The 49ers raised eyebrows in last week’s draft when they twice passed on the opportunity to take Omar Cooper Jr. or Denzel Boston in the first round, instead trading down twice and selecting their fellow wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick in the second round.
After Cooper went No. 30 to the Jets, the Niners had another opportunity to take Boston, who, along with Cooper, was a top-30 visit for San Francisco, with the opening pick of the second round.
Yet they neglected to take
it, with the announcement of former Ole Miss star Stribling’s name drawing much surprise.
While Stribling clearly had more fans inside the league than he did among draft analysts, with one executive reportedly having a higher grade on him than 20th overall pick Makai Lemon, San Francisco’s selection of him was still widely viewed as a reach.
Still, at over 6ft 2in and 207 pounds with 4.36 speed and significant yards after catch upside, there’s plenty to suggest Stribling is an excellent fit for the 49er offense.
And San Francisco’s former GM Scot McCloughan has provided an emphatic endorsement of the 49ers’ decision-making when it comes to the wide receiver position in the draft.
He told Matt Barrows of The Athletic: “I liked him [Stribling] quite a bit, to tell you the truth. Some people didn’t, and I don’t understand why, because he’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got good ball skills. And he made plays. I don’t understand why they’re questioning the pick.
“I’d take Stribling in a heartbeat over Cooper. Because Stribling can run. Cooper is not a speed player at all. He’s like Deebo [Samuel] — just bulk up a little and do the dirty work. Stribling can do either/or. He can go outside and go vertical. You better hold on, because he can run.”
McCloughan had a first-round grade on Stribling, who he views as an outside only receiver at this point in his career.
“And I don’t know the person, I don’t know the medical and that kind of crud,” he added.
“But just from the standpoint of a football player, what I saw on tape, the guy’s going to be a starter in the NFL. He’s a big kid, too, now. He’s tall, he’s got length, he’s got a good catch radius. He’s pretty cool.
“He’s a flier. I’d put him outside and let him rock and roll.”
McCloughan’s eye for talent is undoubted. If his assessment of Stribling proves accurate, the 49er passing game will be in a very good place and few will be questioning the pick.
