The San Francisco 49ers managed to get two of their rookies onto Pro Football Focus’s all-rookie team after the opening weekend of preseason action, which is cool and all. But here’s the kicker: wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who had a statistically productive debut, somehow didn’t make the cut. Seriously, what gives?
Who Actually Made the Cut?
So, who did PFF shine a light on? It was offensive tackle Carver Willis and interior defensive lineman Bryson Eason. Willis, a fourth-round pick, is proving he’s got that sweet versatility to play both inside and outside on the O-line. He absolutely went off with a **90.1 PFF run-blocking grade** in his first preseason game. That’s just wild, right? Yeah, he did give up three hurries across 23 pass-blocking snaps, so there’s definitely something to clean up there, but that run-blocking grade alone was enough to put him on PFF’s top rookie tackles list right alongside the Rams’ Austin Blaske. That’s a huge early statement for a rookie.
Then you’ve got Bryson Eason, an undrafted free agent on the interior defensive line. He didn’t drop any mind-blowing stats, sure, but the guy avoided *any* negatively graded plays in his debut, which is massive for a rookie. That earned him a solid 77.3 grade. PFF even mentioned another 49ers rookie, Gracen Halton, who also impressed with a 73.7 overall grade. But hey, there’s only so much room on that interior D-line list, you know? These picks really highlight how stacked the 49ers roster is with young talent all battling for depth-chart spots this summer. PFF was looking at a massive rookie pool too, with teams averaging more than six rookies on the field per snap and only players with at least 15 snaps eligible.
Stribling’s Stats: Why The Snub Is Confusing
Now, let’s talk about Stribling. The fact that he didn’t make the cut is kinda baffling when you look at his raw production. The dude actually *out-produced* two of the three receivers who *did* make PFF’s list in terms of sheer volume. He hauled in seven catches on eight targets for 63 yards! Think about that: more receptions and more targets than both Cowboys receiver Camden Brown (three catches, 62 yards on three targets) and Giants receiver Malachi Fields (three catches, 34 yards on three targets). So what was the deal?
PFF’s grading apparently focused less on volume and more on explosive plays. Stribling’s average was just 9.0 yards per catch, with a long of 32 yards and only 12 yards after the catch. It was a possession-style outing, which is fine, but it didn’t have that highlight-reel pop PFF seemed to be looking for. Brown and Fields each scored a touchdown, which obviously helps. And then there’s Steelers receiver Kaden Wetjen, who somehow turned just two catches into a whopping 79 yards, including a ridiculous 74-yard gain! That’s a 39.5-yard average per catch, easily putting him on PFF’s list. So, big volume without a splash play just wasn’t cutting it this time around.
What’s Next for the 49ers’ Rookies?
What does all this mean for the 49ers? It means they’ve got some serious talent battling for roster spots. Willis is flashing that scheme versatility, Eason is holding his own in the run game, and Stribling, despite the PFF snub, clearly showed he can command targets and produce volume. These are all incredibly useful early data points for the coaching staff as they move closer to those final cuts. It’s only preseason, but these guys are fighting for their NFL careers right now, and every snap matters. Keep an eye on these three; their battle for roster spots is going to be intense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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