49ers Rookie Watch: When Later Picks Start Demanding Attention

Draft value is not decided in August, but camp can reveal which young players are earning a longer look.

Updated August 23, 2026

De’Zhaun Stribling — Opportunity at Receiver

Stribling has produced enough in preseason work to move from draft-name curiosity into the roster conversation. The important part is not a single catch or practice rep. It is whether he keeps earning work with better quarterbacks and against better defenders, because increased responsibility is one of the clearest signs that a coaching staff trusts a rookie.

Gracen Halton — Interior Disruption

Halton entered the league with the kind of interior explosiveness that can create a role even before a defensive lineman becomes an every-down player. An injury interruption complicates the evaluation, but the early question remains useful: can his quickness give San Francisco another way to attack protections from inside?

Why “Steal” Can Wait

Neither player needs the label yet. A draft steal is proven over seasons, not preseason practices. For now, San Francisco can be encouraged that players selected outside the first round are making the staff consider where they fit.