De'Zhaun Stribling, Instant Star or Preseason Fool's Gold?

Injuries have clearly played a role in Stribling’s place in the depth chart, with Ricky Pearsall Jr. already out for the season and future Hall of Famer Mike Evans nursing multiple ailments throughout training camp up to this point. Once Evans is back to full strength, and other veterans like George Kittle and Deebo Samuel get involved, it’s possible Stribling’s volume could recede to the point where he’s more of an ancillary option for Brock Purdy than the clear focal point of the passing game that he’s been through the first two exhibition games.

That said, everything we’ve heard from head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch since Stribling was drafted points to high expectations for the No. 33 overall pick, so it’s possible this is just a preview of what 49ers fans will see when Week 1 rolls around. The organization clearly has a ton of confidence in Stribling, and it appears his new quarterbacks do, as well.

From a physical standpoint, there’s no denying Stribling brings everything NFL teams are looking for in a potential No. 1 receiver. He’s big, fast, and physical, with strong hands and the ability to play through contact without getting knocked off his routes. He’s still learning the finer points of route-running and other nuances of the position that will need to be further polished if he wants to create consistent separation against the league’s best defensive backs, but the building blocks and natural talent are all there.

Shanahan’s offense is well known for being one of the best in the NFL when it comes to scheming receivers open instead of just relying on them to win their 1-on-1 matchups with pure physical ability, something that should aid Stribling’s ability to make an immediate and significant impact. It’s also easy to imagine opposing defenses being more concerned with stopping proven producers like Evans and Kittle, rolling coverages to their areas of the field, and leaving even more room for Stribling to operate.

In combing through Stribling’s film throughout the predraft process, I saw a receiver with a ton of promise due to his physical traits, natural talent, and physical style of play, and his competitiveness consistently jumped off the screen. He was particularly fun to watch when the ball wasn’t coming his way, as Stribling was always willing to use his size and physicality to his advantage as a downfield blocker to help clear the way for his teammates. Those kinds of intangible traits will ensure he gets on the field early and often, and teams love to reward those kinds of receivers with plenty of targets.

He also backed up his tape at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash after measuring in at 6-2, 207 pounds. That combination of size and speed is always going to turn heads among league scouts and decision-makers because those numbers can instantly translate to on-field impact against NFL competition.

There’s still a lot of refinement needed if Stribling wants to reach his full potential and become a complete receiver at the next level, but the college tape and his preseason performances show a player with a sky-high ceiling who landed in the perfect situation to put up some big numbers. If he maximizes all of those advantages, it won’t be surprising if Stribling proves to be a genius pick by the 49ers’ brass, and not just another preseason star who couldn’t replicate that same level of production and impact in the regular season.