Mel Kiper Jr. critical of De’Zhaun Stribling pick on Day 2 of NFL Draft
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is headed to San Francisco after being selected with the No. 33 pick by the 49ers in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. isn’t a fan of the Day 2 pick for the 49ers.
Kiper Jr. is impressed with Stribling’s speed and quickness but believes six other wide receivers were better suited for the 49ers with that pick.
I had mixed feelings on the 49ers kicking off Day 2 with Stribling. He has 4.36 speed and shows burst out of his breaks, and the pick hit on a need. But he was No. 73 on my board and the No. 12 wideout. Denzel Boston? Germie Bernard? Antonio Williams? I had a half-dozen receivers who made more sense in that spot.
Kiper Jr. added that Stribling could’ve went a long span without getting picked if the 49ers didn’t tab him. Kiper Jr. also thinks the 49ers should’ve instead pursued an edge rusher.
For the next 20-30 picks teams were taking guys ranked ahead of him. And although there wasn’t an offensive tackle in range at No. 33, there were edge rushers, which I clocked as a bigger need than receiver.
Stribling, the nephew of WWE Hall of Famer Don “The Rock” Muraco, caught 55 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns last season in his lone year at Ole Miss.
Stribling played two years apiece at Washington State and Oklahoma State. Coming out of high school, Stribling was considered as the No. 13 prospect from Hawaii according to 247Sports.
