49ers Draft: Wide Receiver — Prospecting for Red-Zone Gold
By Jonah Burros
Today at Niner Noise we are going to take a look at the 49ers options at wide receiver in days one, two and three of the 2017 NFL Draft. We will examine what San Francisco currently has at the position and how these new prospects could fit with what head coach Kyle Shanahan is potentially looking for.
The wide receiver position in San Francisco was once considered the primary example of excellence in the NFL. 49ers WR legends John Taylor and Jerry Rice headlined a group that brought four Super Bowls to the Bay Area in the 1980s and 90s and then segued into the Terrell Owens era from there.
These iconic players are long since retired and the 49ers have not produced another WR of note since Terrell Owens was allowed to leave for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003.
The days of consistently productive passing games left with these great players and San Francisco hasn’t been your dad’s 49ers since.
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco’s identity has changed quite a bit compared to the days of former heads of state Eddie DeBartolo, Bill Walsh and George Siefert. The 49ers have morphed into a more smash-mouth, defensive persona over the last 15 years.
New head coach Kyle Shanahan appears to be aerodynamically designed to provide the contrary. He is a highly touted offensive guru that has consistently taken different personnel groups and created a productive offense.
When Shanahan came into the building he had no quarterback and a roster that hadn’t smelled the better side of .500 in over three years. The new front office went to work and have signed over 20 new players to date, quite a few offensive changes took place in a rampant signing and releasing period in the first weeks of free agency.
Receiving options seemed to be a theme in a large part of the early movement. Let us take a look at where we stand before the draft and attempt to paint a picture of what Kyle Shanahan might have in mind.