De’Zhaun Stribling is making catches all over the field for the San Francisco 49ers in camp and preseason, totally going against the grain of Kyle Shanahan’s infamous history with rookie wide receivers. It’s a trend that has kept young pass catchers in a proverbial doghouse for years, but Stribling looks ready to break free right away.
Shanahan’s Rookie WR Curse Is Real
Seriously, rookies under Coach Shanahan have had a brutal time making an impact. Brandon Aiyuk, with 60 receptions, and Deebo Samuel, with 57, are the only two guys who broke past 35 catches and racked up at least 500 receiving yards in their rookie seasons. That’s it. Think about Dante Pettis, who only managed 27 catches for 467 yards. Ricky Pearsall had a strong second half in his rookie year, pulling in 31 receptions for 400 yards, but it still feels like an asterisk moment, you know? Even Jauan Jennings, who was technically a rookie in 2021 after not playing in 2020, only hit 24 catches for 282 yards. The dude did tie Aiyuk for second all-time in franchise history with five rookie receiving touchdowns, which is cool, but the overall numbers tell a story of struggle.
You can’t forget free agent signee Mike Evans, who is probably the top wide receiver, but he’s already dealing with injuries in camp. Plus, veterans Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel Sr. have way more time in this system. Shanahan’s just never been one to throw rookies into the deep end. That’s the history. So, for Stribling to be getting this much buzz? It’s wild.
Stribling: A Different Breed for the Bay?
This isn’t some late-round flyer. Stribling was the first pick of the second round in this year’s draft. And what’s he doing? He’s catching everything thrown his way in camp and the preseason! ESPN’s Dan Graziano said it best: “Don’t be surprised if … De’Zhaun Stribling leads all rookie wide receivers in catches.” That’s a huge statement, especially with the history we just talked about.
Left tackle Trent Williams, a guy who knows talent, expects big things immediately from Stribling. He sees a lot of Jauan Jennings in him, with that variety of routes, but Stribling brings even more speed to the table. Brock Purdy could be looking Stribling’s way early and often, making him a high-volume target. The 49ers didn’t draft this guy to sit him on the bench; he’s going to play early and often. He brings an element to the offense that Robinson and Deebo, who are more like role players now, just don’t. This guy looked like a budding star in the preseason, ready to rack up some serious numbers.
So, yeah, he might not match those Aiyuk and Deebo rookie seasons because of all the other options on the roster. But if his floor is a J.J. Stokes or Terrell Owens rookie year, with just over 500 receiving yards and around 35-38 catches? That’s a massive impact for a rookie, especially given Shanahan’s track record. Get ready to watch Stribling make some noise this season.
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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