Executive producer and analyst Greg Cosell is a big fan of the most recent San Francisco 49ers draft class. As is the case with many, he loved the selection of former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa with the No. 2 overall pick. Although, he sounded most passionate about what the 49ers did during Day 2.
San Francisco used both of its two Friday selections on wide receivers. It was a bold move to upgrade a position which lacked a single 500-yard receiver last season. The team selected Deebo Samuel of South Carolina in the second round and followed that up with a bit more of a controversial pick in Jalen Hurd of Baylor in the third round.
Cosell joined KNBR on Monday and discussed the team's two rookie receivers. He loved both selections.
"Loved Deebo Samuel," Cosell said on the "Tolbert and Lund" show. "In fact, I loved the two receivers they took."
Cosell discussed Samuel first, and the traits he feels can make him a successful NFL receiver with the 49ers.
"Deebo Samuel, to me, he's got a compact build. He's got explosive traits," Cosell said. "I think you can line him up inside. You can line him up outside. He's got a vertical dimension to him. He has tremendous run-after-catch. He's really powerful, and he's really competitive. He's just a big, explosive athlete who can line up in a number of spots, and I really like the player on tape. I think he's a really good prospect."
Hurd wasn't as popular a selection among 49ers fans. Many fans didn't expect the 49ers to select back-to-back receivers and they certainly didn't see Hurd being the pick in round three. But the more you learn about him, the more you understand why he is such a Shanahan-type guy, and that should get you excited about the receiver.
The 49ers head coach, who also serves as the offensive coordinator, loves players who can do multiple things. Hurd is definitely versatile. He spent his first three seasons at Tennessee as a running back and followed up a freshman 899-rushing-yard season with a 1,285-rushing-yard campaign in 2015.
Hurd transferred to Baylor because he wanted to play wide receiver. He felt it would prolong his football career. After sitting out a year due to NCAA rules, Hurd caught 69 passes for 946 yards with four touchdowns.
"He's got elite size," Cosell said. "He's got length plus athleticism. He's kind of a loose mover. He predominantly played in the slot, but there's no question he can line up outside with more experience.
"I didn't know much about him as a receiver until I watched the tape and I was kind of really fascinated by him. I think with coaching and development, and position versatility — you can still line him up in the backfield — I think he presents a lot of options for Kyle Shanahan."
Shanahan has a history of bringing in versatile weapons who can attack defenses in multiple ways. He signed fullback Kyle Juszczyk in 2017 because he can catch and run with the football in addition to blocking for running backs. Shanahan brought in running back Jerick McKinnon to serve as a rushing and receiving threat and did the same with Tevin Coleman this year.
As for Hurd...
"He's a far better athlete than Juszczyk, and you see what they do with Juszczyk," Cosell continued. "Now Hurd is another one of those puzzle pieces that you can line up all over. I mean, this kid is 6-5, 226, so let's say you get him in an NFL weight room. I imagine you can probably get him to 230-plus, and he wouldn't lose anything, and you can probably use him as a flex tight end as well."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Cosell below.