KR / WR with Speed?

I'm feeling pretty good about the Niners top 3 WRs with Deebo, Aiyuk and Jennings.

I'd like to see them find a mid to late round diamond in the rough who can take over kr/pr duties from Aiyuk, and potentially provide some deep threat capabilities as a #4 WR on the depth chart.

Are there any good prospects who fit that role in rounds 4-7?

Excerpts from the Draft Network:

Romeo Doubs WR - Nevada
ST: ?
Speed: Romeo Doubs is a dynamic and explosive athlete with very good straight-line speed and agility as a route-runner. He's a certified deep threat who led the country in receiving yardage per game for a good portion of 2020.

Jailon Nailor WR - Michigan State
ST: Special teams value is an important piece of his individual puzzle as a player.
Speed: Nailor is a speedy athlete who offers gracefully acceleration skills in the open field—he won frequently with double moves and vertical routes downfield.
Crabbs - Projecting Nailor to the NFL, I think he stands a firm chance to be a depth receiver in the passing game and serve as a primary kick returner for his next team.

Velas Jones Jr. WR - Tennessee
ST: His post-catch production has been notable and it translates to why he's been so good as a returner.
Speed: Jones has the speed necessary to run away from coverage but his route-running technique needs improvement to become a more consistent separator.

Bo Melton WR - Rutgers
ST: Melton was named the 2021 MVP on offense and was the team leader in all-purpose yardage across touches as a receiver, rusher, and on both punt and kick returns.
Speed: I have seen him run away from leverage on crossers and successfully stack with a speed release against bump and run.
Crabbs: I like Melton best with his stature and athletic profile as a developmental slot receiver and in the return game. For that reason alone, you can probably justify an active roster spot and hope that he becomes more developed as a receiver in order to truly fulfill two active roster spots as a viable receiver and special teams player.

Mel Kiper Jr Rankings
https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2022/insider/story/_/id/33132557/nfl-draft-2022-rankings-top-25-prospects-best-position-mel-kiper-big-board-college-football-season#pos

Returners

1. Marcus Jones, CB Houston
2. Britain Covey, WR, Utah 5-8
3. Calvin Austin III, WR Memphis, 5-9 162
4. Jequez Ezzard, WR Sam Houston State 5-9, 190
5. Velus Jones Jr., WR Tennessee 6-0, 199
6. Justin Hall, WR, Ball State 5-9, 186
7. Jalen Virgil, WR Appalachian State, 6-1, 210
8. Trestan Ebner, RB Baylor, 5-11, 205
9. Deven Thompkins, WR Utah State, 5-8, 155
10. Travell Harris, WR Washington State 5-9, 185

Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

The Athletic's Dane Brugler called the 6'5", 208-pound North Dakota State product "a three-level threat [with] ball skills" and noted his 4.44 speed (an official number from a high school 40-yard dash)

In his redshirt junior season, he was named first-team All-Missouri Valley at receiver as well as an All-American kick returner.

Indeed, it's that versatility—Watson has been used on the boundary, in the slot and in the backfield, not to mention his kick-return prowess—that could perk up NFL teams to select him as early as Day 2, rather than Day 3.

Originally posted by Butter:
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

The Athletic's Dane Brugler called the 6'5", 208-pound North Dakota State product "a three-level threat [with] ball skills" and noted his 4.44 speed (an official number from a high school 40-yard dash)

In his redshirt junior season, he was named first-team All-Missouri Valley at receiver as well as an All-American kick returner.

Indeed, it's that versatility—Watson has been used on the boundary, in the slot and in the backfield, not to mention his kick-return prowess—that could perk up NFL teams to select him as early as Day 2, rather than Day 3.

This is the guy I want to add to the offense that Trey Lance already knows & is comfortable playing with in this kind of offense. Go get this kid Kyle & John!

Originally posted by tohara3:

Originally posted by Butter:
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

The Athletic's Dane Brugler called the 6'5", 208-pound North Dakota State product "a three-level threat [with] ball skills" and noted his 4.44 speed (an official number from a high school 40-yard dash)

In his redshirt junior season, he was named first-team All-Missouri Valley at receiver as well as an All-American kick returner.

Indeed, it's that versatility—Watson has been used on the boundary, in the slot and in the backfield, not to mention his kick-return prowess—that could perk up NFL teams to select him as early as Day 2, rather than Day 3.

This is the guy I want to add to the offense that Trey Lance already knows & is comfortable playing with in this kind of offense. Go get this kid Kyle & John!

A 6'5" KR/PR would be something to see. I would mind seeing them grab 2 WR late. depending on how many picks they end up with.

Dante Pettis.

Originally posted by IrishCrnjo:
Dante Pettis.

No, Shut up! We don't utter that p***y cat's name in the empire anymore

I'm on the Christian Watson fan bus! Someone Trey is already familiar with. A big target with speed, and a threat at every level. Even had some running plays, and can block! And an All-American kick returner!

Originally posted by RDB4216:
I'm on the Christian Watson fan bus! Someone Trey is already familiar with. A big target with speed, and a threat at every level. Even had some running plays, and can block! And an All-American kick returner!

This kid fits everything Kyle wants in a WR without a doubt!

I'm on board with Christian Watson with our first pick and Marcus Jones as our second pick.

I'd like to see next year's offense before spending what little draft capital we have on a deep threat WR. And KR is exciting but rarely impactful. With Jimmy we were bottom 5 in the league in intended air yards. Travis Benjamin was little more than a decoy. Rather have a true slot WR that can field punts or a CB with special teams potential.

I very much hope we take Marcus Jones to fill nickel and KR duties and look to add a slot who can also fill that role, ie Velus Jones Jr., Bo Melton, Kaylon Geiger, etc later in the draft

Originally posted by irishluder:
I very much hope we take Marcus Jones to fill nickel and KR duties and look to add a slot who can also fill that role, ie Velus Jones Jr., Bo Melton, Kaylon Geiger, etc later in the draft

Two more prospects to watch:

Jailon Nailor WR Michigan St - deep threat WR and KR
Zonovan Knight RB NC State - one cut RB and KR

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:

Originally posted by irishluder:
I very much hope we take Marcus Jones to fill nickel and KR duties and look to add a slot who can also fill that role, ie Velus Jones Jr., Bo Melton, Kaylon Geiger, etc later in the draft

Two more prospects to watch:

Jailon Nailor WR Michigan St - deep threat WR and KR
Zonovan Knight RB NC State - one cut RB and KR

I like Nailor, forgot to mention him, great name too!

I'll go check out knight