NFL Draft: 49ers’ biggest needs after surprising with WR Pearsall pick
A look at which players were drafted at positions of need for the 49ers in the first round Thursday.
SANTA CLARA — In selecting Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night at No. 31 overall, the 49ers created a further level of intrigue as to the status of incumbents Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
In the meantime, they bypassed players at perceived positions of need — namely edge rushers, defensive tackles, cornerbacks and offensive tackles. Coach Kyle Shanahan said things aren’t always as they seem, and saw Pearsall as a fit to the wide receiver corps even with Aiyuk and Samuel still around.
Pearsall, Shanahan believes, has the versatility to play outside or in the slot, plays with the physicality the 49ers demand from their wide receivers and can also return punts.
“There’s like four positions we were interested in being the right pick at No. 31, and we had arguments for every single one,” Shanahan said. “When it gets there, you’ve got to take the one that makes the most sense and it’s as simple as what’s totally obvious right now . . . you package these guys, two wideouts, one wideout, three, sometimes four . . . we lost a punt returner, there are plenty of factors.”
The draft begins Friday at 4 p.m. with Rounds 2 and 3, with the 49ers scheduled to select at No. 63 in the second and No. 94 in the third.
Here’s a look at who went off the board while the 49ers were waiting on Pearsall and some potential Day 2 targets Friday:
EDGE RUSHERS
15. Laiatu Latu, UCLA, Indianapolis
17. Dallas Turner, Alabama, Minnesota
19. Jared Verse, Florida, L.A. Rams
21. Chop Robinson, Penn State, Miami
27. Darius Robinson, Missouri, Arizona
Day 2 possibilities
Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
Adisa Isaac, Penn State
Austin Booker, Kansas
Chris Braswell, Alabama
Bralen Trice, Washington
Jonah Elliss, Utah
Gabriel Murphy, UCLA
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
16. Byron Murphy II, Texas, Seattle
Day 2 possibilities
Johnny Newton, Illinois
Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
Kris Jenkins, Michigan
Mike Hall Jr., Ohio State
Braden Fiske, Florida State
Maason Smith, LSU
Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
Mekhi Wingo, LSU
T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
CORNERBACKS
22. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, Philadelphia
24. Terrion Arnold, Alabama, Detroit
Day 2 possibilities
Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
Mike Sainristil, Michigan
Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri
T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
Andru Phillips, Kentucky
Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
Max Melton, Rutgers
DJ James, Auburn
Caelen Carson, Wake Forest
Jarvis Brownlee, Louisville
Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
5, Joe Alt, Notre Dame, L.A. Chargers
7. JC Latham, Alabama, Tennessee
11. Olu Fashanu, Penn State, N.Y. Jets
14. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, New Orleans
18. Amarius Mims, Georgia, Cincinnati
20. Troy Fautanu, Washington, Pittsburgh
25. Jordan Morgan, Arizona, Green Bay
Day 2 possibilities
Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
Patrick Paul, Houston
Brandon Coleman, TCU
Roger Rosengarten, Washington
Blake Fisher, Notre Dame
Kiran Amogadjie, Yale