Niner Noise
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2018 NFL Draft: 5 prospects the 49ers can target with their first pick

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – SEPTEMBER 04: Courtland Sutton #16 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs scores a touchdown agains the Baylor Bears in the second quarter at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on September 4, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – SEPTEMBER 04: Courtland Sutton #16 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs scores a touchdown agains the Baylor Bears in the second quarter at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on September 4, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Wide Receiver Courtland Sutton, Southern Methodist

6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Junior

The 49ers made the move to grab quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots last year. Now comes the responsibility of providing him with weapons.

Granted, there’s an argument head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t need a top-flight wide receiver. After all, Shanahan and Garoppolo helped engineer success with players like Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor and Kendrick Bourne. That doesn’t even include a healthy return of the veteran, Pierre Garçon, who’ll be back from a season-ending neck injury.

Still, the Niners receiving crop lacks size. So targeting a big-bodied wideout capable of making impact plays at all portions of the field shouldn’t be out of the question.

Enter Southern Methodist’s Courtland Sutton.

Sutton’s 6-foot-4 frame would automatically make him a top red-zone threat. And Sutton also benefits from what our friend, Michael Johnson, over at NFL Spin Zone regards as “good lateral quickness for a big-bodied receiver and doesn’t always look to run through tackles, which aids in his ability to rack those yards after the catch.”

Simply put, Sutton is a versatile weapon not just known for his strength and size.

Those are plusses, yes, but there is so much more about Sutton’s game to like.

And if San Francisco grabs him in the NFL Draft, the offense will only be that much better.