The San Francisco 49ers have selected a wide receiver during each of the past 17 drafts. 2020 will likely bring receiver number 18. Many expect the team to use the No. 13 overall pick to upgrade the position. It is possibly one of the three players — Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs of Alabama, and CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma — most consider to be the best of this rookie receiver class will be available.
Every year around this time, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reveals his draft crush. He went with a receiver this year, but not one of the three names above. So, with the draft about a week away, with whom is the 49ers beat writer infatuated?
The rose goes to ... Denzel Mims of Baylor.
#49ers 13th annual draft crush: And the rose goes to ... https://t.co/dItKGV73R1
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) April 15, 2020
He's probably very flattered to be in such company as Darnell Savage, Marcus Davenport, Solomon Thomas, and others.
While Barrows' draft crushes don't always find success in the NFL, names like Von Miller and Myles Jack, who the writer notes the 49ers could have selected over Joshua Garnett, grace the growing list.
Mims recorded 1,000-or-more yards in two of his last three seasons with the Bears. Those final three years included 182 receptions for 2,901 yards with 28 touchdowns.
"He's this year's winner because he tosses defensive backs aside as if they're made of straw," writes Barrows, "because at 6-foot-3 with nearly 34-inch arms he has the catch radius of a Cessna and because he'd be such a nice fit — in terms of skill but also attitude — in a 49ers offense that lost one of its top wide receivers from last year."
Mims is one of four known receivers with whom the 49ers have had pre-draft interviews via video chat or phone. The others are Lamb, Lynn Bowden of Kentucky, and Quez Watkins of Southern Miss.
The three-day NFL Draft kicks off next Thursday.