ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided intel on every draft class about every team from NFL executives. Some thought the San Francisco 49ers would draft a wide receiver similar to Mike Evans. That was Denzel Boston. According to Fowler, the Niners got somebody closer to Chris Godwin Jr. instead with De’Zhaun Stribling:
Mike Evans might look across the formation and see a player who reminds him of his old running mate in Tampa Bay, Chris Godwin Jr. San Francisco’s second-round receiver, Ole Miss’ De’Zhaun Stribling, compared favorably to Godwin when he was coming out of Penn State, from weight (207 to 209) to 40 time (4.36 to 4.42), vertical jump (identical 36 inches) and broad jump (10-feet-7 to 10-6). Brock Purdy won’t complain about that pairing, with Stribling’s ability to separate over the middle a nice complement to Evans’ vertical threat.
Like Godwin, Stribling can line up in the slot, out wide, as an inline tight end, or in the backfield. The area where Godwin is targeted is also similar to Stribling. Watson was more of a deep threat that would flip the field, whereas Godwin was always more quarterback-friendly and targeted over the middle of the field, generally closer to the quarterback. Most of their damage is done in the intermediate range.
Where Stribling is closer to Watson than Godwin would be in sudden change situations. Ole Miss consistently drew up plays for Stribling after a turnover. But Brock Purdy won’t complain about having a 1,000-yard receiver who is reliable in the sense of knowing where he needs to be and will catch everything, especially if that’s your WR2 next to Evans.
