The San Francisco 49ers snagged De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick, the first selection in the second round, and as Week 1 against the Rams looms, you can bet Los Angeles is feeling a serious pang of envy. Despite consensus draft boards suggesting the Ole Miss product would go closer to pick 100, the 49ers showed huge confidence in him, and he absolutely delivered in preseason.
Stribling’s Immediate Impact and the Rams’ Missed Opportunity
Stribling, fresh out of Ole Miss, was exactly the type of receiver teams from the Shanahan/McVay offensive tree absolutely covet. And he quickly proved why. In just two preseason games, this dude was targeted 13 times, reeling in 11 catches for 109 yards. That’s elite rookie-class production, earning him a ridiculous Pro Football Focus offensive grade of 90.0. While some media might have thought the 49ers drafted him too early, Stribling has completely rewarded their faith. The Rams, meanwhile, sat out free agency without a single receiver addition. They surprised many by going for tight end Max Klare in the second round instead, a guy not projected to have much of a role in 2026. You have to wonder if Sean McVay and Les Snead expected Stribling to be around later in the draft.
Rams’ Receiver Depth Chart Looks Shaky
Los Angeles certainly has some talent at receiver with Puka Nacua, who some say is the best pass catcher in the NFL, and Davante Adams, who is still lethal even if his health for a full season is a question mark. But behind those two? The depth chart gets super shaky. For a team with Super Bowl expectations, you’d expect a lot more potency, right? And looking ahead to 2027, once Adams is out of the picture, that depth chart looks bleak. The Rams should be pleased with their top guys, no doubt, but now they’re going to face Stribling twice a year, starting with his real NFL debut against Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in their secondary.
The 49ers’ receiving corps could be pretty short-handed to start the season, so Stribling might need to be ready right out of the gate. This isn’t saying the Rams should’ve taken Stribling at 13th overall. Throwing a dart at quarterback is never a bad idea. But the 49ers took their guy way earlier than expected, and if De’Zhaun Stribling becomes a bonafide star, that’s going to be some seriously bad news for Los Angeles, especially when they face off this Week 1.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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