Ole Miss football's experience in the 2026 NFL Draft turned out to be ... brief. The Rebels had just two names off the board, one at the beginning of Round Two, and the other at the beginning of Round 7. That's it.
The draft class had a ton of more potential Day 3 players whose value got unclaimed in seven rounds, but later got picked as an UDFA as soon as the NFL Draft concluded.
Now, about the two who were drafted, their draft journey is just as interesting. Both of these two were mastermind picks in their own way. Grading them was equally interesting as their stories.
San Francisco 49ers for De'Zhaun Stribling: A+
With Stribling, the Niners pulled a bombshell that hit the entire league like a ton of bricks. The draft analysts were not happy with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch making a joke out of their projection of Stribling as a mid-Round 3 to Round 5 pick, but Shanahan knows a potential beneficial resorce when he sees one.
The entire league had been sleeping on Stribling as a receiver. Elite speed, vertical threat, plenty of college experience, and moldable, everything a head coach could ask for.
Plus, he is the exact fit, the blueprint of what Shanahan looks for in his receivers. Solid NFL Size at 6'2", 207 pounds, and an elite vertical menace with 4.36 speed, strong hands, and willingness to turn into a blocker. Stribling is a perfect pick for the grit the Niners are building in San Francisco.
Most of the experts still believe Shanahan fumbled with this one, but the coaches know to read the tape and identify the talent that would compliment them the best. For now, both the Niners and Stribling have a chip on their shoulder.
Arizona Cardinals for Jayden Williams: B
Picked at No. 217 overall, the first pick of Round 7, Williams was clearly the pick the Cardinals didn't want to leave out for the UDFA sharks. Surprisingly, Williams was one of the few Rebels who was largely projected to go as an UDFA over players like Harrison Wallace III and Diego Pounds.
But that is exatly the type of moves NFL teams pull for under-the-radar players. He was a 'safe' pick, one that Arizona will count on when the wheels starts coming off of their OT depth, if it does.
His experience at both left and right tackle makes him the ideal 'Day 1 reserve'. In the NFL, if your backup tackle can play both sides of the line at a high level, he is almost a lock for the active roster.
The Cardinals could have easily waited for Williams in the undrafted free agency, but they didn;t play the gamble. The reason behind it, that is the potential they saw in Williams, was not worth the gamble.
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