De'Zhaun Stribling isn't the San Francisco 49ers' top receiver on paper, but ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano thinks the rookie could still finish 2026 as the most productive first-year pass catcher in the league.
In his annual 32-team surprise predictions column, Graziano singled out San Francisco's second-round pick as a breakout candidate, pointing to camp buzz
and a crowded but banged-up receiver room.The first pick of the second round of this year's draft, Stribling has a chance to make an impact as a rookie. Left tackle Trent Williams told me he expects big things from Stribling right away — that he reminds him of former 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings in terms of the variety of routes he can run but with more speed. Brock Purdy could look Stribling's
way early and often, and he could be a high-volume pass catcher.
Stribling arrived in Santa Clara as the No. 33 overall pick — the first selection of the second round, after the 49ers traded down twice out of the first round in April's draft. His college production was steady rather than flashy: 52-882-6 at Oklahoma State in 2024 and 55-811-6 at Ole Miss in 2025, with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine that hinted at more upside than the box score suggested.
That upside has shown up early. Stribling posted 11 receptions for 109 yards across his first two preseason games, drawing praise from evaluators who tracked him in college. NFL analyst Greg Cosell said the rookie has looked "exactly" like the player he studied on tape at both Oklahoma State and Ole Miss.
Although veterans Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel likely sit ahead of Stribling on the 49ers' depth chart, all of them come with their own flaws that could open doors for Stribling to make a quick impact. And in a draft class that doesn't have a clear frontrunner at the receiver position, Stribling has another opportunity to showcase why the 49ers made the right choice in taking him over others at the top of the second round.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL insider thinks 49ers draft pick will lead rookies in 1 major stat
