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The University of Mississippi Athletics
NFL DRAFT: What They’re Saying About Ole Miss Draftees
4/27/2026 | Football
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Ole Miss football had multiple draftees for the sixth consecutive season (and 10th in the last 11), as De'Zhaun Stribling (San Francisco 49ers) and Jayden Williams (Arizona Cardinals) heard their names called at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh this past weekend.
Stribling, who went 33rd overall as the first selection in the second round, is the highest drafted wide receiver at Ole Miss since Laquon Treadwell went 23rd overall to the Minnesota Vikings in 2016.
Williams was also the first pick of his round, going No. 217 overall in the seventh round to the Cardinals. Williams is the first Ole Miss offensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft since 2023, when Nick Broeker went to the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round (No. 230 overall), and Williams is the highest taken since Royce Newman went to the Green Bay Packers in 2021 in the fourth round (No. 142 overall).
In Arizona, Williams will join former teammate and 2025 first round selection Walter Nolen. Williams is the first Ole Miss offensive lineman chosen by the Cardinals since taking Bobby Massie in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft (No. 112 overall).
Rebels who earned undrafted rookie free agent contract were: linebacker Tahj Chambers (Indianapolis Colts), defensive back Kapena Gushiken (Philadelphia Eagles), offensive lineman Diego Pounds (Baltimore Ravens), wide receiver Harrison Wallace III (Arizona Cardinals), defensive back Wydett Williams Jr. (Arizona Cardinals) and tight end Dae'Quan Wright (Philadelphia Eagles).
OLE MISS REBELS IN THE 2026 NFL DRAFT
Round 2, Pick 33 – De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers – Recap | Highlights
Round 7, Pick 217 – Jayden Williams, OT, Arizona Cardinals – Recap | Highlights
UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
Tahj Chambers, LB – Indianapolis Colts
Kapena Gushiken, DB – Philadelphia Eagles
Diego Pounds, OL – Baltimore Ravens
Harrison Wallace III, WR – Arizona Cardinals
Wydett Williams Jr., DB – Arizona Cardinals
Dae'Quan Wright, TE – Philadelphia Eagles
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
De'Zhaun Stribling • Round 2, Pick 33 • San Francisco 49ers
Quotes courtesy of 49ers.com
President of Football Operations and General Manager John Lynch: "We've got a guy that plays our brand of football. He's a very skilled young man. We've got a thing called Gold Helmet, which is kind of the highest standard that a 49ers draft choice can get. I think we gave out 16 this year, and he was one of those. That means that he represents everything that you want to be on the field and off the field. We just felt like, at the end of the day, this is a guy that just gained a lot of steam throughout the process. Couldn't be happier to have him with our program."
Jayden Williams • Round 7, Pick 217 • Arizona Cardinals
Quotes courtesy of AZCardinals.com
General Manager Monti Ossenfort: "He's played mainly right tackle, but has also seen quite a few snaps at left tackle in his career. Another guy that has played against good competition in the SEC, but also he's probably blocked as good of guys in practice with the defensive line they had coming out of there last year. He's [seen] good competition there throughout his whole career."
Stribling, who went 33rd overall as the first selection in the second round, is the highest drafted wide receiver at Ole Miss since Laquon Treadwell went 23rd overall to the Minnesota Vikings in 2016.
Built for the big stage 😤@Dezhaunthegreat x @49ers #HottyToddy x #FTTB pic.twitter.com/K5ck7OWUMB
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 24, 2026
Andy Lee announces our newest Niner 🙌
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 24, 2026
See you in The Bay soon, De'Zhaun Stribling!
📺: NFL Network April 23-25 pic.twitter.com/VR7pSW3mf3
Checkin' in from Paradise 🌴 pic.twitter.com/hsPA87U7JL
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 24, 2026
Stribling is the eighth Rebel receiver since 2010 to go in the first two rounds alongside Treadwell, Dexter McCluster (2010, 36th overall, Kansas City Chiefs), AJ Brown (2019, 51st overall, Tennessee Titans), DK Metcalf (2019, 64th overall, Seattle Seahawks), Elijah Moore (2021, 34th overall, New York Jets), Jonathan Mingo (2023, 39th overall, Carolina Panthers) and Tre Harris (2025, 55th overall, Los Angeles Chargers).De'Zhaun taking it all in 🥹 pic.twitter.com/bIr54ROpJ9
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 25, 2026
Williams was also the first pick of his round, going No. 217 overall in the seventh round to the Cardinals. Williams is the first Ole Miss offensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft since 2023, when Nick Broeker went to the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round (No. 230 overall), and Williams is the highest taken since Royce Newman went to the Green Bay Packers in 2021 in the fourth round (No. 142 overall).
Headed to the desert 🏜️ #HottyToddy x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/NUDdhWi3DZ
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 25, 2026
A man that can do it all#BirdGang pic.twitter.com/YebXOADhmt
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 25, 2026
In Arizona, Williams will join former teammate and 2025 first round selection Walter Nolen. Williams is the first Ole Miss offensive lineman chosen by the Cardinals since taking Bobby Massie in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft (No. 112 overall).
Rebels who earned undrafted rookie free agent contract were: linebacker Tahj Chambers (Indianapolis Colts), defensive back Kapena Gushiken (Philadelphia Eagles), offensive lineman Diego Pounds (Baltimore Ravens), wide receiver Harrison Wallace III (Arizona Cardinals), defensive back Wydett Williams Jr. (Arizona Cardinals) and tight end Dae'Quan Wright (Philadelphia Eagles).
OLE MISS REBELS IN THE 2026 NFL DRAFT
Round 2, Pick 33 – De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers – Recap | Highlights
Round 7, Pick 217 – Jayden Williams, OT, Arizona Cardinals – Recap | Highlights
UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
Tahj Chambers, LB – Indianapolis Colts
Kapena Gushiken, DB – Philadelphia Eagles
Diego Pounds, OL – Baltimore Ravens
Harrison Wallace III, WR – Arizona Cardinals
Wydett Williams Jr., DB – Arizona Cardinals
Dae'Quan Wright, TE – Philadelphia Eagles
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
De'Zhaun Stribling • Round 2, Pick 33 • San Francisco 49ers
Quotes courtesy of 49ers.com
President of Football Operations and General Manager John Lynch: "We've got a guy that plays our brand of football. He's a very skilled young man. We've got a thing called Gold Helmet, which is kind of the highest standard that a 49ers draft choice can get. I think we gave out 16 this year, and he was one of those. That means that he represents everything that you want to be on the field and off the field. We just felt like, at the end of the day, this is a guy that just gained a lot of steam throughout the process. Couldn't be happier to have him with our program."
Jayden Williams • Round 7, Pick 217 • Arizona Cardinals
Quotes courtesy of AZCardinals.com
General Manager Monti Ossenfort: "He's played mainly right tackle, but has also seen quite a few snaps at left tackle in his career. Another guy that has played against good competition in the SEC, but also he's probably blocked as good of guys in practice with the defensive line they had coming out of there last year. He's [seen] good competition there throughout his whole career."
Players Mentioned
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