When the San Francisco 49ers kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft with their first pick at No. 33 overall, they raised more than a few eyebrows across the league. The selection of wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling—widely projected as a late-second or early-third round talent—was immediately met with scrutiny. Add in their third-round pick of running back Kaelon Black at No. 90, another perceived reach, and critics were quick to question the 49ers' draft strategy.

But as the dust settles, a growing chorus of NFL insiders is pushing back on the narrative. The consensus draft board may have undervalued Stribling, but the league's actual evaluation tells a different story. According to NFL insider Albert Breer, Stribling was far more coveted by teams than the public ever realized.

"If you would have asked me before the draft began when I thought the Ole Miss receiver would be drafted, I'd have guessed he'd go 35th to the Titans," Breer wrote. In a fascinating what-if scenario, Breer revealed that his pre-draft mock had the Titans selecting linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 4 overall, which would have positioned Stribling as a prime target for Tennessee at No. 35. Instead, Tennessee went with wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, altering the draft's domino effect.

"That didn't happen, but it's an example of how Stribling was more highly thought of than the public knew," Breer explained. "I got more proof of that prior to Day 2 of the draft, when a few coaches brought him up to me."

Breer also noted that the 49ers likely had Stribling graded in that late-second/early-third round range weeks before the draft. Their final evaluations only strengthened that conviction, leading them to pull the trigger at No. 33 without hesitation. In a league where teams often play their cards close to the vest, the Stribling pick may be less a reach and more a reflection of behind-the-scenes consensus that only now is coming to light.