The San Francisco 49ers have a host of important players for the 2026 season.
Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa are just some of the most important names. But everybody expects those guys to perform well. Who are three players who are a bit more under-the-radar who need to have big seasons?
Today, let's identify three 49ers who need to break out in 2026.
OL Dominick Puni
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Dominick Puni had a big rookie season for the 49ers in 2024. The guard was drafted in the third round in 2024 and immediately took over the starting right guard spot. Puni has yet to miss a game in his career.
Puni took a slight step back in 2025, though. The guard earned a 69.2 overall Pro Football Focus grade after earning an elite 80.5 grade as a rookie. The 49ers have some question marks at left guard, so they really need Puni to return to form and man the right guard spot.
Plus, Muni is going to be playing for a new contract soon. If the guard has another elite season in 2026, he will be set up for a nice payday the following year.
WR De'Zhaun Stribling
Is it fair to say that a rookie needs to break out? Probably not, but De'Zhaun Stribling is in a position where the 49ers are counting on him in a big way immediately. The rookie could end up being a Day 1 starter after injuries to Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk.
Stribling is already making a big impression on his teammates. Mac Jones has a nickname for him already, and the coaching staff loves his mix of size and speed. Because of injuries, Stribling doesn't really have the luxury of taking a year to get acclimated.
If the Ole Miss product breaks out as a rookie, this offense will be in great shape. Stribling is capable of being a WR1, we just need to see how quickly he can reach that potential.
S Ji'Ayir Brown
Ji'Ayir Brown took a nice step forward in 2025. The Penn State product started 13 games and played in all 17. Brown collected 76 tackles, six pass deflections, two interceptions, and two tackles for loss. The 49ers entered this offseason with Brown as the clear starter at strong safety, and he's delivered so far this summer.
Brown has clearly been the best safety through camp. The problem is, the free safety spot is much more questionable. There's no guarantee who will end up playing next to Brown, so the 49ers definitely need him to hold his own.
Brown has now had two decent seasons in a row, so it's time for the breakout season in 2026. If Brown can become a top 12-or-so safety in the league, this secondary will be in good shape.
