Gil Brandt, a senior analyst for NFL.com, recently projected the top five rookie wide receivers for the upcoming season. While no San Francisco 49ers players made his list, two were listed as receivers who should be in the discussion.
The 49ers upgraded their receiving corps during April's draft by selecting Deebo Samuel in the second round and Jalen Hurd in the third. They join a group that already included the team's second-round pick from a year ago, Dante Pettis, veteran Marquise Goodwin, free agent acquisition Jordan Matthews, and others.
While neither Samuel nor Hurd made Brandt's top five, he did project that the two would combine for 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns during their rookie campaigns.
Projected stats:
Samuel: 35 catches, 440 yards, 3 TDs
Hurd: 40 catches, 560 yards, 4 TDs
"Hurd, who converted from running back well into his college career, can be one of the surprises of this draft," wrote Brandt. "He's a big and fast player who gained 1,285 yards on the ground in 2015 before leaving Tennessee for Baylor as part of his plan to switch positions. Samuel enters the NFL as a more advanced receiver than Hurd, having caught 148 passes for 2,076 yards (14.0 yards per catch) in four seasons at South Carolina."
Samuel's and Hurd's numbers are respectable considering head coach Kyle Shanahan, who also handles the play-calling duties for the 49ers, likes to spread the ball around.
Brandt notes that over the past 10 seasons, only seven rookie receivers have eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in their first NFL season. None on his list are projected to do so this season. None surpassed 700 projected receiving yards, and only three had more than 500. Only two rookie receivers surpassed the four touchdowns projected for Hurd.
The idea that the 49ers offense can be productive without a clear No. 1 wide receiver is not an outrageous one. Pettis didn't seem too concerned while speaking with reporters this past week about the offense potentially lacking a top wideout.
"If it doesn't, I know we're still going to be able to move the ball, score touchdowns, win some games," Pettis said. "I don't think any of us are worried about who they see as being the No. 1 guy."
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.
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