Report: The 49ers might consider Georgia WR Ladd McConkey at 31

From a longtime scout

Timing is everything. And when somebody credible says it, you have no choice but to listen. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco wrote a piece Thursday afternoon suggesting the Niners are interested in a wide receiver.

That’s not a surprise. We’ve spent the past month discussing Brandon Aiyuk as a potential trade target on draft night. Aside from Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel’s future with the team is up in the air, and Jauan Jennings is on a one-year contract. The 49ers could add talent at the position.

Everything is fluid. On Wednesday, we were told that Deebo isn’t going anywhere. Now, this:

Back to the receiver in the first round. Maiocco referenced a longtime NFL scout. Here’s his take, along with Matt’s:

Regardless, the 49ers figure to be in the receiver market over the next three days.

“It all depends on what’s going to happen with Brandon and how the 49ers end up addressing that situation,” a longtime NFL scout told NBC Sports Bay Area on Thursday. “But there is a lot of depth in the receiver crop in this draft. You can get a good receiver in the third, fourth and fifth round who can come in and play.”

The NFL source said he believes there is a reasonable chance the 49ers will select a wide receiver if San Francisco holds onto its scheduled first-round selection at No. 31 overall.

“He fits perfectly with Shanahan,” the scout said. “He’s not an outside guy. He’s an inside guy, but that’s fine. The base offense around the NFL is a three-receiver set, so your third guy is playing 75 percent of the snaps. He’ll know the offense inside and out and will always be on the same page as the quarterback. Shanahan loves what he brings to the table.”

During the regular season, McConkey lined up on the outside (131) more than he did in the slot (55). So, the narrative that he’s only a slot receiver isn’t accurate.

My reservations about the former Georgia Bulldog when breaking down this receiver class had more to do with his frame. Here are McConkey’s measurables, per Mockdraftable:

Brock Purdy’s margin for error is cut in half with that type of player, who doesn’t have the catch radius of some of the other top prospects. Yes, McConkey is fast. He’s also a superb route runner. However, he faced a lot of off-coverage, which might have made his transition to the NFL more difficult.

Lastly, there are the injuries. He had an undisclosed injury in 2021. In 2022, Ladd had a turf toe injury. He did not miss time for either injury, but knee tendinitis did force him to miss the second half of the SEC Championship. You could tell McConkey was hampered by the turf toe, which was chronic throughout the season.

Last year, McCconkey had a right ankle sprain that kept him out of one game and a back injury that caused him to miss four games. He actually re-injured his ankle late in the year. Several years ago, McConkey had a Jones fracture injury to his foot. The list is…long.

But he’s a walking first down at receiver who will undoubtedly excel in the NFL, provided McConkey stays healthy. If the Niners stay put at 31, there’s a scenario where McConkey is the top player on the board.

Read More