materialized, indicating this as their targeted spot for Stribling, as reported by Niners Nation on Friday night. Stribling, who turns 24 in December, stands over 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds with 10-inch hands. He ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and posted a broad jump in the 82nd percentile at the combine. Last season at Ole Miss, Stribling caught 74 percent of his targets for 811 yards and six touchdowns, with most receptions under 10 yards but showing intermediate-range talent by winning four of six contested catches and forcing two missed tackles. His physical profile matches just four historical wide receivers in NFL IQ’s dataset, including Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Christian Watson. Stribling stands out as a blocker, imposing his will consistently, which fits the Shanahan offense. Analysts compare him to a more physical version of Watson, capable of dirty work like blocking on screens while offering big-play potential.
