New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling is embracing his first opportunity in the NFL and already looking ahead to what comes next.
The former Mississippi standout became the 49ers' first selection of the 2026 NFL Draft, coming off the board with the first pick of Day 2—No. 33 overall in the second round.
Stribling was in Hawaii with family and friends when he received the call from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. Despite some communication with other members of the organization during the pre-draft process, it marked his first direct conversation with the 49ers' top decision-makers.
Now officially a member of the team, Stribling is eager to get to work and contribute however he can. He joins a revamped receiving corps that underwent significant turnover this offseason and is particularly excited about the chance to learn from veteran wideout Mike Evans, the 49ers' marquee free-agent addition.
"Yeah, always been a fan of him growing up," Stribling said moments after being drafted, "so I think it's a beautiful thing that I'll be able to share the receiver room with him and learn off of him."
Like many prospects, Stribling admitted the night before the draft was a restless one, filled with anticipation about where he might land. Now that the uncertainty is gone, his focus has shifted entirely to making an impact.
"Yeah, I'm excited to be here, excited to work, and excited to do what I can to help us win," he said.
The 49ers believe they've added a versatile weapon. Stribling was widely regarded as one of the best blocking receivers in this year's class—a trait Shanahan covets in his offense. It places a premium on physicality and run support from its pass-catchers.
"Yeah, so I'm a very versatile guy," Stribling said. "I can do a lot of things and also block at a high level. So, very excited to go out there and contribute in the pass game, but also the run game."
Asked what he knows about his new team, Stribling pointed to the offensive talent already in place and his eagerness to fit in.
"Yeah, so have a great offense, have a lot of playmakers on the offense," he said. "A lot of guys who can do different things, so I'm just very excited to come in, fit in, and just kind of just make my little mark."
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