The San Francisco 49ers were criticized heavily after picking wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with their first selection of the 2026 NFL Draft. The move was seen as an unnecessary reach by general manager John Lynch for a player with a limited skill set. ESPN's Seth Walder dubbed the selection, "bad process."
Stribling has a chance to prove his critics wrong in 2026. The rookie wideout is set to play an important role in Kyle Shanahan's offense, potentially filling the gap left by Jauan Jennings.
The Niners haven't even started training camp yet, and Stribling is already gathering Offensive Rookie of the Year buzz. If the young receiver delivers on San Francisco's expectations this season, Lynch will end up looking smarter than ever for making the risky draft pick.
49ers WR De'Zhaun Stribling is an early Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate
Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports recently listed four players he believes can beat the odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2026. Along with Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman, Philadelphia Eagles receiver Makai Lemon, and Washington Commanders receiver Antonio Williams, Stribling made the cut.
It's easy to see the path to a major role for Stribling. While Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, and Christian Kirk are all ahead of the rookie on the depth chart, they have all struggled to stay on the field in recent years. If one starter goes down, Stribling will suddenly become an important piece of the offense.
Dajani sees the second-round pick fitting into the Jennings role for Shanahan. He said, "Jennings was the most reliable wide receiver Shanahan had over the past couple of seasons, and Stribling has the potential to wear the hat he did in this scheme."
Stribling is a fast wideout with a large frame and solid ball skills. His collegiate production left something to be desired, but this is the kind of player who can make waves in the NFL when put in favorable positions.
Not only does the rookie excel as a pass catcher, but he's also a willing and capable blocker. If he can make an impact in the running game, he'll earn enough trust from his coaching staff to get on the field early in the year.
It's too early to call Stribling a true candidate for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He may not even crack the starting lineup in his first year. But the young wideout is already making Lynch and the 49ers look smart for drafting him.
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