Why 49ers didn't trade 33rd pick after rumors, instead picking surprise De'Zhaun Stribling originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The San Francisco 49ers traded down to get to pick No. 33 in the 2026 NFL Draft.

That's the first pick of the second round, a popular spot for more trade rumors. It sits there effectively on the clock for about 20 hours.

They knew who they wanted, and they started day two of the draft with their guy: De'Zhaun Stribling.

Stribling is a wide receiver from Ole Miss, who was a bit of a surprise.

The 49ers could potentially use Stribling to replace Brandon Aiyuk

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The 49ers likely sat around Friday taking all the trade calls.

Reports came out midway through Friday that they hadn't yet gotten an offer they liked.

Since the 49ers had already traded down to this point, they likely didn't want to go down anymore.

So they stayed put, and they picked Stribling. He's not someone they were expected to pick, but sometimes it pays off to be bold.

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It's fair to wonder if the 49ers could've extracted even a little more value by moving down again. But by the same token, at some point, you've gotta pick your guys.

That's what the 49ers did, and night two of the draft is underway.

Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors might persist for a while

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Eagles and Cowboys have made a trade like this before

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