The San Francisco 49ers may have been eyeing wide receiver DK Metcalf with their third-round pick in 2019. That's what head coach Kyle Shanahan's friend and co-host of NBC's Pro Football Talk Live told Mike Florio this week.
Unfortunately for Shanahan, the division-rival Seattle Seahawks drafted him just three slots above the 49ers' third-round selection. San Francisco went on to select wide receiver Jalen Hurd, who has yet to appear in an NFL game.
"I feel pretty confident in saying that if DK Metcalf was there for that pick, that Kyle would have taken him," Simms told Florio. "I know -- Kyle may not like me saying this or whatever -- he really liked DK Metcalf. He liked Deebo Samuel a little bit more, obviously. I think he felt like he fit his offense a little bit with his speed-sweep stuff, but he was very pro-DK Metcalf. I'd have a hard time thinking he would have passed him up if he was on the board again."
Metcalf has had an impressive second NFL season and is proving himself to be one of the league's brightest rising stars. The Seahawks receiver has racked up 58 receptions for 1,039 yards with nine touchdowns. This year is his second consecutive season of 900-or-more receiving yards, and Seattle leads the NFC West in the standings.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are in last place within the division after a Super Bowl campaign last season. Their two leading wide receivers — rookie Brandon Aiyuk and veteran Kendrick Bourne — have a combined 858 receiving yards. You have to wonder what Shanahan might have been able to do with Metcalf in his offense.