There were plenty of rumors swirling of what the San Francisco 49ers were going to do with their first round pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
For many the believed that 49ers general manager John Lynch was going to trade to move up or down. Yet that did not happen, instead the 31st overall pick was kept and the selection was wide receiver Ricky Pearsall out of the University of Florida.
Pearsall played his first three seasons with the Arizona State Sun Devils before transferring to Florida. Overall he caught 159 passes for 2,240 yards, and 14 touchdowns. Also, he had 21 total carries for 253 yards and five touchdowns. There is even the possibility to use him to throw the football as he completed all three of his passes for 111 total yards and a touchdown.
His best season yardage wise came in 2023 in which he had 965, yet in 2022 he averaged 20 yards per reception and caught a career-high five touchdown passes.
As for the pick itself it was a bit of a reach by Lynch. Still there is logic behind the selection as Pearsall was teammates with Brandon Aiyuk when he was at Arizona State. He is also from Chandler, Arizona which is not too far from the hometown of quarterback Brock Purdy. As Casey Pratt tweeted it certainly is “fascinating.”
There are some 49er fans who believe that the selection means that Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel gets traded. That is not plausible, as Pearsall is not an upgrade, he is a complement to one of best receiving duos in the NFL.
Trading Aiyuk does not make sense after drafting a former teammate of his. Which leaves Samuel and the belief that Lynch can get a high second-round pick for him.
Even if that came to fruition and San Francisco was able to draft a position of need such as guard or offensive tackle, it would not offset the loss of Samuel. The 49ers top three receivers on the depth chart then become:
- Brandon Aiyuk
- Jauan Jennings
- Ricky Pearsall
Which means now there are now two grades for the selection of Pearsall. With no trade C-, as the 49ers had other areas of need. If there is a trade then the grade is an F.