With the San Francisco 49ers' trade for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, they can now turn their attention to the opposite side of the ball ahead of the November 10th trade deadline.
The Niners have a clear deficit at wide receiver, and various names have been thrown around as potential stopgap options. With a week and a half left to make a decision, John Lynch's next move could determine the short-term fate of sidelined rookie De'Zhaun Stribling.
After being drafted at the top of the second round, Stribling burst onto the scene with a torrid preseason. The rookie caught 11 passes for 109 yards in roughly three-quarters of work over two games. He looked to play a heavy role in the offense before going down in Week 1. Now scheduled for a December return, he could fall victim to the looming decision the Niners have in front of them.
The 49ers must decide whether to acquire another wide receiver or remain static while their injured pass catchers return to action.
49ers' next move will indicate their trust level in De'Zhaun Stribling
If John Lynch goes out and trades for another wideout, it will serve as a clear indication that he and the coaching staff don't believe Stribling can be a true difference maker upon his return. Mike Evans is the clear alpha, and Deebo Samuel has entrenched himself as the slot man, but nobody has solidified their role as the X.
Shanahan and company bringing in competition for that role would inadvertently express doubt in De'Zhaun Stribling's ability to contribute right away. It doesn't mean he can't turn into a dependable part of the offense in the future, but, given that he's yet to play a full NFL game, the Niners would be taking a risk by leaning on the inexperienced wideout come postseason.
If no receivers are added, however, it will thrust the rookie into a prominent role with the team's most important games right around the corner. Whether he is up for the task is a different story. Having spent the first eight weeks on the shelf, he has been unable to get acclimated to Kyle Shanahan's scheme. Brock Purdy still hasn't attempted to throw a regular-season pass in his direction. Growing pains surely await the young talent once he returns.
It's anybody's guess how much growth Stribling needs to experience before proving worthy of a full-time role. Unfortunately, time is not on his side. He will return in Week 13 at the earliest, meaning he'll have little time to hop on the moving train that is the San Francisco offense.
Currently on their bye week, the Niners presumably have the entire front office looking at ways to better their roster. The ball is in their court, and the next move will be heavily influenced by whether they think De'Zhaun Stribling is capable of performing under playoff pressure.
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