49ers 2019 NFL Draft prospect profile: Wide receiver Kelvin Harmon

With the San Francisco 49ers looking like they’ll be taking a wide receiving early in the 2019 NFL Draft, NC State’s Kelvin Harmon is one to keep your eyes on.

This isn’t the first time I’ve spoken about North Carolina wide receiver Kelvin Harmon and what he could bring to the San Francisco 49ers. While Harmon is listed as one of the top receivers, he is likely to be picked up in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

And with the 49ers holding an early pick in the second, No. 36 overall, there’s a pretty good chance Harmon will still be sitting there. He brings the size, strength and physicality the Niners need to add to their wide receiving corps.

Harmon combined for back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons. 2018 saw him with 1,186 receiving yards from 81 receptions and seven touchdowns. He recorded good production with an average of 14.6 yards per reception and became a first-team All-ACC selection.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein had this to say on Kelvin Harmon:

"Harmon might show up as average in the speed and quickness departments, but he knows how to play and he plays to his strengths. He has issues separating against tight man coverage so he uses his frame, play strength and ball skills to own a bigger piece of a smaller catch space. He has a big-dog swagger."

Coming in at 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, he is a prime example of a red-zone threat, something they are in desperate need of. With the 49ers ranked as one of the weaker teams for 2018 in terms of red-zone production, this is an area they need to rectify for the coming season.

Using a combination of his size and strength, Harmon is able to compete with defenders for the ball, utilizing these attributes to muscle his way over smaller players in the secondary. However, while Harmon displays a superb physical game, he often has to rely on that physicality to win the ball due to his reduced speed and ability to separate from defenders.

Kelvin Harmon’s NFL Scouting Combine results were as follows:

• 40-yard dash – 4.6 seconds
• Bench press – 18 reps
• Vertical jump – 32.5 inches
• Broad jump – 117 inches
• 3 cone drill – 7.15 seconds
• 20-yard shuttle – 4.32 seconds

While the Niners need a big physical receiver, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has not always placed an emphasis on someone with size, often preferring a receiver capable of separating from defenders through speed and agility. With Harmon comparatively on the slower side during the combine, this may be enough to steer Shanahan away from the receiver.

With Harmon’s speed being one of his downfalls, he gains points through his phenomenal catching ability and use of his hands. His vertical jump was towards the bottom of the pack; however, Harmon will aggressively compete for the ball when it is in the air, often winning contested catches. He had little difficulty in making catches through college and this is something that should translate well into his NFL career.

When asked at the combine what made him the best receiver in the 2019 NFL Draft, Harmon touched on his ability with the ball.

“Ultimately, it’s my ball skills and the way I play, my mentality, how I go get the ball,” said Harmon. “Those 50-50 balls are normally 90-10 balls my way. And if I don’t catch it, it’s not going to be an interception.”

He has a high football IQ, is able to track the ball which in turn makes him an excellent route runner. With route running at times being one of the more difficult aspects of the game for rookies to pick up, this is another positive for Harmon.

While he doesn’t possess the acceleration or top end speed that Shanahan likes, wide receivers Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin already have that covered.

If Shanahan is looking for a reliable receiver that he can rely on in the endzone, look no further than Harmon.