We had to wait a full day, but the 49ers finally got their man as they drafted De'Zhaun Stribling from Ole Miss, as they manage to shore up their receiver room.
The San Francisco 49ers played it smart on Thursday night, trading down twice while obtaining some key assets.
But the wait is over, and the team invested in the wide receiver room with De'Zhaun Stribling selected with the No. 33 pick.
Read More: 49ers 2026 NFL Draft tracker: Full list of picks, roster needs, targets and more
Stribling is a good size at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, and he possesses the sort of blazing breakaway speed head coach Kyle Shanahan likes. The receiver record 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns this season.
San Francisco needed to address receiver early in the draft, despite Mike Evans and Christian Kirk signing via free agency. Both are with the 49ers only for the short term, but Stribling can learn behind Evans while still contributing on the roster.
An able run blocker and a good route runner who can work himself into space, Stribling fits what the Niners want to see in their receivers and will benefit from learning the Shanahan system.
Stribling showed what he can do in the college football playoffs, with 199 yards combined in his two playoff games against Georgia and Miami. The one criticism might be this is a bit early for Stribling, who was considered a prospect later on Day 2, but that's not a big deal with the multiple trade downs.
Overall, Stribling projects as an excellent fit in the Shanahan system who can contribute right away.
San Francisco needed a receiver, and it'll be happy with who it got at No. 33. The 49ers can always address defense later as needed, and it never hurts to give quarterback Brock Purdy weapons to work with.
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