When the San Francisco 49ers made Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling the No. 33 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, external reaction was mixed. Critics questioned whether taking the 6-foot-2 target at the top of the second round was a reach.
Inside the 49ers’ locker room, however, the early consensus could not be clearer: Stribling belongs.
Veteran newcomer Mike Evans became the latest high-profile teammate to publicly praise the rookie pass-catcher during training camp press conferences. Asked if any of the team’s young wideouts were standing out early in camp, Evans didn’t hesitate to highlight the rookie’s momentum.
“I mean, Strib,” Evans said. “Strib’s having a—he had a really good offseason, OTAs, and he’s continued that during training camp. But all of them are really getting after it. I mean, it’s a hungry group of guys who look forward to showing that we’re one of the best receiver rooms in the league.”
Evans’ endorsement builds directly on glowing remarks delivered just days earlier by franchise quarterback Brock Purdy. The 49ers’ star quarterback praised the rookie’s route running, physical strength, and quick comprehension of Kyle Shanahan’s notoriously intricate playbook.
Earning the trust of both your starting quarterback and a multi-time Pro Bowl receiver before the pads even go on is about as strong a start as a rookie can hope for. And after Ricky Pearsall’s injury, Stribling could be an intregral part of the 49ers offense in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers WR De’Zhaun Stribling standing out to future Hall of Famer
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
