3 Players the 49ers must put on their draft radar after strong workouts on Day 3 of 2024 Combine
The San Francisco 49ers don't necessarily need to draft a wide receiver, with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel under contract, though the latter's long-term future is a matter of question, and other issues to address on the roster. But Saturday's showcase by a stacked draft class at the position illustrated the point that it would […]
The San Francisco 49ers don't necessarily need to draft a wide receiver, with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel under contract, though the latter's long-term future is a matter of question, and other issues to address on the roster.
But Saturday's showcase by a stacked draft class at the position illustrated the point that it would be probably be prudent for the Niners to add a rookie receiver to their stacked stable of offensive weapons.
The wideouts shone in a big way on the third day of workouts of Indianapolis, with their efforts headlined by the record-breaking performance of Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the 40-yard dash.
Worthy has had a formal meeting with the 49ers, along with several other receivers who impressed at Lucas Oil Stadium, including Brian Thomas Jr, Xavier Legette and Jalen McMillan.
But which players who perhaps weren't on the 49ers' radar prior to the workouts should now be of interest to San Francisco? Here I look at three.
Michigan WR Roman Wilson
Many expected Wilson to run faster than the 4.39 he produced in the 40-yard dash, but his performance on the track and during the on-field drills should have alerted the attention of the 49ers.
Wilson was extremely smooth and polished throughout and displayed excellent concentration in catching the ball, while also demonstrating an ability to reel in balls outside his frame.
Though he's on the smaller side at 5ft 10in and 185 pounds, Wilson is a superb separator, and his talents in that regard and his speed should be of significant interest to a team whose inability to defeat tight man coverage in the Super Bowl was a key reason for their defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.
North Carolina WR Devontez Walker
Speed is what the 49ers are lacking most at the receiver position. Worthy would be the ideal in that regard, but his time of 4.21 seconds likely took him out of San Francisco's reach. Similarly, Thomas (4.33) and Adonai Mitchell (4.34) will probably be gone by the end of the first round.
As such if the 49ers want to add a burner to their ranks, they might need to wait until later in the draft, and Devontez Walker looms as a potential candidate after answering some lingering questions stemming from the Senior Bowl.
Walker blazed down the track in 4.36 seconds, and displayed his incredible explosiveness with a 40.5-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 11ft 2in. He earned an A to Z Sports athletic composite score in the 94th percentile. Perhaps even more importantly, Walker put the drops that blighted his Senior Bowl behind him, catching the ball cleanly in a strong showing in the on-field drills.
He's not a typical Kyle Shanahan receiver in that he's primarily limited to vertical routes and is in need of development in other areas of the route tree. However, Walker presents a combination of size and speed that the 49ers do not possess.
Niners Quarterback Brock Purdy has shown a desire to push the ball downfield and has had success doing so. In that regard, it may be wise for the 49ers to deviate from the archetypal Shanahan wideout and add a true field-stretcher who can help San Francisco do even more damage on deep shots.
Georgia WR Ladd McConkey
In terms of Shanahan receivers, there are few that fit the bill better than McConkey, who showcased his own athletic upside with a strong performance in the 40, clocking a time of 4.39 seconds.
McConkey established a reputation as one of the premier route-runners in college football during a stunning career with the Bulldogs, and his fluidity in that area was there for all to see during a predictably impressive performance during the on-field drills.
There's talk of McConkey as a fringe first-rounder. Given the 49ers' other needs, it's unlikely they'd spend the 31st overall pick on an undersized wideout who would start his career as the fifth option in the passing game at best.
But the possibility of the 49ers trading out of the first round cannot be ruled out. With his inside-out versatility, route-running prowess and ability to create yards after the catch, McConkey is a receiver the Niners would be wise to consider in such a scenario.
3 Players the 49ers must put on their draft radar after Day 2 of Combine workouts
They offer solutions to two issues.
