Need and value could be in line if 49ers land top pick

Ricky Pearsall, the new San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, was the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which extends through the 2030 season, all rookie contracts are four years. Salaries for each draft slot are predetermined based on league revenue. OverTheCap.com projects Pearsall's four-year deal to have a total value of $12.54 million, including a signing bonus of $5.94 million, which will be prorated over the contract's duration. This amount is fully guaranteed. Pearsall's salary cap impact for the upcoming season is estimated to be approximately $2.28 million, gradually increasing to a $3.99 million salary cap hit in 2027. While these figures are projections and are subject to slight

The recent news of the Detroit Lions agreeing to a four-year, $120 million extension for wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, with $77 million guaranteed, likely piques the interest of wideout Brandon Aiyuk, who eagerly awaits his own contract extension from the San Francisco 49ers. With St. Brown's annual salary now hovering around $30 million and Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith's recent deal averaging about $25 million with $51 million guaranteed, Aiyuk's agent, Ryan Williams, will likely leverage these figures in discussions with the 49ers. 49ers Webzone editor Brian Renick, also a host of the "No Huddle Podcast," recently speculated that Aiyuk's contract could fall between those of St. Brown and Smith. He suggests a ballpark figure of $27-$28 million

As draft week unfolds, analysts are unveiling their final mock drafts heading into the annual event. The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, and ESPN's Jordan Reid released a behemoth of a mock draft, projecting all 257 selections across all seven rounds. The ESPN analyst has the Washington Commanders leaping in front of the San Francisco 49ers in the first round to select one of the top offensive tackle prospects, leaving John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan's squad to take a different approach. RELATED:

The San Francisco 49ers mainly focused on fortifying their defense in free agency, leaving many to believe that the 2024 NFL Draft will be their chance to upgrade the offensive line. Most mock drafts predict the 49ers will select the best offensive tackle available to bolster the line's weak link—the right side—and potentially provide a succession plan for 35-year-old left tackle Trent Williams. Pro Football Focus recently examined each team's biggest need heading into the draft's first round and unsurprisingly listed offensive line for the 49ers. "The 49ers likely won't have the luxury of selecting the top offensive lineman with the 31st pick, but they can still find a quality player to improve a unit that was inconsistent in pass