John Breech of CBS Sports has made his projections for the 2026 NFL season, and one of his "bold predictions" is that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling will win the coveted NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
While some analysts initially criticized the selection of Stribling as a reach, the rookie has stood out throughout training camp and the preseason.
The 49ers may have ultimately made a wise decision with the No. 33 overall pick, adding a player who appears capable of contributing immediately in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.
"Based on what I know, Stribling IS a real NFL player, and I fully expect the rookie receiver to put up some big numbers in San Francisco this year," Breech wrote. "The biggest advantage for Stribling is that not only does he play in a 49ers offense that produces a lot of yardage, but he actually might end up being the healthiest pass-catcher on the roster when the season starts."
Breech points to several factors that could create opportunities for Stribling. Tight end George Kittle is returning from an Achilles injury, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall underwent season-ending surgery, and veteran wideout Mike Evans is coming off an injury-plagued 2025 campaign and dealt with a couple of minor setbacks during training camp.
The 49ers also added Deebo Samuel back to the receiving corps, but Breech believes the veteran wideout is in the back end of his career.
"He's going to be a great player, and he's going to help us out a lot this year," Evans said of Stribling this week.
All of those factors could lead to a significant workload for Stribling during his rookie season.
"The Offensive Rookie of the Year award has gone to either a receiver or a quarterback in each of the past FIVE straight years, and I don't think we're going to see a QB win the award this year, so I'm rolling with a receiver," Breech added.
However, Breech isn't nearly as optimistic about the 49ers' chances of making the playoffs.
He predicts San Francisco will finish the 2026 season with a 10-7 record, which would put the team in third place in the NFC West and leave the 49ers outside the playoff picture.
Of course, predictions are just predictions. Breech also has the Cincinnati Bengals defeating the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium in Super Bowl LXI, so some 49ers fans may have a hard time taking his projections too seriously.
Mentioned in this article: Mike Evans, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, Deebo Samuel, De'Zhaun Stribling
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