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The San Francisco 49ers may need to push wide receiver up their list of priorities in the 2025 NFL draft.
A recent update from ESPN's Adam Schefter indicated Aiyuk may not be back on the field until the middle of the season. Given the nature of his injury − an ACL tear with additional damage in the knee − it stands to reason that even when Aiyuk does return it may take him awhile to return to the form that landed him a four-year contract extension last offseason.
With that in mind, it may behoove the 49ers to address their need at wide receiver earlier than anticipated.
Their wide receiver depth chart without Aiyuk needs a little help. Jauan Jennings had a really nice year last year, but Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Demarcus Robinson are all question marks in terms of how much impact they can have on the 49ers' offense.
Even if Aiyuk was returning for the opener, the 49ers would likely use a pick on a receiver. Given that Aiyuk could miss half the year, picking that wide receiver earlier in hopes of finding a Day 1 contributor makes sense.
This is not to say San Francisco should swing for the fences and use a first-round pick on the position. They have too many other high-priority needs to address that early. A Day 2 pick should be on the table if there's a player they like in that range.
That would not only help insulate the 49ers from Aiyuk's potential absence, but it also helps them down the road if Pearsall or Cowing don't work out, or if Jennings exits in free agency next offseason.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: How Brandon Aiyuk injury update could impact NFL draft for 49ers
Continue reading...
A recent update from ESPN's Adam Schefter indicated Aiyuk may not be back on the field until the middle of the season. Given the nature of his injury − an ACL tear with additional damage in the knee − it stands to reason that even when Aiyuk does return it may take him awhile to return to the form that landed him a four-year contract extension last offseason.
With that in mind, it may behoove the 49ers to address their need at wide receiver earlier than anticipated.
Their wide receiver depth chart without Aiyuk needs a little help. Jauan Jennings had a really nice year last year, but Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Demarcus Robinson are all question marks in terms of how much impact they can have on the 49ers' offense.
Even if Aiyuk was returning for the opener, the 49ers would likely use a pick on a receiver. Given that Aiyuk could miss half the year, picking that wide receiver earlier in hopes of finding a Day 1 contributor makes sense.
This is not to say San Francisco should swing for the fences and use a first-round pick on the position. They have too many other high-priority needs to address that early. A Day 2 pick should be on the table if there's a player they like in that range.
That would not only help insulate the 49ers from Aiyuk's potential absence, but it also helps them down the road if Pearsall or Cowing don't work out, or if Jennings exits in free agency next offseason.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: How Brandon Aiyuk injury update could impact NFL draft for 49ers
Continue reading...
