With Brandon Aiyuk trade speculation swirling, the 49ers have certainly raised some eyebrows with their selection at No. 31. With the second-to-last pick of the first round, the 49ers haves selected wide receiver Florida WR Ricky Pearsall.
[RELATED: 49ers Discussing First-Round Trade Involving Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel]
Following a breakout campaign at Arizona State in 2021, Pearsall transferred to Florida in 2022. After putting up similar numbers during his first season with the Gators, the wideout took a major step forward in 2023. Pearsall finished this past season with 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns, putting him firmly on the NFL map.
Pearsall was one of the more rapid risers in recent weeks. The Florida product saw his stock rise from probable Day 2 pick to surefire Day 2 pick to late first-round selection. With five WRs already being selected this evening, the 49ers didn’t want to press their luck and ended up opting for the wide receiver a bit higher than projections suggested.
With Aiyuk seeking a lucrative extension, the 49ers have continually stated that they wanted to retain the former first-round pick. However, reports from yesterday suggested that the front office was discussing the wide receiver (along with teammate Deebo Samuel) in trades.
While Aiyuk remains on San Francisco’s roster at the moment, the Pearsall pick will only add fuel to the fire. With the first round having passed, a window for the 49ers to unload Aiyuk or Samuel closed. It will be interesting to see if the team would accept Day 2 compensation for one of its standout wide receivers. With the Bengals not expected to trade Tee Higgins — his request notwithstanding — attention could be focused on Aiyuk. Then again, the 49ers have relied on their WR duo to help Brock Purdy. This Pearsall move could potentially be a bridge to the Samuel-Aiyuk duo separating in 2025.
The 49ers could extend Aiyuk and push their cap predicament to 2025, so Pearsall might not immediately step into a major role. Still, the rookie should be the clear-cut WR3 if both Deebo and Aiyuk stick around, with Jauan Jennings and Ronnie Bell representing the team’s other options at the position.
He’s replacing Deebo and will be a slot receiver for them.
Are they going to find a team to take Deebo and eat that dead money?
More like they’ll move Aiyuk for a 2nd, possibly a 3rd or 4th too in 2025.
Washington has 2 at 36 and 40
Green Bay has 2 at 40 and 58
Bills just cleared Stefon Diggs off the books and have 33 and 60
Maybe Bills send 49ers 33 and bring in Aiyuk to be their #1 and use money saved on Diggs to pay Aiyuk.
Or he is the replacement for Jennings next season and will be able to play the 4th spot and return punts this year. This doesn’t have to be a trade BA move. Moving BA does not make this team better for this season.
So 49ers over draft a wr at 31 in a deep wr draft to replace the #3 wr on the depth next year?
They could have waited till 2nd, 3rd, or 4th to do that.
You only draft 1st round to replace someone legit. To replace a guy that’s produced 80 catches 1000 yards and like 8 TDs in 3 years you can find that replacement in day 2 or day 3, especially if the goal is have them play special teams this year primarily. And oearsall wasn’t exactly a great kick or punt returner in his college days. 14 punts returned 11 yard average 1 kick off return 28 yard average.
I think you need to brace yourself for how little Aiyuk will bring back in trade. Any team trading for him will have to pay him.
So why trade him? Let him play this year on the 5th year option and franchise him next year if he balls out again.
And in the event he gets injured? Loses most his trade value. And if he tears his acl or misses significant time you’re not gonna franchise tag him then, too risky of an investment for a player coming off a major injury.
Well reports are this morning someone has already offered a deal for Aiyuk including a 2nd round pick and more
“ The best tradeoffer to emerge included a second-round pick, Barrows adds.”
But yeah suggesting he’s worth a 2nd and reports confirming they’ve received that kind of offer already totally should brace for “ how little Aiyuk will bring back in trade”
link to profootballrumors.com
If the best was a 2nd rounder before and he hasn’t been dealt, then a second rounder today won’t make a difference either. Lynch said last night they have had positive talks and are still moving forward to an extension. I think if somebody gets sent packing, it will be Deebo after the 2024 season. I still think this WR group stays intact for this season.
Thats fine
Reports are theyre more open to moving Deebo and his salary apparently.
Doubt they get anything close to what theyd get for Aiyuk considering Deebo has
Missed time last couple seasons for various injuries
28, still has 2 years left at 28 mill cap hit 24 mill cap hit
I think dead money wise, it’s safer to move him next year then this year. They aren’t going to save much and if that’s the case, I’d rather get some use out of him.
Was he even projected to be a 1st?
No. Arif Hasan’s consensus big board had him at 48 and I hardly saw any mocks that had him in the first. But after the top three, receivers in this draft are very eye of the beholder in terms of rankings, and there’s a lot to like with him, even if this is a surprise.
Agreed. Pearsall doesn’t seem like a bad pick, but you also figure that McConkey can do similar things, but with perhaps slightly greater speed and more highly rated. Seems interesting to go with Pearsall over McConkey. The 9ers like RAC abilities in their receivers, a lot. I thought that they may go with Legette or someone similar for that reason. I don’t think that this is bad, I just didn’t expect Pearsall to go ahead of McConkey-not that there’s an enormous gulf in their ratings, I just didn’t expect it.
I think Ladd has more medical concerns, and I think Pearsall wins out in pure speed.
Well, according to 40, Pearsall is a hair slower, for what it’s worth. I see the medical, but I still expected to see McConkey to go first. I’m not in utter disbelief, nor do I think that it’s a huge concern. One argument for McConkey is also that he’s produced in bigger moments, simply by virtue of being a member of championship teams, which isn’t any fault of Pearsall’s.
I watched every gator game last year and I’m not saying he sucks but ricky pearsall shouldn’t be anywhere near the 1st round.
That’s crazy. He’s so athletic, one of the best route runners in the class and has sticky hands. “Anywhere near” is the part I have issue with because if he went 40 I don’t think anyone is calling it an overdraft.
I watched every Gator game and even attended when I could – and while he may not be 1st round material, it’s not a bad selection at the end of the first, either. What he brings to the table, and a more refined team, QB tossing to him, etc., his potential can go higher than advertised coming out of college. I’d have considered him 2nd round material, and perhaps at the font of the round, thus why it’s not much of a stretch to see him go a few picks sooner in the late first round.
Aiyuk gone.
What are they going to get to make the team better by trading him? Moving BA does not make this team better. This is for depth and help the team move past Jennings after this season.
Surprise pick but a good pick. He will be very good once the pro coaches get their hands on him! Someone is getting traded. Probably Aiy
Amazing pick. I had him on list of top 10 wideouts. I got guys like Roman Wilson and Adonai going early to mid second
Best thing about this move is that Aiyuk texted Lynch and said he loved the pick.
According to Lynch, Aiyuk texted, saying, “Fire pick. Can’t lie.
link to ninerswire.usatoday.com