With April officially here, the countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft is officially on. The Chicago Bears will have four picks in the top 100, including two in the second round, providing the front office with plenty of opportunities to add long-term building blocks as the team continues year two of the Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles era.
Despite having wide receivers Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and signing veteran Kalif Raymond in free agency, the Bears could decide that adding to an already loaded offense means drafting a wide receiver.
One name that could make sense as a potential fit is Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling.
Let's get into our scouting report on Stribling.
De'Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss, (6-foot-2, 207 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Long-striding, vertical-access wideout with steady play and production. Stribling has good size and early acceleration to climb over the top of coverage but lacks short-area quickness to gain separation underneath. His downfield ball skills are above average but he struggles to consistently carve out catch space and fight through contested-catch contact for tight-coverage wins. He has legit speed after the catch once he finds open grass. He's also one of the most competitive run blockers in the WR class. Stribling projects as an immediate WR4 who could eventually work his way into a starting role."
Film:
Strengths:
- YAC ability is rare for a player of his size.
- Displays a high level of physicality as a run blocker.
- Finds ways to incorporate double moves into the routes he's running.
- Ability to track the football is obvious to see on film.
- Film shows a player who improved almost every year that he was in college.
- Understands how to operate in space and make defenders miss at a moment's notice.
- Has the potential to develop into a dangerous option in the quick game.
Weaknesses:
- Not physical enough for a player of his size on contested catches.
- Looses reps to more physical defensive backs.
- Fails to change direction quickly, providing defensive backs with a chance to break on the ball.
- Spent time at Washington State and Oklahoma State prior to joining Ole Miss.
Does Stribling fit the Bears offense?
The Bears are looking for a true WR3 or WR4, and as a rookie, Stribling would fit that mold. His college career, which included 811 receiving yards and 55 receptions in 2025 proves that he can be a good enough rotational player. Stribling's massive frame and ability to track the football while being a threat with the ball in his hands make him a good fit for Chicago's passing game. But he'll need to learn to play more physical if he's really going to take another step forward and realize his true potential.
Conclusion:
Stribling has been at three different schools dating back to 2021, which could be a red flag for some teams. But overall, he's found his identity as a player and has one of the higher ceilings in this draft class among wide receiver prospects.
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