With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, Daniel Jeremiah offered insight into how the San Francisco 49ers could address two of their most pressing offseason needs: pass rusher and wide receiver.
The longtime NFL Draft analyst held his annual pre-Combine conference call ahead of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, giving reporters around the league a chance to ask about team-specific strategies. Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle asked Jeremiah which prospects could make sense for the 49ers at No. 27 overall.
49ers' defensive line needs reinforcements
San Francisco's defense recorded just 20 sacks last season — the fewest in the NFL. Losing defensive end Nick Bosa to an ACL injury for most of the year severely limited the team's pass rush.
If the 49ers look to add a physical edge defender in Round 1, Jeremiah pointed to two names.
"If you're looking for that big, physical rusher that kind of fits those specs, to me [Missouri DE] Zion Young, he's 6-5 and a quarter, 262 pounds," Jeremiah said. "He would fit those specs. I know T.J. Parker's not quite as big, but he's almost 6-4, 263 pounds out of Clemson. Both those guys can kind of be heavy edge setters, but can really rush with a lot of power and strength off the edge. So, those would be two from the edge rusher group."
Jeremiah believes either could provide a boost to the 49ers' pass rush, which struggled to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks this past season.
Wide receivers who could be in play
Wide receiver is another position to watch. The 49ers have indicated that unhappy receiver Brandon Aiyuk has likely played his final snap with the team. Meanwhile, Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore are slated to become free agents, and wideout Ricky Pearsall battled injuries last season that limited his development.
Jeremiah believes San Francisco would have plenty of options if it prioritizes speed and explosiveness.
"In terms of the receivers, looking for somebody who can really, really run, there's going to be a lot of options there," Jeremiah said. "KC Concepcion from Texas A&M's got elite, elite speed. He's got a couple punt return touchdowns to throw in the mix. He runs away from everybody. He's got some route polish to him as well.
"The thing with him is just the drops. He had seven drops this year, so you're going to have to live with some of that, but he's going to give you the explosive plays to go along with it. But that's somebody who would fit that real speed portion of it."
Concepcion's vertical ability would add a dynamic element to head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, though ball security might be a concern during the evaluation process.
Will Denzel Boston be available at No. 27?
Some mock drafts project Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston to the 49ers at No. 27 overall. Jeremiah, however, isn't convinced he'll still be on the board.
"I think Denzel Boston's probably gone by then, but he's going to give you the combination of both, because he's going to be 6-3, close to 210 pounds, and I bet he runs in the 4.4s, mid-4.4s at that size," Jeremiah said. "He's going to jump really well. He can win at the line of scrimmage against press. He's a red zone weapon. He can play above the rim. He can adjust in the middle of the field. He's a point scorer.
"So, he reminds me a lot of Courtland Sutton. I think he'd be a fun one to have if he were to make it that far. We'll see."