The San Francisco 49ers traded long-time wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick at the beginning of March. The 29-year-old expressed his desire for a fresh start, and the team granted his wish.
As a result, the Niners will need someone to step up and be a bigger weapon in the receiving corps. One of the most likely candidates would be second-year wide out Ricky Pearsall, as his end to the 2024 season impressed.
While he finished the year with just 400 receiving yards and three touchdowns, he only started in four of the 11 games that he appeared in. He averaged a very solid 12.9 yards per reception, as he made the most of the opportunities that he did get.
The former Florida Gator missed the first six weeks of the season because he was recovering from a gunshot wound that he suffered on August 31st during an attempted robbery.
He showed why the Niners drafted him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft when he finished with 141 yards and a touchdown in the team’s Week 16 loss against the Detroit Lions.
Losing a player like Deebo will be a big blow to the team’s offense, so they will need someone to help carry the load. If he can continue to improve upon his play from the end of the 2024 season, then Pearsall could become a much bigger part of what the 49ers are looking to do moving forward.