The past couple of days, we’ve looked at the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers addressing either side of the trenches with its first pick of Thursday’s NFL Draft. Let’s repeat the same exercise at a position that isn’t necessarily a need for 2026, but it wouldn’t hurt the 49ers to add to this position, especially for 2027 and beyond.
Let’s investigate the case for and against the 49ers taking a wide receiver with their first pick in the draft:
The case for drafting a wide receiver
No position has
been addressed by the 49ers this offseason more than the receiving corps. San Francisco went and replaced Jauan Jennings with Mike Evans and Christian Kirk. And while both will likely make an impact on the 2026 season, it’s not guaranteed that either will be on the roster for 2027 and beyond.
The uncertain futures of Evans and Kirk, combined with the depth and quality of the wide receiver class this draft offers, could create an opportunity for the 49ers to address the youth and future of the receiving corps.
While the top-tier group of receivers (Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson) is likely to be gone by the time the 49ers are on the clock, the second tier isn’t anything to scoff at. If KC Concepcion or Omar Cooper Jr. are available anywhere near the 49ers’ pick, John Lynch may have to pry the phone away from Kyle Shanahan’s hand, as he has a history of using first-round picks to get his guys at receiver (see Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall). And even if those two are off the board, Denzel Boston wouldn’t be a bad consolation and could be a fun addition to Shanahan’s offense.
The case against drafting a wide receiver
That receiver depth could be the reason the 49ers hold off on taking a receiver until their second round pick, projected to be pick No. 58, comes around.
Let’s say there’s fire in the Caleb Lomu smoke, or an unexpected pass-rusher drops to the 49ers, they can’t pass up. There are plenty of scenarios that see the 49ers pass on a receiver in the first round. But the depth at receiver could see Zachariah Branch, Chris Brazzell II, Malachi Fields, or Chris Bell available when the 49ers come back on the clock, all offering different benefits as they fit into the 49ers offense.
Heck, there could even be some quality by the time the 49ers’ third pick, projected to be selection No. 127, comes up. Cooper’s Indiana teammate, Elijah Surratt, or Ja’Kobi Lane out of USC, could fit that role.
A selection of a wide receiver in the first round could be seen as a luxury pick or even the best player available, but the 49ers don’t have to go that route.
