The NFL was reportedly higher on 49ers’ De’Zhaun Stribling ‘more than the public knows’

The 49ers got killed for taking Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling at 33, and I get it. When fans have been looking at mocks for two months, and their team picks someone perceived as a reach, it normally drives them nuts. I’d just say this on Stribling—some really good offensive coaches really liked him, more than the public knows. We’ll see how it plays out. When we were discussing on Friday, you didn’t have to squint to see why NFL teams would gravitate toward Stribling’s skill set. A big-bodied receiver with big hands who could outrun most defenders while providing value in the run game due to his attitude as a blocker. Some fans were turned off at the idea that the Niners used their first pick on a blocking wideout. That’s a bit reductive. Stribling won on isolated routes down the field last year. Whether it was strictly “go” routes, like in the playoffs against Georgia, or back shoulder fades, he adds on to what did at the “F” position. One of the team’s biggest issues was their wideouts running away from defenders on in-breaking routes or holding on in contested situations. Those are both areas where Stribling excels. There’s no argument against the 49ers *reaching* in this instance. Most boards had Stribling in the 60s, and that’s on the high side. I knew I was on an island having Stribling at WR6. This year, I went out of my way to emphasize players who could win through contact. The bigger bodies were rewarded in the rankings because that’s what stood out in the NFL last season. The smaller, less physical wideouts are no longer the prototype. As Breer said, “We’ll see how it plays out.”