San Francisco 49ers' rookie wide receiver is doing more than just performing on the field. He is healing deep, internal scars left by past rookies. Over the last five years, the 49ers have seemingly developed a reputation that has followed them all the way to the present day.
Since the infamous draft-day trade that led to the Niners selecting Trey Lance third overall, GM John Lynch has been on a roll in terms of drafting disappointments. Many have caught onto this trend recently and have attributed San Francisco's top-heavy roster to their recent inept drafts. Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling, however, is beginning to erase that unfair narrative.
49ers have been unfairly labeled as "bad drafters"
On a recent episode of "First Things First," the crew discussed the issue in great length, as they expressed their concerns for this year's Niners squad:
The problem besides the injuries is that they have drafted very poorly for four years now… They don’t have any impact players that are young.
The claim, however, comes with a caveat. The 49ers' last two first-round picks have both struggled with injuries to begin their careers. Last year's rookie Mykel Williams only played nine games before tearing his ACL in early November. 2024 first-round selection Ricky Pearsall dealt with multiple injuries during his rookie and sophomore years and is now sidelined for the upcoming season due to his recent PCL surgery.
Labeling both picks as "busts" would be disingenuous, as they have struggled to acclimate to the NFL due to injuries, not a lack of skill. Pearsall in particular has had success in his limited action despite being buried in the depth chart.
De'Zhaun Stribling's success is proving 49ers critics wrong
Though the Niners have long been criticized for their unique drafting methods, Stribling has done everything he can to prove them right. Commonly considered a reach in the early second round, he has outperformed those drafted ahead of him and has had one of the most positive drumbeats of any rookie pass catcher this preseason.
His in-game performances thus far have only furthered that notion. In roughly three quarters of football, he has caught 11 passes for 109 yards on just 13 targets. In Thursday's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, three of the four passes he hauled in were thrown by starting quarterback Brock Purdy.
With the breakout games, he has put himself in elite preseason company. Granted, he will still be expected to perform when the bright lights of September come on, but he is well on his way to producing an impressive rookie campaign.
If De'Zhaun Stribling can take his hot start into the season, he could potentially rewrite a narrative that has plagued the 49ers organization for some time. Both fans and staff alike will be hoping for such an outcome, so Brock Purdy can enjoy throwing to the young, explosive weapon for years to come.
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