The San Francisco 49ers have had a plethora of great offensive players wear their jersey over the course of the franchise’s storied history, and four prospects with links to some of the best to ever don the red and gold are available for selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Brenden Rice, Luke McCaffrey, Frank Gore Jr. and Terique Owens are all in this year’s class. McCaffrey would become teammates with his brother if selected by the 49ers, while the other three are all looking to emulate their fathers, two of whom have Hall of Fame jackets.

The franchise connection is no guarantee of any of the quartet landing with San Francisco, but which prospect appears the most likely to become a 49er? Here I rank their chances of doing so in reverse order.

4. Terique Owens, WR, Missouri State

The 49ers were in attendance for Owens’ pro day, which was held at Missouri, and had him in Santa Clara for their local pro day, Owens having been born in the Bay Area when his father Terrell was starring for San Francisco.

Owens’ odds of replicating his Hall of Fame father in being drafted are low, but he has at least put himself in the conversation to be signed as an undrafted free agent. 

After displaying his big-play upside in his final season at Missouri State with 528 yards and four touchdowns at an average of 18.9 yards per reception, there’s enough production to intrigue the Niners. Still, it’s impossible to predict the undrafted free agent signing period after the draft, so it’s tough to put Owens anywhere but fourth.

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3. Brenden Rice, WR, USC

After it was initially reported Jerry Rice’s son would visit with the team with whom he won four Super Bowls, it has since been clarified that the visit did not happen, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic.

That does not mean the 49ers are not interested in Rice, and Kyle Shanahan should be intrigued by the route-running nuance he brings to the position, especially at his 6ft 2in and 208-pound frame

At that size, Rice would offer something different to what the 49ers have at receiver, but he does not possess the contested-catch upside that they would ideally like for somebody of that build. There is enough depth at receiver in the class to believe the 49ers can get a more typical Shanahan receiver who can win more consistently at the catch point instead of betting on Rice to become more reliable in that area in the pros.

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2. Frank Gore Jr, RB, Southern Miss

The 49ers have only met informally with Gore, but they have all the info they’re ever going to need on him as his father, one of the best 49er running backs of all time, is a football advisor in the front office.

Gore’s tape evokes memories of his father. He can slip through creases that would be inaccessible to many runners and has hugely impressive contact balance, consistently bouncing off tackles almost at will.

Coming off successive 1,000-yard seasons and having displayed a proficiency on zone runs and proven capable of making plays in the passing game — Gore had three receptions for touchdowns in 2023 — he is a prospect who ticks a lot of the boxes for a late-round dart throw at running back. 

Having Gore select his son in the seventh round would be a perfect way to end the draft. If he goes undrafted, it’s easy to guess who the first call will come from.

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1. Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice

Similar to Gore, the 49ers will have been able to get the word on McCaffrey from a man in the building in his older brother, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.

The former quarterback doesn’t overwhelm with his physical traits, but he can win with his impressive short-area burst and has enough speed to do damage after the catch.

McCaffrey’s defining trait is what he does at the catch point, however. He is unafraid to go over the middle and can hang on to the ball through contact, displaying the concentration to adjust to balls outside his frame. 

His prowess in that regard, and versatility that saw him align inside and out and in the backfield as both a running back and wildcat quarterback at Rice, makes him the most likely fit for the 49er offense.

Luke McCaffrey could help San Francisco 49ers solve problem that denied his brother Super Bowl glory

He has a key defining trait.