While Ricky Pearsall might not have been available by the time the San Francisco 49ers' second-round pick rolled around, initially at No. 63 overall, questions linger about whether he warranted the No. 31 overall pick and if the team overlooked other pressing needs. Was he truly deserving of being the sixth wide receiver drafted? Only time will provide the answers.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently singled out Pearsall's selection as the biggest head-scratcher of the 2024 NFL Draft, stating, "Most teams I spoke to pegged him as a Day 2 pick. Considering the 49ers still have Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the roster, bolstering the offensive or defensive line seemed like a sensible play."
Delving further into the 32 draft classes, Fowler spoke to NFL personnel, who also had doubts about the wide receiver's draft position.
"He can be a nice No. 2 or No. 3 receiver, a good player, but that was a bit of a reach, in my opinion," remarked an NFC personnel evaluator to Fowler.
However, an AFC executive acknowledged the appeal of Pearsall, stating, "They wanted a route runner like the Rams have in Puka [Nacua]. Probably see him in that same role."
Nacua amassed an impressive 1,486 receiving yards in his rookie 2023 campaign, earning him a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors.
An opposing college defensive coordinator didn't perceive Pearsall as the same caliber of threat, revealing to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, "We didn't have to game-plan for him. His routes at times were just OK. He would do a lot of dancing and get off target. Some of the throws that [Florida QB Graham] Mertz missed ... were on lack of route detail by Pearsall."
Fowler also noted that scouts across the NFL felt the selection of cornerback Renardo Green in the second round was "a bit of a reach" but conceded that the 49ers have a track record of maximizing talent, which is difficult to dispute.
