49ers' NFL Draft capsules 2026
A look at the 49ers' 2026 draft class:
Second round, No. 33 overall: WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi, 6-2, 207
Credentials: Productive at three schools, having played at Washington State (2021-22) and Oklahoma State (2023-24) before playing his final season under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. Stribling had 55 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns as a senior and 216 receptions for 2,964 yards and 23 touchdowns for his career. Only injury of note was a broken wrist that cost him 10 games in 2023. Considered tough and competitive.
How he fits: Joins receiving corps including Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall Jr., Christian Kirk, Jordan Watkins and Jason Cowing. Good size and a willing blocker, a valued prerequisite under coach Kyle Shanahan. With Jauan Jennings a free agent who won’t return, Stribling brings a similarly physical player who counts among his comps Puka Nacua and D.K. Metcalf with the added bonus of having a 4.36 time in the 40-yard dash.
Kyle Shanahan says: “Everyone knows how good of a blocker Jauan (Jennings) was and we have a hole without that. But it all has to do with the football and I really fell in love with him as a route runner, how fast he is, how big he is, how good his hands are.”
Quotable: “I’m a very versatile guy. I can do a lot of things and also block at a high level,” — De’Zhaun Stribling on what he brings to the 49ers.
Third round, No. 70 overall: Edge Romello Height, Texas Tech, 6-2, 238
Credentials: Height was the less publicized part of a Texas Tech pass rush that was one of the best in the country opposite David Bailey, the Stanford transfer who was the No. 2 overall pick by the New York Jets. Height has experience in different schemes, having had stops at Auburn, USC and Georgia Tech before playing a sixth year with Texas Tech. Had his most productive season as a senior with nine sacks and 10 tackles for loss. His 62 pressures were No. 2 in the Big-12 behind Bailey and No. 7 in FBS.
How he fits: In theory, he’s just what the doctor ordered. With his size and speed mix, Height won’t be the latest 49ers defensive lineman who is a Mr. Outside and Mr. Inside. He’ll be on the outside, turned loose on the quarterback on passing downs and the 49ers won’t be overly concerned on how he defends the run. Height does, however, have the speed and athleticism to range sideline to sideline to make plays even when not pressuring the quarterback and has the athleticism to be a hybrid edge/linebacker if he picks things up quickly.
John Lynch says: “His senior year at Texas Tech was just a spectacular season. We do a lot of evaluation on just how hard, how relentless a guy plays. And we were all in on that. We moved back from No. 58 and were hanging on, wanting to have Romello there.”
Quotable: “Speed and playing chess. You’ve got to switch up so they don’t get an advantage on you. You’ve got to play with their mind, switch the game up, make them uncomfortable,” Height when asked how to rush the passer against players that may outweigh him by 80 pounds.
Third round, No. 90 overall: RB Kaelon Black, Indiana, 5-9, 211
Credentials: Gained 1,040 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry with 10 touchdowns to help Indiana win the 2025 national championship. Played two seasons at James Madison before transferring to Indiana for his junior and senior years, following coach Frank Cignetti. For his career at both schools,Black had 443 carries for 2,261 yards, a 5.1 yards per carry average and 16 touchdowns.
How he fits: If Kyle Shanahan is serious about lightening the load for Christian McCaffrey, Black excelled in a shared backfield situation with Roland Hemby at Indiana, with both breaking 1,000 yards in 2025. Black is a heavy-legged and able to push the pile for an an additional yard or two in addition to being familiar in an outside zone blocking scheme. His pass receiving skills were under wraps the past two seasons but he did catch 44 passes for six touchdowns in two seasons at James Madison.
John Lynch says: “You can’t help but love the kid and everything he stands for, then you turn on the film and we really feel like he can help us in a big way and we’re excited to have landed him.”
Quotable: “We all know that Christian McCaffrey is a 1,000-1,000 guy and I feel like being under a guy like him is going to be special. I’m truly humbled to be able to work with him, someone I’ve always looked up to even back to his days at Stanford,” — Kaelon Black
More to come as selections are made . . .
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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 4:59 PM.