Much was said by analysts when the San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Many believed the 49ers reached for the pick, arguing that Stribling's draft value was lower.
However, early impressions from inside the building have been overwhelmingly positive.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is the latest veteran to weigh in on the rookie wideout, praising Stribling's maturity and intelligence.
Stribling has also begun turning heads on the practice field.
"Just watching him go through drills and seeing the explosion, the acceleration from a guy of his size, and the way he's able to open up his stride so quickly, that really stood out to me," Juszczyk said on The Rich Eisen Show. "It really impressed me."
The 49ers will get an even closer look at Stribling next week when organized team activities (OTAs) begin, allowing offensive players to line up against the defense for the first time this offseason.
"I'm excited for this week, when we're actually going against a defense, actually running plays," Juszczyk said. "You get to see a lot more out of these young guys. So, the evaluation's going to continue going forward, but a big part of that will be these two weeks."
Stribling also received a strong endorsement earlier this week from quarterback Brock Purdy.
"Stribling's a guy that has a lot of raw talent," Purdy said during Wednesday's Dwight Clark Legacy Series event. "And just throwing routes on air and stuff to him, and getting a feel for how he moves, and his speed, he's a guy that, once we obviously get him in the playbook a lot, and get reps with each other on the field, I feel like he's going to be a guy that can come in and make an instant impact."
Across his final two collegiate seasons, Stribling recorded 1,693 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He brings size and strong blocking skills that fit the 49ers' offensive identity.
"He's a complete football player, and those guys make your team better," offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said earlier this month. "So, he's going to affect the game in a lot of ways."
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