The San Francisco 49ers certainly stirred the pot with their selection of De’Zhaun Stribling, the former Ole Miss wide receiver, in the 2026 NFL Draft. Snagging him at the top of the second round raised quite a few eyebrows, but there’s a method to the madness, as Connor Orr from Sports Illustrated seems to suggest.

The buzz surrounding Stribling’s move to the Bay Area has been nothing short of a whirlwind. With head coach Kyle Shanahan stepping up to defend this bold choice, it’s clear the team stands by their decision. And if Connor Orr’s predictions for the upcoming season hold any weight, he’s not in the camp that needs convincing.

Orr has boldly predicted that Stribling will outperform at least one of the wide receivers taken in the first round. He stated, “Stribling, who went 33rd to San Francisco, will finish higher than at least one first-round pick in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns.” This could be the vindication the 49ers are looking for.

The question remains whether Orr is simply more optimistic about Stribling’s potential, or perhaps less impressed with first-rounders like Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, KC Concepcion, and Omar Cooper Jr. Either way, the 49ers could use this as a much-needed boost, even if the external chatter doesn’t seem to bother them.

Critics have used the timing of Stribling’s selection as a point of contention against general manager John Lynch. However, the 23-year-old could quickly quiet the naysayers by making a significant impact on a team with its eyes set on the Super Bowl.

If Stribling becomes a key player for the playoff-bound 49ers, as Orr envisions, the narrative of a “reach” will quickly dissipate. Nobody will argue that Lynch and his team made a poor choice if Stribling proves to be a productive, winning player.

Stribling’s late surge during the evaluation process might have just been the 49ers being ahead of the curve. With his impressive size and speed-clocking a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds-he’s built to be a game-changer. His prowess in blocking adds another layer to his potential impact, allowing him to contribute in multiple facets of the game.

In 2025, among 498 collegiate wideouts who saw at least 25 targets, Stribling stood out in several key categories. His numbers tell the story of a player ready to make waves in the NFL.