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San Francisco 49ers: Too-early 7-round mock 2018 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

The 49ers overhauled their wide receiver corps this offseason, but free-agent pickups like Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin are temporary options at best.

San Francisco hasn’t taken a wide receiver early in the draft since the failed A.J. Jenkins experiment back in 2012. As a result, the Niners have lacked a true impact receiver to take over from the likes of former 49ers Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin.

Alabama wideout Calvin Ridley is a player worth targeting in the middle of Round 2.

At 6-foot-0 and 190 pounds, Ridley could work on his strength to beat NFL-level cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage. But he has solid speed — something head coach Kyle Shanahan covets — and the ability to make plays after the catch.

Check out what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Ridley’s potential:

"I think he’s the perfect complementary receiver, majoring in explosive/down-the-field catches. Alabama played with a true freshman quarterback (Jalen Hurts) last fall and he was a little reluctant to force the ball down the field. I think that will change this fall and Ridley will get a chance to show off what he does best. He reminds me a lot of the Vikings’ Stefon Diggs coming out of college. We’ve seen flashes of Diggs’ playmaking skills during his brief career and I believe Ridley has a similar skill set."

Oh, if the 49ers had a player like Diggs on their roster.

They could if Ridley is the target here.