The San Francisco 49ers finally got on the board in the 2026 NFL Draft today, grabbing Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick. Former 49ers punter Andy Lee handled the announcement onstage at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, unveiling a big-bodied burner for a receiver room the team has been quietly remodeling all spring. After a flurry of trades on the first night, the move made it clear the 49ers were ready to mine Day 2 for impact players.
San Francisco entered Day 2 after trading down twice in Round 1, walking away from the opening night with extra draft capital and a pocket full of options. The club now holds seven selections, including Nos. 33, 58 and 90, according to 49ers.com. That cushion gave GM John Lynch and the front office the freedom to pounce on a receiver at the top of the second round.
Stribling brings a blend of size and straight-line speed that checks a lot of modern‑NFL boxes. He is listed at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds and clocked a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Stribling totaled 107 catches for 1,693 yards and 12 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons. Lynch, keeping specifics close to the vest, said, "We have a good idea where we’re going, and looking forward to that." For a team that plainly wanted more juice on the perimeter, the profile made Stribling an easy Day 2 swing.
How He Fits
Stribling projects as a boundary receiver who can stretch the field and still battle for contested balls, a skill set that complements the veteran pieces the 49ers added earlier this offseason. Ole Miss' game notes and cumulative stats have him logging stops at Washington State and Oklahoma State before finishing strong in Oxford, a path that gave him experience in multiple offensive systems. Those same notes, along with scouting reports from Ole Miss game notes and a breakdown in Sports Illustrated, highlight his physical style and ability to pick up yards after contact.
On paper, that makes Stribling a useful chess piece for Kyle Shanahan, someone who can run vertically, clear space underneath and still hold his own when the ball is in the air. The real test comes when those traits are dropped into Shanahan's timing-heavy scheme and asked to sync up with NFL windows and speed.
What's Next
San Francisco still has multiple Day 2 and Day 3 picks to shore up depth and special teams, leaving room to double down at receiver or swing back toward defense and complementary roles. Coaches will get their first real look at how Stribling's contested-catch game and straight-line speed translate during rookie minicamp and OTAs later this spring, where timing, route detail and versatility tend to separate instant contributors from long-term projects.
For a full look at the 49ers' remaining draft ammunition and how those earlier trades reshaped the board, check out the team's draft inventory on 49ers.com.
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