A list of 49ers’ needs in this year’s draft would need to get fairly long to reach wide receiver. That doesn’t preclude them from making an addition at that spot early in the draft since it could quickly become a very pressing position of need in the near future.
NFL Media’s Peter Schrager published a mock draft based on things he’s hearing from around the league. That’s notable since he’s fairly well-connected in the NFL and his mock comes via insight instead of what he thinks should happen based on pre-draft analysis.
In his Round 1 projections, Schrager has the 49ers landing Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey with the 31st overall pick.
It’s very easy to see the world where this comes to fruition. San Francisco needs offensive line help and they’ll always look to improve on the defensive front, however, they’re also in a place where adding the best player available makes more sense than drafting for need.
McConkey is a shifty WR who is elite at getting open from either outside or in the slot. He brings sub-4.4 speed and a refined route tree that allows him to rely on more than just being fast. Over the last three years with the Bulldogs, the 6-0, 186-pound McConkey posted 119 catches for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also added 216 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries.
It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if head coach Kyle Shanahan pounded the table for McConkey in hopes of not only improving the WR room this year, but also for the future when the team could be undergoing changes atop a WR depth chart that’s been set for most of the last half decade.
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