49ers coach outlines short-term and long-term vision for De'Zhaun Stribling

The San Francisco 49ers surprised several analysts when they selected wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Many draft observers viewed the selection as a reach, noting that other wide receivers were ranked higher than the Ole Miss product on several boards.

Despite the outside criticism, it's clear the 49ers view Stribling as an ideal fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. Internally, the rookie was graded as the best blocking receiver in the draft—a trait that carries significant value in San Francisco's system.

Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak spoke to reporters on Thursday ahead of the rookie minicamp, which begins Friday and runs through Saturday. He outlined both the immediate and long-term expectations for Stribling as he transitions to the NFL level.

"Short term, you've got to go day by day with anybody—any new player," Kubiak said. "You've got to teach them the offense. They've got to learn everything from the ground up. You've got to teach them how you see the position, the fundamentals of playing wide receiver. And he's got to grow from the ground up. And I don't think any player starts above that. They've got to start there."

The early focus will be on helping Stribling, along with the rest of the 49ers' rookie class, adjust to the playbook and the team's expectations for preparation and execution.

"And then, I think long term, I think you guys have kind of heard us talk about our vision for him," Kubiak continued. "He's a big, fast, powerful football player, and he can help our offense in so many ways with the ball in his hands, as a route runner, without the ball in his hands is a huge strength of his. The way he plays, his mindset.

"He's a complete football player, and those guys make your team better. So, he's going to affect the game in a lot of ways. That's our vision for him as far as the long term, for sure."

Stribling was also one of the 49ers' 16 "gold helmet" prospects, a designation reserved for players who meet the team's highest standards in athletic ability, football IQ, and character. He checked all of the boxes throughout the pre-draft process.

"[Leonard Hankerson], our receiver coach, it stood out to him right away: This guy's different," Kubiak said. "This guy's a pro. This guy's all about the right things. And you get that feel for them when you get to know them in the draft process.

"I haven't gotten to be around him a lot yet. I will this weekend, and I will moving forward, and I'm sure those traits will come out, and you couldn't ask for anything more than that. But it's just a starting point. Now we've got to go out there and play and grow as a player."

The vision for Stribling is clear. The 49ers hope to ease him into an offensive contributor in the short term, with the long-term goal of turning him into a versatile weapon for quarterback Brock Purdy.