Brock Purdy is already sold on rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, just two days into training camp. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback lauded the rookie’s ability to run routes and learn the details of the offense — so much so that he’s willing to make a bold statement about the second-round pass-catcher from Ole Miss.
“This dude is proving to all of us that he’s reliable and we can trust him,” Purdy said. “But it is Day 2 of camp, we gotta continue to find out, but I got a lot of trust in him right now.”
Purdy echoed that sentiment in a recent radio appearance, calling Stribling “a baller.”
“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,” Purdy said. “He’s a great route runner. He’s smart. He’s learned the playbook really quick, which is awesome. On top of that, you can see his strength when he’s going up against guys and creating separation. … All of us, all the quarterbacks in the room were like, ‘Alright, this guy is gonna be a guy that comes in and plays.'”
Purdy has been complimentary of Stribling dating back to the spring, praising his raw talent and ceiling as a playmaker once he settled into the offense.
San Francisco took Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick in the second round, the franchise’s first selection of the 2026 draft after trading back twice. The move drew some criticism as a reach, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that multiple teams, including a division rival, viewed Stribling as the best receiver in the class.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Stribling ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine and caught 55 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns last season at Ole Miss. He joins a retooled receiver room that includes free-agent additions Mike Evans and Christian Kirk alongside Ricky Pearsall, positioning him as a developmental piece behind the veterans with a path to snaps across all three receiver spots as camp progresses.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers’ rookie has already earned the trust of QB Brock Purdy
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
