Niner Noise
FanSided

2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 prospect big board for the 49ers

By Peter Panacy

Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 04: Wide receiver James Washington #28 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 62-52. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 04: Wide receiver James Washington #28 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 62-52. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Wide Receiver

The 49ers’ move to acquire quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was great. Now, the next step is to provide him with weapons.

What’s needed is a true No. 1 target. Veteran receiver Pierre Garçon is an adequate second option, and speedster Marquise Goodwin is excellent for go routes taking the tops off defenses. And while slot receiver Trent Taylor could be a major beneficiary of Garoppolo’s abilities, a go-to wide receiver would do wonders for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

The NFL Draft has a number of enticing possibilities atop the first round. And a couple could go within the top 10.

Round 1 Wide Receiver Big Board

  1. Courtland Sutton, Southern Methodist
  2. James Washington, Oklahoma State
  3. Marcell Ateman, Oklahoma State
  4. Calvin Ridley, Alabama
  5. Anthony Miller, Memphis

The 49ers have the shortest crop of wide receivers in the NFL this season, meaning it’s unlikely they target a short-stature wideout, like Memphis’ Anthony Miller (5-foot-11), this early in the NFL Draft.

But SMU’s Courtland Sutton and Oklahoma State’s Marcell Ateman are both 6-foot-4, providing the height advantage that’s so desperately needed in the red zone.

Sutton, of course, is the higher-touted prospect. His 2017 campaign has been just as impressive as last year’s, and he offers up the rare blend of size, speed and athleticism worthy of a high Round 1 pick.

Oklahoma State’s James Washington is, perhaps, just as promising. While he’s certainly benefited from promising quarterback Mason Rudolph’s presence, Washington has both the speed and route-running potential to make him an ideal fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.