49ers’ De’Zhaun Stribling emerging as rookie difference-maker

There was plenty of scrutiny when the San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Many analysts had other wide receivers higher on their draft boards, labeling San Francisco's selection of Stribling as a "reach."

Still, Stribling was viewed as an intriguing prospect. At first glance, his college statistics didn't jump off the page—he recorded 811 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2025 with Ole Miss, along with similar numbers the previous season at Oklahoma State. However, his combination of size and speed made it impossible to overlook his potential.

Stribling has done everything possible to prove his doubters wrong during training camp, showcasing a knack for plucking the football out of the air and quickly becoming one of the quarterbacks' most reliable targets.

Then, in his NFL debut Thursday night in the preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, Stribling further impressed, hauling in seven passes for a game-high 63 receiving yards on eight targets. He finished as Pro Football Focus' highest-graded pass catcher in the game (80.9), including tight ends and running backs.

The initial expectation was that Stribling would spend his rookie season contributing in a limited role while developing into a potential long-term starter. However, with Ricky Pearsall, who was initially expected to start across from Mike Evans, out for the season, an opportunity has opened up—and Stribling looks ready to answer the call.

"I felt great out there," Stribling told reporters after Thursday's game. "It felt like I was really clicking with the offense, hearing in the huddle, lining up on the field. So I'm very grateful I had the opportunities and the passes that I did."

Stribling has already shown that the NFL stage isn't too big for him. If he continues to impress during training camp and the remainder of the preseason, he could accelerate his development and take on a larger role in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense—something that has historically been difficult for rookie receivers to accomplish.

Shanahan was asked about Stribling's performance against the Titans.

"It seemed good," Shanahan said. "I mean, we'll see when we watch the film. I thought he struggled a little bit on that first drive, but I think he got three drives after that, and seemed like he executed all the stuff that went to him. And I liked how his hands looked out there, and he played physical."

Quarterback Brock Purdy should have a much-improved receiving corps at his disposal this season, with Evans and Christian Kirk joining the team in March and Deebo Samuel returning to San Francisco during training camp.

For Stribling, though, the opportunity could be even greater than initially anticipated. His strong training camp and impressive NFL debut suggest the rookie is ready for meaningful snaps. If he continues to progress, the 49ers may get another difference-maker much earlier than expected.