The San Francisco 49ers have a long way to go to convince the rest of the NFL world their 2026 draft class wasn't an utter flop.
In light of all the criticism and conjecture, the cast of eight draftees is now tasked with proving the Niners were justified in their selections; many prospects conceived as reaches, particulalry in the early rounds.
One of the first chances to do so will be at rookie minicamp, kicking off on May 8 outside Levi's Stadium, where first-year pros and a handful of other invitees will partake in drills and exercises.
True, these are padless contests where contact isn't allowed, so it's not exactly the best way to gauge information.
However, based on what we know about these practices and the nature of San Francisco's draft class in general, it's not too hard to conclude which rookies will stand out the most.
Hopefully for all the right reasons.
No. 1: WR De'Zhaun Stribling
One of the several "reaches" the 49ers had, wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling will likely be given every opportunity to silence the doubters after he was selected 33rd overall when most others felt he'd be available way later.
Fortunately for him, minicamp offers nearly every opportunity to show off his skill set. Without contact, defensive backs won't have the luxury of bumping him off his route early, meaning that 4.36 40-yard time displayed at the NFL Combine will be something to watch.
Likely faster than any first- or second-year defensive back will be at covering him, Stribling should receive plenty of hype over the event.
And it wouldn't be surprising to see the Niners pump that up to try proving he was the right pick.
No. 2: RB Kaelon Black
Stribling was arguably a reach, but third-round running back Kaelon Black was definitely one, given nearly every analysis had him squarely as a day-three pick, no earlier.
Granted, Black's best attribute is running physical and hard, and he won't be able to push through would-be tackles during practice when contact isn't allowed. So, he'll have to rely on agility, picking his holes and relying on cuts—not his best attributes.
Still, as is the case with San Francisco's top pick, Black will be given plenty of chances to justify the Round 3 selection, even if it means the 49ers have to exaggerate his efforts during minicamp quite a bit.
No. 3: LB Jaden Dugger
Athleticism is the name of the game during rookie minicamp, meaning the more athletic a first-year pro is, the better off he'll be at showing up.
Defensive players are at a great disadvantage during minicamps and organized team activities, given the non-contact rules, but they can still show uoff whatever physical attributes and abilities they have. Technique matters, too, and that's where day-three linebacker Jaden Dugger comes into play.
Theoretically a walk-down linebacker in coordinator Raheem Morris' five-man-front defense, Dugger can show off his prior experience as a safety, as well as his massive wingspan, without having to rely on getting physical with the offense.
A hybrid-type player in every sense, Dugger might stand out as one of those offseason wonders until the pads come on, and minicamp could easily the first reveal of such.
Add us as a preferred source on Google