Vikings Meet with Speedy, Physical Wide Receiver Prospect

Ole Miss WR De'Zhaun Stribling visits Vikings as they look to bolster receiving corps

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:10pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football player in mid-catch, the player's form broken down into overlapping planes of purple, gold, and other vibrant colors, creating a dynamic, abstract representation of the sport's physicality.A cubist interpretation of a Vikings receiver making a contested catch, reflecting the physicality and competitive nature of the team's search for a new downfield threat.Minneapolis Today

The Minnesota Vikings have met with Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, a 6'2" prospect who boasts impressive size, speed, and physicality. Stribling is coming off back-to-back 800-yard receiving seasons and is known for his competitiveness as a blocker, making him an intriguing option for the Vikings as they look to add depth and playmaking ability to their receiving corps.

Why it matters

The Vikings are in need of a physical, downfield receiving threat to complement their existing wide receivers like Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor. Stribling's combination of size, speed, and blocking ability could make him an ideal fit as the team's WR3, providing a different skill set from the quicker, shiftier Nailor.

The details

Stribling measured in at 6'2" and around 210 pounds, and he ran a blazing 4.36-second 40-yard dash. His impressive athleticism is reflected in a RAS (Relative Athletic Score) of 9.88 out of 10. While he may lack some short-area quickness to consistently separate, Stribling is praised for his downfield ball skills and his willingness to engage as a physical run blocker. The Vikings are looking to add a receiver with this type of size and competitive edge to their offense.

  • Stribling had back-to-back 800-yard receiving seasons at Ole Miss.
  • Stribling is visiting the Vikings as part of his Top 30 pre-draft visits.

The players

De'Zhaun Stribling

A 6'2", 210-pound wide receiver prospect from Ole Miss who is known for his impressive size, speed, and physical blocking ability.

Jalen Nailor

The Vikings' current WR3, who offers quickness and shiftiness but lacks the size and downfield ability that Stribling provides.

Tai Felton

A second-year Vikings receiver who is known for his physicality and competitiveness, especially as a gunner on special teams, making him another candidate for the WR3 role.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Lance Zierlein, NFL.com Draft Analyst

What’s next

The Vikings will continue evaluating Stribling and other receiver prospects as they determine how to address the position in the upcoming draft. With the team's top two picks coming in the third round, Stribling could be an intriguing target if he's available at one of those selections.

The takeaway

The Vikings' meeting with Stribling highlights their desire to add a physical, downfield receiving threat to complement their existing receiving corps. Stribling's combination of size, speed, and blocking ability makes him an appealing option, and the team will have to weigh his fit against other roster needs as the draft approaches.