Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers Draft: Wide Receiver — Prospecting for Red-Zone Gold

By Jonah Burros

Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis (84) stiff arms Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton (8) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. The Badgers won 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis (84) stiff arms Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton (8) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. The Badgers won 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Day Two

The second and third rounds of the draft can produce all the building blocks a growing team needs for a roster, especially one on the rebuild.

Considering that San Francisco has not had many visits from wide receiver prospects before the draft, and the first round is such a mystery, we are going to assume that most of the second-day attention is focused on other areas.

Unless Corey Davis or Mike Williams happens to slide that far, I do not see the 49ers using a Round 2 pick on a WR. There is one prospect I believe fits the mold for what they need and, if he falls to the third round, the Niners might grab him.

Oct 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) is pursued by Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (23) in the fourth quarter during a NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Colorado 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) is pursued by Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (23) in the fourth quarter during a NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Colorado 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

USC Trojans WR JuJu Smith-Schuster could be a steal if he was to fall or if the 49ers acquire another second-round pick with a trade back in the first.

He is a very physical receiver with magnetic hands and solid frame to fight for catches in the red zone.

When I watch his tape, I see a guy who intimidates coverage with an aggressive style of play.

At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Smith-Schuster beat up good defenses in 2015 with 1,454 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.

He followed that performance in 2016 with 10 more touchdowns and 914 receiving yards.

Schuster looks to be one of the best possession-type pass-catchers in this year’s draft, who can bang and hang — a receiver who can take a hit and hang onto the ball.

This type of player is especially good in the red zone. With both Smith-Schuster and Pierre Garcon on either side of a short field, things could get physical very quickly.