The 49ers added some youth to coach Kyle Shanahan’s high-powered offense during the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick and running back Kaelon Black with the No. 90 overall pick.
After sharing the running back room with Black during this offseason, fullback Kyle Juszczyk revealed the 24-year-old’s qualities and traits that have impressed the veteran so far.
“I’ve been so impressed by Kaelon Black. Number one, he’s a ball of muscle. This guy is absolutely jacked, and he’s explosive. That’s really what has stood out to me, is how twitchy and explosive he gets to that hole,” Juszczyk told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco at the 2026 American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe.
“He runs so hard, and you can feel that even in practice without pads on, which is unique because I know and I’ve felt it. I’ve been engaged in a block, and him just working through the hole and just being forced to run into that guy that I’m already engaged [with]. And I can feel that force that he was exerting.
“So, I’ve been really impressed with him physically. Mentally as well, he’s just a guy that seems to get it, that works hard, that cares about the classroom. I think there’s a lot of good things ahead of Kaelon, and I think he’s going to help us.”
Alongside Black, Juszczyk also has been amazed by Stribling, who has been praised for both his receiving and blocking abilities.
“He’s big. He’s fast. He’s physical,” Juszczyk detailed. “I think in our second OTA, he was asked to cut off the defensive end on the backside of the ball, and he so willingly and impressively did so. He threw his body in there with no hesitation.
“You say, ‘We’re talking about a second-round receiver. Why do we care about him blocking a defensive end? Let’s hope he catches passes.’ I think he’s going to do a lot of that, but I think in order to play in Kyle’s offense, you have to really be willing to do everything. So for him, with no questions, to step in there with no hesitancy, and to stick his face into a defensive lineman, I was really impressed.”
With veteran stars such as Christian McCaffrey and Mike Evans leading them during their respective rookie seasons, Black and Stribling are in an ideal situation to be able to develop and reach their full potential.
Along with Juszczyk, many 49ers players and coaches have spoken highly of Stribling and Black, which likely will result in a lot of playing time between the two rookies.