Did the 49ers spend the 33rd pick for a wideout to throw blocks downfield?
The 49ers laid a pricy bet that a rookie wideout can help fix their run game woes. Here's why it might -- and might not -- work.
The San Francisco 49ers had a strange 2026 NFL Draft . It all started with their first pick . With Jauan Jennings departing in free agency (he'd later sign with the Minnesota Vikings ) and Brandon Aiyuk plainly on his way out, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch opted to restock the receiving corps.
Trades back from the first round netted the 33rd overall pick. When Lynch couldn't find a suitable deal from there in an uneven draft class, he settled on Ole Miss deep threat De'Zhaun Stribling. It was a peculiar choice.
Stribling had late second or third-round buzz coming into the draft. More highly regarded wideouts like Denzel Boston, Germie Bernard and Antonio Williams were still available. Had Lynch reached for a player he liked but could have been available later?
To be sure, Stribling was a solid collegiate contributor and downfield burner. He was also inconsistent from week-to-week and showcased average separation skills. While later picks would make Stribling's selection seem predictable by comparison -- Lynch and Shahahan had a weird one, time will tell if it was brilliant or insane -- the first pick of the second round didn't make a ton of sense.