RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The San Francisco 49ers are facing some major questions at wide receiver. De'Zhaun Stribling is looking like an answer.
The rookie second-rounder was the breakout star of the Niners' preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, posting 7 receptions and 63 receiving yards on 8 targets.
Half of his yards came on a highlight-reel sideline catch in the second quarter.
DE’ZHAUN STRIBLING IS LEGIT 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/mI8JBDkkez
— Sleeper49ers (@SleeperSF49ers) August 14, 2026
The Niners selected Stribling 33rd overall out of Ole Miss in April, adding him to a wide receiver corps that was, and still is, conspicuously missing All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk last season. Jauan Jennings led all Niners wideouts in yards last year and left in free agency for the Minnesota Vikings. Ricky Pearsall had the second-most and is out for the season with a PCL tear .
That doesn't mean the receiver room is empty now, though. The Niners brought in a pair of veterans in Mike Evans and Christian Kirk during the offseason, and recently welcomed back Deebo Samuel too .
Kirk is the youngest of that trio at 29 years old, though, so finding some younger blood was needed. Stribling was considered a bit of a reach at No. 33 — Yahoo Sports had him as the No. 68 prospect in this year's draft — but he's got legitimate speed with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, good size at 6-foot-2 and was a featured player on an Ole Miss team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Combine his preseason opener performance with a good review from quarterback Brock Purdy in training camp, and you have the makings of a good start to a professional career.
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