Mike Evans has seen enough to buy into the De'Zhaun Stribling buzz.
The San Francisco 49ers rookie wideout has spent the first two weeks of the preseason turning heads, and now he’s picked up a strong endorsement from one of the league’s most accomplished receivers. Stribling, the 33rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has been stacking impressive moments from the jump, showing off speed, strong hands, and the kind of contested-catch ability that has helped quiet any talk of a reach.
Evans, who signed with San Francisco as a free agent last March after a standout run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, offered a direct read on the rookie during the 49ers’ The Build series.
“Strib gets the job done," Evans said. "He’s a rookie, but he’s a pro.
He’s been a pro. The way he practices, the way he prepares, he’s gonna make a lot of plays for us this year."
That’s the kind of praise that carries weight coming from a future Hall of Famer. Evans has spent years around elite talent, and his comments made clear that Stribling’s appeal goes beyond the box score. The work habits, the preparation, the way he carries himself - that’s what stood out.
The numbers from Stribling’s first two preseason games back up the excitement. He caught seven passes for 63 yards in the opener against the Tennessee Titans, then followed that with four receptions for 46 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers. In the process, he became the first player in 20 years to post 11 receptions within the first 20 minutes of back-to-back preseason games, according to NFL strategist and analytics coach Ryan Paganetti.
Yes, it’s still preseason. And yes, those snaps have come against defenses not fully game-planning and featuring mostly B- and C-level defenders.
But that doesn’t make what Stribling has done any less notable. Producing like that in exhibition play is one thing. Doing it while looking polished enough to earn real trust from teammates is another.
There’s still a long way to go for the rookie as he adjusts to the NFL game. But with Evans already in his corner, Stribling has a veteran voice around him who clearly believes the early hype is real.
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