While discussions remain ongoing about who the Chicago Bears will take at the top of the 2026 draft, they have been quietly doing lots of legwork on potential players they could snag in the mid and late rounds. That includes positions that might not be considered pressing needs. SM reported recently that the team is much higher on wide receivers this year than many realize. The loss of D.J. Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus has some in the building concerned about the team’s depth. That is why they signed Kalif Raymond in free agency and why they will likely draft somebody. Enter De’Zhaun Stribling.
Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network revealed that the Bears are planning to host the Ole Miss wide receiver for a visit in the coming days.
Stribling turned heads at the scouting combine with that blazing 40-yard dash. It shows up on tape. When he finds space to run, he can easily take the top off of a defense. Get him the ball in his hands with room to run, and he will turn a six-yard pass into 40. He was a central part of the program’s run to the College Football Playoffs and was pivotal in their upset win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
De’Zhaun Stribling checks the Ben Johnson boxes.
Chicago’s head coach has shown tendencies in recent years for what he prefers in his wide receivers. For one, they must be at least 6’0″ tall and 200 lbs or more. Stribling is 6’2″ and 202 lbs. Next, they must have good speed. Jameson Williams ran a blazing 4.2 in the 40 while Luther Burden was in the low 4.4s. Stribling crossed that threshold as well with his 4.36. They must be good after the catch. He doesn’t like players who just make the grab and go down. Stribling averaged 7.8 yards after the catch.
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Last but not least, the receiver must be willing to block. Johnson made it clear last spring that if wide receivers wanted plays drawn up for them in the passing game, they better be willing to contribute in the running game. It doesn’t take long to realize De’Zhaun Stribling takes a sort of twisted satisfaction in blocking. He gets after it on every staff, eager to mix it up with anybody lined up across from him. It wouldn’t be shocking if that tape excited Johnson more than the big catches.
Stribling’s draft range seems pretty clear.
His excellent testing, solid, if unremarkable, numbers, and being slightly older likely mean he will fall somewhere in the 3rd or 4th rounds. This would enable the Bears to remain focused on helping the defense early. Johnson is no stranger to finding hidden gems in later rounds. He was with the Lions when they plucked Amon-Ra St. Brown in the 4th round. De’Zhaun Stribling has all the tools necessary to flourish in this offense. His speed would certainly unlock a dimension they didn’t really have last season.
One thing is clear. The Bears are intent on adding wide receiver help in this draft. If it’s not Stribling, it’ll be somebody else. Their depth needs addressing. Raymond is only under contract for a year. Jahdae Walker is still relatively unproven. Rome Odunze hasn’t shaken his consistency issues. Until Johnson is confident the team has an array of weapons he can trust, the Bears will keep firing. That private meeting will be an important one for Stribling.
