49ers Pro Bowl receiver ‘really impressed’ with what he sees in Ricky Pearsall

Did the San Francisco 49ers reach when they drafted Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft?  As far as talent and production at Florida, he may have been drafted in the right situation.

Projected as a Day 2 pick entering the NFL Draft, Pearsall is exactly the type of playmaker who could excel in the 49ers current offense.  With players like Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey around him, the rookie receiver will get his opportunity catching the ball from Brock Purdy, especially playing out of the slot and with his route running ability.

Ricky Pearsall comes in with an important role to play in 49ers' offense

Speaking of route running and the playmakers around him, Samuel has been impressed with what he has seen so far from Pearsall during OTAs.

“I’ve been really impressed,” Samuel Sr. said, via the team’s official website.  “Just going back and watching Ricky, he’s very fluid in a lot of routes.  He’s got really good hands.”

Samuel knows how complicated the 49ers’ offense is to learn as a rookie and appreciates how Pearsall is coming along.  But the question surrounding Pearsall is how well he’ll be able to adapt and be a dependable target for Purdy who strives in the short-to-intermediate pass game.  With route running as his strength, Pearsall could turn out to be one of the most important playmakers in the 49ers’ offense in 2024, especially with the future of Samuel Sr. and Aiyuk in the air.

So, far the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is looking for the part and has impressed more than Samuel this spring.  NBC Sports Bay Area writer Matt Maiocco has observed Pearsall and sees a player who “looks the part.”

During an appearance on the “49ers Talk” podcast on June 4, the 49ers insider gushed about the former Florida star.

“He just looks smooth coming out of his breaks, he ends up where he’s supposed to be in regard to each play,” Maiocco said.  “Brock Purdy has been finding him.  So that means his rhythm is consistent to where he’s supposed to be.”

Again, with the star power around him, consistency and dependability in the offensive scheme is all the 49ers are asking from Pearsall.  They are also hoping they have a player who can fill the void if either Samuel Sr. or Aiyuk do not land contract extensions with the team. 

That’s a lot to put on a rookie, but for the 49ers to select a wide receiver with their first pick, they added some insurance to their wide receiver room with a player who could flourish within the offense and show why he wasn’t a reach in the draft.