It’s no secret that the San Francisco 49ers receiving corps is in disarray. With reports that both Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are on the trade block, the team sought to bring in a possible replacement.
After initial reports leaked out on social media that the San Francisco 49ers were selecting Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean, the team pulled a fast one and took Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the 31st pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Pearsall played five college seasons between Arizona State and Florida. As one of the NCAA student-athletes who’s 2020 season was abridged by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pearsall had two senior seasons with the Gators.
San Francisco 49ers Go WR in First Round
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Pearsall’s college statistics don’t exactly leap off the page, but he did show progression in each college season — 2020 not withstanding.
In 2023, his first year with the Gators after transferring from the desert, Pearsall played in 13 games. He caught 33 passes for 661 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, he caught 65 passes for 965 yards — though only scored four times.
Pearsall was the sixth of seven wide receivers to be taken in the first round. The Carolina Panthers followed up the Pearsall pick by trading into the first round to take Xavier Legette of South Carolina. LSU had two receivers taken: Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
His selection speaks to the instability of the San Francisco 49ers receiving corps. Aiyuk reportedly asked for a trade, only to have his agent refute those reports. The team is inclined to keep Aiyuk as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract. The $14.1 million Aiyuk is set to be paid in 2024 is roughly half of what receivers of his caliber are making, so the team must either sign him to a long-term extension or risk losing him next March.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch told ESPN this week that the plan is to retain Aiyuk, saying:
“I’ve communicated on many occasions: our wish is that he’s here and part of the Niners for the rest of his career. We’re working through that … I can say we’re having good talks, and I’m just going to leave it at that.”
While Samuel is still locked up via a three-year, $71.55 million deal prior to the 2022 season, there were multiple reports that the San Francisco 49ers were interested in dealing him as part of a package to move up in the first round. However, those reports were proven to be unfounded as the team stood pat at No. 31.
San Francisco 49ers Have Nine Picks Remaining
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The San Francisco 49ers are set to be plenty busy over the next two days. Barring trades, next up for the team are one pick in both the second (No. 63) and third (No. 94) round on Friday.
Saturday is set up to be a frenzied day for the Lynch and his front office mates. The team has three fourth round picks, including No. 124 acquired from the Dallas Cowboys, and then two compensatory selections at Nos. 132 and 135. More compensatory picks await in the fifth (No. 176) and sixth (Nos. 211 and 215) rounds. Lastly, a seventh-round selection awaits at No. 251.
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Tom Carothers is a sportswriter with more than 20 years of experience covering sports at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Still longing for the return of his Minnesota North Stars, he has a high pain tolerance as a big fan of the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Browns, and Tottenham Hotspur.
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