The San Francisco 49ers used their top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a wide receiver, largely due to uncertainty and long-term staying power of their incumbent star wideouts, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
First-round selection Ricky Pearsall didn't play right away last season as he was nursing an injury of his own, a scary gunshot wound during an attempted robbery right on the eve of the regular season. But it was clear he was intended to be next in the pipeline to assume bigger duties when either Aiyuk or Samuel's time in the Bay Area came to a close.