With the No. 31 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft the San Francisco 49ers went with Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.
Ian Valentino of 33rdTeam says that the 49ers’ selection was one of the worst picks in the entire first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The San Francisco 49ers were given a “D” grade for their selection of WR Ricky Pearsall
33rdTeam claims that the selection of Ricky Pearsall at the No. 31 overall spot was one of the worst picks of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The only other draft pick to receive a “D” grade from 33rdTeam was the Atlanta Falcons‘ selection of quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
According to Valentino in the 33rdTeam draft grade article, Pearsall was a massive reach considering the talent left on the board at the time.
“Ricky Pearsall fits what the San Francisco 49ers want to do, but his lack of physicality and athletic upside are glaring. This was a reach before even considering the other talent on the board. They could’ve grabbed someone less reliant on their scheme,” Valentino wrote.
Valentino said that Pearsall has great acceleration and burst, route running detail and catch radius but his lack of strength and deep speed make him a “reach” for the first round.
The Carolina Panthers selected wide receiver Xavier Legette just one pick later. Legette was widely considered the better prospect going into the draft.
San Francisco 49ers selection, WR Ricky Pearsall, had limited college production but showed flashes of high-level talent
New 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall only really displayed high-level production in his final year with the Florida Gators.The first three years of Pearsall’s college career were spent with the Arizona State Sun Devils. In the Pac-12 with Arizona State, Pearsall never had more than 600 yards receiving.
In his two years with Florida, Pearsall had 661 yards receiving and 965 yards receiving in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Pearsall never had a season with more than five touchdown receptions.
Despite his limited production, Pearsall showed flashes of high-level play. He had one of the most memorable catches of the season when the Gators were taking on the Charlotte 49ers in September of 2023.
A look at #49ers newest WR Ricky Pearsallpic.twitter.com/kRzorRHG9W
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) April 26, 2024
This catch from new #49ers WR Ricky Pearsall was as good as any you’ll see from last year…. pic.twitter.com/RVxAFPt0Fq
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) April 26, 2024
San Francisco 49ers fans let their opinion on the selection of WR Ricky Pearsall heard on social media
After one of the more shocking selections of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers fans let their opinions be heard via social media.
The selection of a wide receiver indicates that the rumblings of a future trade involving current 49ers receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel have a higher chance of coming to fruition.
While some fans may have agreed that wide receiver was the way to go for San Francisco, they remain upset at the selection of Pearsall over notable wide receivers still on the board such as Xavier Legette, Keon Coleman and Adonai Mitchell.
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
My boys reaction to Ricky Pearsall pic.twitter.com/c2dwdRHzn1
— Vik (@YaBoiVik) April 26, 2024
Ricky Pearsall over Adonai Mitchell pic.twitter.com/93bB0fQPoL
— Smiley (@30GotNext) April 26, 2024
handing over worthy/pearsall/legette for a couple of late pick swaps is absolutely pathetic i’m sorry
— victoria zeller (ONE OF THE BOYS, ‘25) (@dirtbagqueer) April 26, 2024
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