It's been awfully trendy to criticize San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan for their numerous reaches in the 2026 NFL Draft, particularly the early ones, including using the 33rd overall pick on Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling.
Granted, the fact the Niners traded down twice before selecting Stribling helps alleviate the perceived reach a little bit. But, after Shanahan admitted he was OK with taking the receiver in Round 1, the alleviation feels quite thin.
Stribling was widely viewed as a late second- or early third-round prospect, meaning the use of a high Round 2 pick felt like the massive overreach.
However, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer disagreed, both in terms of what he felt about the receiver leading into the draft and how San Francisco ultimately reacted to Stribling's growing stock value.
The insider's explanation certainly changes the narrative.
Albert Breer defends 49ers' pick of De'Zhaun Stribling in several ways
In his first MMQB column for the month of May, Breer spent a good chunk of time discussing the Stribling pick, and it wasn't hard to figure out he wouldn't be criticizing the selection and when it happened, a fact he made clear right out of the gate.
The 49ers weren’t flying blind with their selection of De’Zhaun Stribling with the first pick in the second round of the draft. Let’s start here: If you would have asked me before the draft began when I thought the Ole Miss receiver would be drafted, I’d have guessed he’d go 35th to the Titans.
At that point, of course, I didn’t know Tennessee would take Carnell Tate fourth; I had them selecting LB Arvell Reese at No. 4 (their decision was between those two). And in an alternate reality in which Reese goes at No. 4, I believe Stribling would’ve been a real consideration at 35.
OK, Breer may have been higher on Stribling than most draft pundits, but that doesn't fully exonerate the 49ers from grabbing him to kick off Round 2.
Yet Breer acknowledged Stribling's draft stock was rising in the weeks counting down to the draft while also reporting how the 49ers originally viewed the receiver where most draft pundits still see him: a late second- or early third-rounder. That was before both Lynch and Shanahan "started drilling down on prospects together," as Breer wrote.
Ultimately, the Niners didn't want to wait too much longer after trading down to No. 33 overall and risk missing out on another team grabbing Stribling, as Breer added:
The Niners fielded calls at that catbird seat of 33, but the prices weren’t quite right and there was enough concern that other teams saw Stribling like they did, so Lynch and Shanahan pushed the button.
The Niners had gotten themselves to a point where they didn’t want to lose Stribling at 33.
Breer also included a statement on how Stribling is an example of a late-rising prospect whose buzz rapidly increases right before the draft, well before the bulk of analysts and pundits begin to come around on him.
Ultimately, though, it's up to San Francisco to change the narrative by turning the rookie receiver into a standout.
Otherwise, the "reach" notions won't go away regardless of what Breer said.
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