San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is already making a strong impression during training camp, drawing praise from quarterback Brock Purdy for his reliability and skill.
Multiple teams had Stribling pegged as a top wide receiver prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the Los Angeles Rams reportedly targeting him. However, the 49ers ultimately selected the Ole Miss product with the 33rd overall pick.
“This dude has proven to all of us that he’s reliable and we can trust him,” Purdy said of Stribling. “I got a lot of trust in him right now. Dude is a baller and I mean that. It’s hard to say that for a rookie right off the jump, but just seeing him run routes, going up against defenders in OTAs and in camp yesterday. He’s a great route runner. He’s smart. He’s learned the playbook really quick—which is awesome.”
Purdy also highlighted Stribling’s physicality, noting his ability to create separation from defenders. "On top of that, you can see his strength when he’s going up against guys and creating separation, I’m like ‘Alright, this guy is a strong receiver’, so I’m excited to see what he does," Purdy added. "All of us, all the quarterbacks in the room were like ‘Alright, this guy is gonna be a guy that comes in and plays.’"
In the initial days of camp, Stribling has reportedly made every catch. He demonstrated his potential on Monday with a 70-plus-yard touchdown reception from Mac Jones on a crossing route. Stribling has been working with both the first and second units during camp.
Stribling entered training camp as the fourth receiver on the 49ers' depth chart, behind offseason acquisitions Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, and fellow rookie Ricky Pearsall. The potential for increased opportunities arose when Kirk sustained a calf strain on Sunday, leaving camp.
While Purdy acknowledged that it is still early in the evaluation process, the initial signs are positive for Stribling. His performance will be more thoroughly assessed once the team begins full-contact practices with pads.
With the 49ers competing in a challenging division alongside the Super Bowl champion Seahawks and the current Super Bowl favorite Rams, Stribling's continued development could be crucial for the team's offensive capabilities in the upcoming season.