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Chris Simms says he was well-aware that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, a close friend of his, was high on former Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The Niners ended up drafting the wideout at No. 25 overall last week and traded up in the first round to do so.
Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have even said that, had the dominos fallen differently, and had defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw been off the board, the 49ers would have been willing to select Aiyuk at No. 13. They would have done so even knowing that the move would have been heavily criticized as a massive reach.
It just shows how high the 49ers' brain trust was on Aiyuk.
None of this is news to Simms, though, who had conversations with Shanahan about the receiver and made sure not to tip his friend's hand. The NBC Sports analyst notes that when it comes to evaluating receivers, Shanahan knows what he's talking about and what he wants.
"When Kyle Shanahan told me, 'Man, I think this guy is Isaac Bruce,'" Simms said on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, "and we had a conversation of, 'Would people think I'm crazy if I took Brandon Aiyuk at 13?' I said, 'Some might. But because of your track record, and if you say a statement like, "I think he could be Isaac Bruce," that will shut people up in a hurry.'
"I tried to be a good friend and not show any connection or dots there between Aiyuk and the 49ers."
Simms goes on to note that he believes Shanahan became a fan of Aiyuk because of his route running, mechanics, speed, hands, and versatility.
"Shanahan is very into wide receivers who can rip the ball out of the air and not lose any speed when the ball is thrown accurately," Simms continued, "like you saw with Deebo Samuel last year. How many times did you see Deebo Samuel run it over the middle, rip the ball out of the air, and run it like a bat out of hell, right?"
Why 49ers rookie Isaac Guerendo sees limited college experience as a benefit
By David Bonilla
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Isaac Guerendo carried the football 132 times during his final collegiate season, rushing for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns. It marked the most carries the Louisville running back had during a single season throughout his college career.
Consistently finding himself behind another running back on the depth chart, Guerendo started only one game in college, which might seem like a negative to some evaluators. However, the San Francisco 49ers were willing to see what the young running back could do at the professional level, making him a fourth-round draft pick.
"I've played with a lot of great backs, been in a lot of great rooms," Guerendo told reporters on Thursday after reporting to the 49ers for the rookie minicamp.
The rookie doesn't perceive his
49ers sign Renardo Green, Isaac Guerendo, Jacob Cowing to 4-year rookie deals
By David Bonilla
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According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, the San Francisco 49ers have started signing part of their rookie class. The team inked cornerback Renardo Green from Florida State, running back Isaac Guerendo from Louisville, and wide receiver Jacob Cowing from Arizona to their four-year rookie contracts.
#49ers signed three of their draft picks today: CB Renardo Green, RB Isaac Guerendo, WR Jacob Cowing— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) May 10,
Does 49ers QB Brock Purdy need Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel for success?
By David Bonilla
May 15
Rumors circulated before and during the 2024 NFL Draft about the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers losing one of their top two wide receivers—Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Such a scenario could have significantly impacted the team's success in the upcoming season and posed a potential blow for quarterback Brock Purdy, who has thrived alongside the dynamic duo on the field.
However, none of these speculations came to fruition. Both Aiyuk and Samuel remain on the roster, at least for another season, though their future beyond that remains uncertain.
Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension that would position him among the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. At the same time, Samuel already commands a significant salary following a deal rework in 2022.
Terrell Owens reacts to 49ers' handling of Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel
By David Bonilla
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Rumors swirled around the statuses of San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. In the end, both players remained on the roster, and the speculation surrounding the two star players dwindled.
While the 49ers repeatedly insisted that signing Aiyuk to a long-term deal remained the priority, there were reports of trade talks involving him and Samuel. After San Francisco drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 overall pick, the Aiyuk trade rumors cooled off, and the Samuel ones heated up.
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