Former San Francisco 49ers tight end Brent Jones still keeps up with the NFL and the draft. He is well aware that the 49ers are expected to select a wide receiver for the 18th consecutive year, perhaps using the No. 13 overall pick next week to do so.
Many consider Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs of Alabama, and CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma to be the top prospects available in this incoming rookie receiver class. Some feel the 49ers could trade down, even from No. 13, to acquire more picks since they currently lack a selection between rounds one and five.
Jones feels San Francisco should do the opposite. He wouldn't mind seeing the 49ers move up from No. 13 to select the receiver he likes best.
"I'm starting to hear (among draft expects) that Jeudy might be the guy," Jones told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. "And if I had a choice, he would be my guy. Of course, I'm not a GM. But I'm not sure he's going to be there at 13 now because I think a few more people are starting to rumble about him.
"If the separation between those three guys isn't that great, then maybe sitting and waiting at 13 and getting whoever is still there is probably fine, but I wouldn't mind packaging our 13 and maybe a pick in the future to maybe move up four or five spots to make sure he's there."
The receiver position is seen as a need following the departure of veteran Emmanuel Sanders in free agency. The team's best receiver last season might have been Deebo Samuel, a rookie at the time, and the rest of the group remains relatively young. The overall feeling is that San Francisco could use a playmaker to complement Samuel.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Jones on the 49ers Insider Podcast below. It begins at about the 10:50 mark.
Which receiver, if any, are you hoping the 49ers draft? Leave a comment below.