The San Francisco 49ers first selection of the 2026 NFL Draft is already catching headlines.

In his preseason debut, rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling was the game's leading receiver with seven catches for 63 yards in the team's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans at Levi's® Stadium.

The 49ers selected Stribling with the 33rd overall pick this year, and the rookie saw plenty of action against Tennessee's first-team defense. All seven of his receptions came in the first half, and Stribling became the second NFL receiver in the past decade to record seven catches in the first 20 minutes of a preseason game, per NFL analyst Ryan Paganetti. Isaiah McKenzie previously accomplished the feat for the Buffalo Bills in 2021.

One of the most explosive plays of the contest came in the first half, with Stribling making an impressive 32-yard catch down the right sideline from QB Kurtis Rourke. Stribling made the grab over Tennessee's fifth-year veteran cornerback Cor'Dale Flott.

The rookie receiver also showed his sideline awareness on a third-down conversion in the second quarter. With cornerback Marcus Harris in coverage, Stribling caught a short pass near the right sideline, spun away from the defender, and kept both feet inbounds before turning upfield for a first down. Tennessee challenged the ruling, but replay showed Stribling had kept his toes just inside the sideline.

The 11-yard gain moved the ball to the Titans four-yard line and set up a one-yard touchdown run by RB Patrick Taylor Jr. on the following play.

Stribling was pulled from the game with nearly eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, a positive sign that San Francisco's coaching staff were pleased with the rookie's first game performance.

Following the contest, head coach Kyle Shanahan highlighted Stribling's hands, physicality, and ability to line up at multiple positions.

"It seemed good," Shanahan said. "I liked how his hands looked out there and played physical."

"It felt like it was really clicking with the offense," Stribling added. "I'm very grateful that I had the opportunities and the passes that I did. I was just trying to translate that and take all my coaching points so I can be better next week."

The opposing sideline took notice also. Titans head coach Robert Saleh praised the rookie following the preseason game.

"That Stribling kid is going to be pretty good," Saleh said. "He's a big, strong receiver."

After an impressive preseason debut, Stribling will look to build on his performance as he continues his transition to the NFL, with a preseason Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers up next.