Pro Football Focus contributor Bradley Locker recently identified one breakout candidate for every NFL team heading into 2025. The pick for the San Francisco 49ers was wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, a young player whose 2024 rookie campaign took an unexpected turn.
The 49ers were high on Pearsall coming out of college, selecting him as the 31st overall pick—an eye-opening choice given the team's immediate needs at the time. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan had clear expectations for the rookie in a wide receiver room already featuring Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and then-holdout Brandon Aiyuk.
However, Pearsall's first NFL season began with adversity. Just before the start of the season, he was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt, causing him to miss the first six games. Despite this setback, Pearsall showed flashes of the potential Lynch and Shanahan saw in him, turning in key performances after the bye week.
"Pearsall endured about as arduous of a first season as possible but still offered solid results, turning in a 64.1 PFF receiving grade with only a 3.1% drop rate," Locker wrote. "The former Florida product was even stronger during his final two years of college, posting an 82.6 PFF receiving grade and 2.19 yards per route run."
Aiyuk, unfortunately, suffered a season-ending knee injury during Pearsall's NFL debut on October 20. While Aiyuk is expected to return at some point in 2025, the timeline for his recovery and return to peak form remains uncertain.
"In light of the fact that the 49ers may trade Deebo Samuel and that Brandon Aiyuk is still returning from a severe knee injury, Pearsall will presumably shoulder more on his plate in 2025," Locker noted.
Though Samuel is frequently the subject of trade rumors, Lynch has stated that the team plans to retain the versatile wideout for 2025, his final season under contract.
"A good player and has done a ton for this organization," Lynch said. "We're not in the business of letting good players out of here."
Pearsall finished his rookie season with 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns. If Aiyuk requires additional time to return to full health, Pearsall could see an even greater role in 2025, building on the promise he showed as a rookie.