After trading back twice on Thursday night to move out of the first round entirely, the San Francisco 49ers finally got on the board in the 2026 NFL Draft with the first pick of Round 2 on Friday, taking Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling.
Stribling, who was Dane Brugler’s 67th-ranked player and 11th-ranked wide receiver, had 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns with only one drop for the Rebels in 2025. He spent his first two seasons at Washington State and two more at Oklahoma State before one season at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-2, 207-pounder has the short-area quickness, yards-after-the catch ability and run-blocking toughness that coach Kyle Shanahan craves.
Meanwhile, shortly after taking Stribling, the 49ers traded linebacker Dee Winters to the Dallas Cowboys for pick No. 152. Winters, who is entering the final year of his contract, apparently became expendable after the Niners brought back Dre Greenlaw in free agency.
The 49ers made yet another trade later in Round 2, sending the fifth-round pick from Dallas with No. 58 to the Cleveland Browns for Nos. 70 and 107. After that trade, they selected Texas Tech pass rusher Romello Height at No. 70, addressing one of the team’s biggest needs.
After those four in-draft trades, the 49ers have a total of eight picks in the draft after entering with only six.
Late in Round 3 with the No. 90 pick, the Niners added Indiana running back Kaelon Black, wrapping up their three selections on Friday.
The 49ers got a busy Round 4 started by adding interior pass rush with Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton at No. 107. Twenty picks later, they appeased fans by adding an offensive lineman, Washington tackle Carver Willis.
San Francisco did not make its next pick at No. 133, instead trading it to the Baltimore Ravens for No. 154 and a sixth-round pick in 2027. With their third pick in Round 4 (No. 139), the Niners grabbed another Washington product, cornerback Ephesians Prysock.
With No. 154 from the trade with the Ravens, the 49ers took Louisiana linebacker Jaden Dugger, who measured 6-4 and 242 pounds and ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for grades and analysis of each 49ers pick.
Round 1
No picks
Round 2No. 33 (from Jets): De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole MissHow he fits
Stribling (6-2, 207) blazed to a 4.36 40 time at the combine, and he has the potential to fill the speedster role vacated by Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. But after posting an NFL-low 20 sacks last year (mostly because of a pair of ACL tears), the 49ers should have looked to edge. That’s not a knock on Stribling, who caught 216 passes for 2,964 yards and 23 touchdowns over five different seasons for three different schools. But the 49ers won’t compete for the Super Bowl without a better pass rush. — Scott Dochterman
Dane Brugler’s analysis
With his tall, muscular frame, Stribling quickly accelerates to his top speed and has quickness out of route breaks, even if he didn’t put the most versatile route inventory on film (hitches and go routes accounted for 57 percent of his route frequency in 2025). He has dependable hands (1.9 percent drop rate in 2025) and plays strong to the football, but needs to do a better job with his positioning downfield to finish tight-window throws. His smarts and willingness to do the dirty work are coach-pleasing qualities.
Matt Barrows’ analysisFantasy impact
Stribling would have seen top 30 upside if not for the signing of Mike Evans. As long as Ricky Pearsall stays healthy, Stribling is the No. 3 WR with WR5 value. Even if George Kittle (Achilles) is out to start the season, Stribling is more of an interest for 2027 and beyond. He’s a second-rounder in dynasty, but if the 49ers lost two options to injury — wouldn’t be the first time — Stribling could be a boom/bust WR3 in redraft. — Jake Ciely
Grade: CRound 3No. 70 (from Browns): Romello Height, edge, Texas TechHow he fits
A high-motor pass rusher with great burst and quick feet at 6-3, 239 pounds, Height is a smaller player who wins with his effort and general pass-rush approach. He’ll be an effective player on third down in the NFL. I do have questions about what he can do on first or second down, though. — Nick Baumgardner
Dane Brugler’s analysis
On the hoof, Height looks more like a stack linebacker than edge defender, and his measurables fall below NFL thresholds. But keeping him blocked is easier said than done. His combination of initial quickness, sudden feet and active hands helps him slither around roadblocks and close in a flash. He flashes speed to power to put blockers in reverse, although he needs a runway to create enough force. He will be overwhelmed at times in the run game but does offer the versatility to peel off and cover zones or wheel routes.
Vic Tafur’s analysisGrade: B+No. 90 (from Texans via Dolphins): Kaelon Black, RB, IndianaHow he fits
Not a big fan of this. Black was a very effective one-cut back for Curt Cignetti’s Indiana offense, but he was a system player. He’s almost 25, he’s small and there were better running back options on the board for me, including Mike Washington and Emmett Johnson. Even Navy gadget back Eli Heidenreich intrigues me more than Black. — Baumgardner
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A short, well-built back, Black runs balanced, low to the ground and consistently finds cracks at the line of scrimmage. Instead of gearing down ahead of impending contact, he bursts to accelerate into flat-footed defenders, and his physical run style helps him maximize each touch. Though mashing the gas pedal helps him produce, he could benefit from added patience to eliminate false-stepping cuts.
Matt Barrows’ analysisFantasy impact
Black is notable for two reasons. First, he’s a wobbling Weeble and nice power lead for a backfield. Second, he’s been drafted by the 49ers. Black can contend for backup duty to Christian McCaffrey, which we know can turn into RB2 value if CMC misses time. If Black wins the backup job, he’ll be a redraft late-round pick, and he’s a third-round value in dynasty. — Ciely
Grade: C+Round 4No. 107 (from Browns): Gracen Halton, DT, OklahomaHow he fits
Halton made waves at the combine when he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds at just under 300 pounds. In that way, he’s a typical interior lineman for the 49ers — someone with the quickness to penetrate and disrupt the offensive line. Halton joins an interior group that includes Osa Odighizuwa, Alfred Collins and CJ West. — Barrows
Dane Brugler’s analysis
Halton is a win-early and clean-up-late player. He has outstanding get-off quickness for early disruption when he times the snap. (Alabama center Parker Brailsford called him the toughest player he faced in 2025, because of his initial quickness.) When he doesn’t do that, he switches to an edge-to-edge attacking mindset that leads to clean-up stops or sacks. He plays strong at the point in the run game, although he is inconsistent in shedding blocks.
Halton is sawed off and can be overwhelmed at times, but he moves with big-man twitch and his initial quickness and closing speed can be weaponized. A part-time role that keeps his battery charged will be his best NFL fit.
No. 127: Carver Willis, OT, WashingtonHow he fits
Willis played both right and left tackle at Washington. However, his length — or lack thereof — suggests a move inside in the NFL. Willis weighs just over 300 pounds, and his arms are 32 ½ inches, beneath the threshold for a typical offensive tackle. The 49ers have an opening at left guard, where Connor Colby, Robert Jones, Brett Toth and perhaps Willis will compete for the starting spot. — Barrows
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A fluid blocker, Willis shines on the move, when he can reach or steamroll defenders in the run game. He skillfully surfaces blocks in zone but can also be a lunger at times. He reaches proper depth in his kick slides, but his reaction quickness and hand use must improve on the interior, where everything is a little bit faster.
Willis is at his best sealing and finishing in the run game, but his ability to stay on an NFL field will depend on how he protects his edges and anchors in pass protection. He projects as a backup swing lineman, with the upside to be more.
No. 139 (compensatory): Ephesians Prysock, CB, WashingtonHow he fits
Prysock stands out for his height (6-3) and speed: He ran a 4.45-second 40 in the run-up to the draft. His addition means the 49ers are loaded at cornerback. Behind starters Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and Upton Stout, they have incoming free agents Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones as well as 2023 draft pick Darrell Luter Jr. — Barrows
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A tall, long-limbed athlete, Prysock can carry receivers vertically or close on throws with linear burst. He uses his length to affect the catch point but tends to be handsy through routes and isn’t natural playing the football. He doesn’t consistently trust his technique or speed, which is the root of several of his issues, leaving him unbalanced and tardy to react.
Prysock has rare physical traits that are hard to find at the position, although he is still learning how to maximize those tools in coverage. He will appeal to both press-heavy and zone-based schemes as a developmental dart throw.
Round 5No. 154 (from Ravens): Jaden Dugger, LB, LouisianaHow he fits
Dugger fits the mold for a 49ers linebacker in that he began his college career as a safety before moving to linebacker. His statistics reflect that — four pass defenses and an interception last year at Louisiana. Dugger stands out for his size — nearly 6-5 and 242 pounds. The 49ers had trouble covering tight ends last season. Dugger seems like he could be a solution. — Barrows
Dane Brugler’s analysis
Dugger has remarkable size, with a lean, filled-out build and go-go gadget arm length. His instincts and communication skills as a Mike ‘backer are still maturing, but he adapted quickly to the new position because of his ability to see ball-get ball. When he keeps himself clean, he has sideline range and can open and run. He explodes through his hips as a tackler, although he has to improve the consistency of his details as a flow tackler. He hasn’t yet fully realized how to weaponize his long arms to combat blockers, but he plays with toughness to battle through contact. As a former safety, he looks comfortable dropping in space and has match-man potential against tight ends.
Dugger is an ascending player with a blend of size and reactive athleticism worth developing on the back end of an NFL roster or practice squad.
Nick Baumgardner’s analysis
The 49ers got a super interesting linebacker prospect in Dugger. He was a no-star recruit who has blossomed as a gigantic linebacker with whopping 35-inch arms. Dugger is longer than most of the edge rushers in this class and is absolutely an ascending talent. A bit of a project. But very interesting.
No. 179 (compensatory from Jets)
Round 6
No picks
Round 7
No picks