The 49ers thought they were buying time with De’Zhaun Stribling. Instead, the rookie may be forced into the fire before San Francisco ever planned to hand him the keys.
When the Niners took Stribling with the first pick of the second round in the 2026 NFL Draft, plenty of people saw a reach. The Ole Miss receiver had never posted a 1,000-yard season in college, which made him look more like a swing for the upside than a plug-and-play answer.
But at 6'2" and armed with blazing speed, the bet made some sense. San Francisco already had George Kittle, Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall lined up for Brock Purdy, and the idea was simple: let Stribling learn, then let the tools take over.
That plan is already falling apart.
Earlier this week, ESPN’s Nick Wagoner reported that Stribling could end up playing a major role in the offense right away, even though that was never the intention. He sits behind at least three players on ESPN’s depth chart, which is exactly why the 49ers hoped he could spend more time watching veteran route runners and easing into the NFL game.
The problem is that the last two weeks have wrecked that setup.
Ricky Pearsall is undergoing season-ending surgery, which already leaves Purdy short one target before the season even begins. George Kittle also is expected to be less than full strength at the start of the year. Add that to Mike Evans missing multiple practices because of soft-tissue injuries, and the receiver room has been stretched thin in a hurry.
San Francisco has already had to bring in 30-year-old Deebo Samuel on a one-year deal just to help patch things together. Even then, Deebo is also past his prime, which leaves Stribling as the one offensive player on the roster with truly wide-ranging outcomes.
He could bust. He could become a revelation. No one else in that group offers the same size-speed combination, and if his technical game catches up, he has a chance to become exactly the kind of weapon Purdy has needed while dealing with a revolving door at receiver.
For now, though, the reality is simple: the 49ers need Stribling to grow up fast. With injuries already hitting hard, San Francisco may not have the luxury of patience.
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Craigs rsum has always stood out for more than just winning. He was the first NFL player to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season, a milestone only two others have matched since, and former teammates Steve Young and Ronnie Lott were quick to point to the work and commitment behind it. For a team built on iconic names, his enshrinement closes one of the more persistent gaps in the franchises history, even as the celebration of that era keeps expanding. [Read more 🡒]