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49ers Draft De'Zhaun Stribling at No. 33 After Trading Down Twice

New reporting shows San Francisco prioritized De'Zhaun Stribling for a defined role in Kyle Shanahan's offense.

Overview

  • San Francisco slid from No. 27 to 30 to 33, added draft capital, and used the first pick of Round 2 on Ole Miss wideout De'Zhaun Stribling.
  • The team stopped entertaining another move down because it feared losing him, with Albert Breer reporting the Titans at No. 35 were a real possibility.
  • Inside the 49ers’ grading, Stribling earned a rare “gold helmet” label and Kyle Shanahan said he would have been the choice at 27 or 30 if they had stayed put.
  • Their evaluation leaned on a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, late-season and playoff surge, and multi-school tape that showed in-breaking routes and screen-game skill.
  • Public draft boards called the pick a reach, but the 49ers saw a roster fit after losing Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne and adding Mike Evans and Christian Kirk.