3 Wide Receivers the 49ers Need to Draft After Letting Emmanuel Sanders Go
By Jerry Trotta
On Friday night, the San Francisco 49ers watched free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders sign a contract with one of their most formidable NFC opponents: the New Orleans Saints.
Sanders has reportedly agreed to sign a two-year, $16 million contract, that is worth up to $19 million. Fans in San Fran are likely left puzzled as to why general manager John Lynch wasn't more aggressive in his pursuit of the two-time Pro Bowler.
The fact of the matter is that the Niners have a gaping hole to fill at WR. Luckily for them, they now have the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 draft after offloading defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts. With that in mind, let's highlight a few studs San Francisco should target with that first-round selection.
3. Tee Higgins
Outside of George Kittle, the 49ers really lack a physical pass catcher. You could argue that head coach Kyle Shanahan prefers pace to physicality, but Higgins has speed to burn. The 6-4 talent has spectacular ball skills and his knack to box out defenders on deep, 50-50 balls will instantly translate to the NFL. Higgins would fill a massive void in San Francisco.
2. Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy may be the most polished route runner in the 2020 class and he'd instantly become San Francisco's most reliable threat outside. The 6-1 WR boasts ridiculous speed and he would absolutely feast in Kyle Shanahan's fast-paced offense. In 2019 with Alabama, Jeudy recorded 77 receptions for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns. Pairing the former Crimson Tide star alongside Deebo Samuel would be an unfair blend of speed at WR.
1. CeeDee Lamb
In our eyes, Lamb should be the first receiver taken off the board. He won't blow you away with his agility, but he's spectacular after the catch. The Oklahoma product catches everything and has tremendous body control. Perhaps Lamb's best attribute is his ability to win 50-50 balls. In his final season with the Sooners, he posted 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns on 62 receptions. Lamb will be star in the NFL from Day 1 and would be a tremendous addition to the 49ers' high-powered offense.