The 49ers’ first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft might have been more coveted than fans realize.

San Francisco originally held the No. 27 overall pick but traded back twice, eventually landing on the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall). They selected wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling out of Ole Miss.

Initial reactions included surprise, as some believed Stribling was selected earlier than anticipated. But a new report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter reveals the 49ers weren’t the only team interested in the wideout.

“There were a couple of teams that I spoke to leading up to the draft that felt like that De’Zhaun Stribling was the best wide receiver in the draft,” Schefter shared Monday on an episode of ESPN’s “NFL Live.”

One of those teams was a fierce division rival of the 49ers.

“Supposedly the Los Angeles Rams had eyes on him as well,” Schefter said.

Adam Schefter on De’Zhaun Stribling:

“What’s interesting about this selection is there were some people that wondered if it was too early for De’Zhaun Stribling to go and yet there were a couple of teams that I spoke to leading up to the draft that felt like that De’Zhaun… pic.twitter.com/lj8D9Kfqoe

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) July 21, 2026

Stribling posted solid, yet not eye-popping, numbers in his one and only year at Ole Miss: 52 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns.

Stribling’s strengths as a prospect included his size and athleticism, and he had an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine before the draft.

“I really fell in love with him as a route runner,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said in April after drafting Stribling. “How fast he is, how big he is, how good his hands are, how physical he played with the ball.”

Stribling joins a 49ers wide receiver room full of change and turnover. Both Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne departed the team in NFL free agency after combining for 92 receptions, 1,194 yards and nine touchdowns last season. San Francisco’s wide receiver corps almost certainly will not include Brandon Aiyuk this upcoming season, either.

In addition to drafting Stribling, the 49ers signed veteran wide receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk to replace the outgoing production and provide Brock Purdy some weaponry.

Stribling was born in North Carolina before growing up in and graduating high school from Hawaii. He then spent two season each at Washington State and Oklahoma State before transferring to Ole Miss for his fifth and final season of college football.

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